Restaurants in Central Cuba
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El Sabor Latino
Santa Clara’s only real paladar is easily trumped by many of the city’s casa particular chefs, but still lures plenty of clients into its well-maintained midst with its improbable Rolling Stones’ ‘Glimmer Twins’ logo. The menu offers complete pork or chicken meals with rice, salad, tostones (fried plantain patties) and bread for CUC$10 (or fish for CUC$12).
reviewed
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Restaurante Plaza Mayor
The best bet courtesy of its on-off lunchtime buffet, which, for around CUC$10, ought to fill you up until dinnertime. Nighttime offerings aren’t bad either if you stick to the chicken and beef, though the atmosphere can be a little flat.
reviewed
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Paladar Estela
You can choose the dining room or pretty rear garden to take your meals in this popular place located above the Plaza Mayor (the owner also rents rooms). Cordero (lamb) served shredded is the house specialty, and the portions are large.
reviewed
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El Louvre
Acting with a gravitational pull on Remedios’ small scattering of tourists, El Louvre has cleaned its act up in recent years to fulfill the expectations of its more demanding clientele. Locals will tell you it’s the oldest bar in the country in continuous service (since 1866) but, longevity awards aside, the fried-chicken-and-sandwiches menu still can’t quite match up to the quaint parkside location. If you’re looking for a room/paladar/taxi, park yourself here, have a drink and wait for the offers.
reviewed
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Cafetería Las Begonias
The day-time nexus for Trinidad’s transient backpacker crowd, meaning it’s a good font of local information and the best place in town to meet other travelers over sandwiches, espresso and ice cream. There’s a bar behind a partition wall, clean (ish) toilets in a rear courtyard, and four or five cheap – but always crowded – internet terminals.
reviewed
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E
Paladar Sol y Son
All the ingredients of a fine Trinidad evening – think antiques, an elegant patio and the dulcet strains of an eloquent trovador – plus good food thrown in. Even the waiting room (yes, it gets busy) is a veritable museum piece. The house special is roast chicken and it’s worth the wait. English is spoken here.
reviewed
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Mesón del Regidor
A cafe-cum-restaurant with a friendly ambience and a revolving lineup of local musicians, including the town’s best trovador, Israel Moreno, who’ll drop by during the day and serenade you with a song over grilled cheese sandwiches and café con leche (coffee with milk). Savor the surprise.
reviewed
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Palmares Café
For the best burger in town head to this congenial city-center classic where excellent snack food and great coffee is served in a perfectly air-conditioned microclimate. It will make you feel as if you're back in Habana. This place also has two computer terminals.
reviewed
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Las Arcadas
If you’re staying in the Mascotte, you’ll probably end up eating here, as it’s the only visible restaurant in town that sells anything resembling a square meal. If you’re staying in a casa particular, you’ll know better.
reviewed
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Trinidad Colonial
Here you’ll dine on good portions of Cuban cuisine in the elegant 19th-century Casa Bidegaray. Meals are reasonable, even if the service is a bit frosty, with smoked pork topping out at CUC$6. The store attached has a good selection of books.
reviewed
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Restaurante Colonial 1878
Hold onto the table when you cut your steak here, or you might lose it on the floor. Tough meat aside, 1878 is an amiable enough place, even if the food struggles to emulate the dusty colonial setting. Pop in for a cocktail or a light lunch.
reviewed
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El Castillo
This peso find cooks up quality meals of pork, chicken or liver with congrí (rice flecked with black beans), and salad. The twist is that you eat standing at a counter flanked by marble pillars, stained glass and mosaic tiles.
reviewed
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Dinos Pizza
Smarter than the average Dinos, the Santa Clara branch has three computer terminals for internet access (CUC$5 an hour), a pleasant bar, air-conditioning and friendly, helpful staff. Oh – and it serves good pizza, too.
reviewed
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K
Restaurante El Jigüe
Stunning setting with less-than-stunning food. Bank on the house specialty, the aptly-named pollo al Jigüe; it’s baked at least, offering savory flavors distinct from the usual frito (fried).
reviewed
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Paladar Bodeguita del Centro
Voluminous dishes on offer include red snapper. The dimly lit atmosphere and graffiti-covered walls here mimic Habana's Bodeguita although once seated you'll feel more like you're in someone's front room (you are!).
reviewed
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Panadería Doña Neli
This joyous bakery amid the austere shopfronts of Calle Maceo will have your stomach rumbling with its aromatic fruit cakes, bread and pastries. Arrive early and celebrate breakfast.
reviewed
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Restorante Vía Reale
Break the chicken-and-pork grind at this Italian place with good pizza and spaghetti lunches. This is a viable vegetarian option.
reviewed
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BurgueCentro
The burgers aren’t quite steakhouse standard but the upstairs bar overlooking Parque Vidal is a good drinking perch.
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Driver’s Bar
Way down the desperation stakes, this place serves peso meals on one side and is a no-nonsense saloon on the other.
reviewed
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Paladar La Coruña
Eager-to-please and friendly staff at this no-frills paladar serve chicken and pork, and the occasional fish.
reviewed
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Cremería Las Begonias
An ever-popular Cremería Las Begonias doubles up as a Cubatur office.
reviewed
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Coppelia
Stock up on peso ice cream at this architecturally hideous construction.
reviewed
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