Café Laurent

On the top floor of a modern apartment building in the Vedado, Café Laurent can be spotted from the street below by the orange awning on its rooftop terrace. You can ride an antiquated elevator or hike the five flights of stairs to reach the apartment that has been converted into a stylish restaurant. Décor is eclectic but breezy: in the main dining room one wall is papered with the yellowed pages of old magazines and another is painted with circles like bubbles floating up the wall.

The best seats are at tables that are set out on the terrace and offer city views. The menu features starters like octopus, ceviche, gazpacho and asparagus with Serrano ham and main courses as grilled lobster and parrillada de Mariscos, as well as a fantastic fried chicken salad.