Cuba

O’Reilly 304: Trendy restaurant in Havana, Cuba

O'Reilly Tacos (Tacos Mixtos), O'Reilly 304, Havana, Cuba

In 2016, I took my first trip to Havana, a city that was entirely unfamiliar to me at the time. Havana felt like a whole new world. As I walked around the city, everything seemed exotic, from the busy streets to the colorful buildings and vibrant culture. While exploring the charming streets of Havana, I stumbled upon O’Reilly 304. This trendy but casual restaurant was located in the heart of Habana Vieja, Havana’s historic Old Town. Despite its small size, …

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Doña Eutimia: Paladar in Havana, Cuba

Masas de cerdo Doña Eutimia, Havana, Cuba

Doña Eutimia is a paladar, or small restaurant, situated in a tranquil alleyway near Cathedral Square (Plaza de la Catedral) in Havana, Cuba. Despite being situated in the center of Old Havana (Habana Vieja), a bustling and touristy area, the restaurant’s location seemed calm and peaceful. Paladar is a term used in Cuba to describe a small, family-owned restaurant that serves local cuisine. Although they were once illegal until the 1990s, today these privately owned establishments are a popular dining …

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El Aljibe in Havana, Cuba: Famous Restaurant Serving Roast Chicken

Roasted Chicken, the specialty of El Aljibe

A few miles west of Old Town Havana is El Aljibe, a state-owned, open-air restaurant popular with tourists for the family style roast chicken, served the same way for over 60 years. The first time I heard about El Aljibe was while watching Anthony Bourdain’s show ‘Parts Unknown’ when he visited Havana, Cuba. When I saw Anthony eating perfectly roasted chicken marinated in a secret orange sauce and luscious black beans, I knew I had to try this place. If …

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