La Guarida

One of the most beautiful paladares in the city sits on the third floor of a very dilapidated building in Centro Habana. A massive Revolutionary mural greets diners in the lobby before they ascend a grand stairway with wrought-iron balustrades. Up another flight and past paint-peeling columns and crumbling ceilings of the once-grand mansion, an elaborately carved wooden door leads into a series of dining rooms. Crystal chandeliers, old family photos and a collection of antique dining chairs are some of the sentimental treasures that create a feeling of warmth and an ode to bygone days.

As the restaurant appeared in the movie Strawberries and Chocolate, it is probably the country’s most famous paladar. Owners Enrique Nunez and his wife, Odeysis Baullosa, divide their time between Havana and Miami, and have kept up the quality and sophistication of the food. The very best table is located on their historic balcony overlooking the city.