My absolute favorite meal during my time in Havana came while dining at La Guarida, a paladar!
The restaurant is located in a massive multifamily building with gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows and a few staircases that would make any architecture-lover swoon. The walls are covered in chipped paint, which may sound as if the building is unkept, but really just adds a level of authenticity that is welcoming. The walls of the actual restaurant are covered in one-of-a-kind artwork, photos of celebrity guests, and artifacts like old movie posters.
We ate here for lunch on our first day and it was truly the perfect place to begin our trip. I would highly recommend eating here during the day so that you can really see and appreciate the artictecture of the building.
The food is so delicious and gives you the feeling of eating old family recipes. We started with the beef carpaccio and the marlin tacos (which were SOOOOOO good–definitely order them). For the main course we truly enjoyed the ropa vieja (pulled beef) and fried plantains. I had like 2 guava daiquiris (one of the drinks the country is known for), and probably would have ordered more if we were there longer!
We only spent a little over an hour at La Guarida, but had we had spent more time in Havana I’m certain we would have returned for another meal. It’s clear to understand why celebs (like Beyoncé and Jay-Z) make a point to stop here during their vacation.
I can’t recommend La Guarida enough. It is a must during your visit..just make sure you make reservations way in advance!
