
You can expect to find rice and beans, burgers, and sandwiches on the menu. Cubans will eat out at cafeterias regularly, so try at least one to get a real feel for the local way of life. Tip: Even if you're not staying at a casa particular, you can email or call a few casas to arrange meals.Ĭafeterias are an option for fast, cheap food in Cuba. Often, owners will make lunch and dinner upon request, which usually runs from 600-1000 CUP. Breakfast is almost always offered for about 400-500 CUP extra. If you're staying in one, definitely take advantage of any meals offered by your hosts. You can book them through Airbnb or and they're our Cuban Heroes ' favorite form of accommodations in Cuba. Affluent Cubans and travelers are the most frequent customers since the food does tend to be more expensive in paladares.Ĭasas particulares are the best places to get authentic, homemade Cuban meals (the best kind of food in Cuba). Prices range from 700-1500 CUP per entree. Locals and foreigners find them an excellent alternative to state-run restaurants. They're a new type of restaurant that the government approved starting in 2010. Paladares are the place to eat the most unique food in Cuba. Ī paladar is an independent restaurant run by individual entrepreneurs, not by the Cuban government. Have questions about this list? A sk one of our Cuban travel experts. Just avoid any restaurants associated with hotels or entities on this list of restrictions from the U.S. Prices range from 400-1200 CUP per person depending on what you eat.

The food and service are generally worse in state-run restaurants than at privately owned restaurants, but sometimes you'll find an exception to the rule. These are now just one of many options because the Cuban government has allowed privately owned restaurants to open up alongside their government-run ones. Not long ago, travelers mainly had a single option for dining out: state-run restaurants. So even today, while you can find great food in Cuba, many lower-end restaurants and street food stalls offer plain meals only. Rice and beans are popular because rice and beans are cheap and plentiful.

Cuban food has a reputation for being bland because, for many years, it was bland due to lack of access to ingredients like spices.

Here's what they said! Where to Eat in Cubaįrom high-end restaurants to private homes to street food, the food in Cuba is surprisingly diverse these days. You'll have plenty of options, which is why we asked some Cuban locals for their advice about the must-try dishes in Cuba. Food in Cuba is a delicious mix of Native American, Spanish, African, and other Caribbean influences.
