Santo Ángel

CA3
Style of food: International
Cost: Expensive
Type of place: State
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for: Great location, tasty chicken sandwich
Worst for: A little dry inside, unexceptional food
Calle Teniente Rey (Brasil) esquina a San Ignacio, Plaza Vieja
(+53)7671 - 1626
Open noon-midnight
  • In 1866, the house now occupied by this restaurant was owned by Susana Benítez de Parejo, who then decided to establish El Santo Ángel (The Holy Angel) college for poor children in this place, which since 1932 shared its space on the upper floor with St. Amelia Music Conservatory.

    Now, Santo Angel is an upmarket restaurant on the Northwest corner of the beautiful Plaza Vieja. You can sit outside on the terrace or in one of a number of interior rooms, which are peppered through a bright, and colourful interior courtyard filled with plants and birds.

    This is another international restaurant and is towards the high end in terms of prices (although not excessively so). The dishes are typically good and quite imaginative and original (try for example the almond chicken in a sherry sauce). There are a range of rice-based dishes as well as the typical meats and fishes. The wines and spirits are extensive (although watch out for the Remmy Marti which will set you back a few bucks!).

    All in all, this is a quality place with a wonderful location. Perhaps not as good as it could be; nevertheless, it remains one of the best Habaguanex places to eat in Old Havana.

    (At the time of our visit, the premises were closed for remodeling)

    
  • Monte Barreto

    Monte Barreto  LH 3

    Monte Barreto is located just behind the park, which is just behind the Occidental Hotel. It opened on December 16, 2011 by Aldo, who while a lawyer by trade has an interest in food, drinks and talkin …

    Europa

    Europa  LH 4-

    Europa is strategically located on one of Old Havana’s main thoroughfares, Obispo. Many Havana residents may still remember it as the old Café Europa, the best patisserie in town in the late 19th cent …

    Café El Escorial

    Café El Escorial  LH 4-

    Café El Escorial was opened a few years ago in the magnificent Plaza Vieja. The coffee is excellent, everything from Cuban coffee, café au lait, coffee frappé, coffee liquor through to coffee daiquiri …

    La Julia

    La Julia  LH 3

    La Julia is an old timer on the Old Havana paladar circuit. It’s been around long enough to be called an institution. This is an unfussy family-run paladar on O’Reilly Street that serves Cuban Creole …

    D’Doce

    D’Doce  LH 3

    D’Doce opened on April 17, 2011. We turned up two days later having seen the large stylish sign outside and a pink glow from inside which was intriguing. It is located on the second floor in the front …

    La Mina

    La Mina  LH 3

    The building that houses La Mina and which was the residence of the bishops of the nearby principal Parrish Church back in the 16th and 17th centuries was refurbished in 1985 and became La Mina Restau …

    El Palio

    El Palio  LH 3

    As of September 2013 that the garden has now been closed and the restaurant moved inside with a bar upstairs. The menu is largely unchanged. El Palio is like a room without a view by the sea. This is …

    Centro Asturiana Xana

    Centro Asturiana Xana  LH 4-

    The Sociedad Juventud Asturiana is a Spanish cultural society from the province of Asturias, which has a special legal status in Havana. Essentially, the society functions as a cooperative, which mean …

    Chaplin’s Cafe

    Chaplin’s Cafe  LH 3

    Cuba Absolutely Review: January 2012 Chaplin’s opened in January 2012 as the new kid on the block. Now it is almost a veteran! You will know you are in the right place when you see someone dressed up …

    Mango Habana

    Mango Habana  LH 3

    Mango Habana is a small low-key restaurant located just behind the Capitolio near to Parque Central. For the style of mom and pop places this is pretty decent with clear transparent prices outside, a …

    « 7 of 14 pages »