Location: Santiago de Cuba
Top Restaurants in Santiago de Cuba
Top Things to do in Santiago de Cuba
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Most Popular Caribbean food in Santiago de Cuba, Santiago de Cuba Province, Caribbean
Find out what Caribbean restaurants to try in Santiago de Cuba. Entertainment can be experienced in a variety of ways in Santiago de Cuba. Your ears may find comfort in the Casa de Las Tradiciones, a venue of the Trivoli neighborhood where Cuba's finest musicians gather for improvisation; your mouth, in Paladar Salon Tropical, where mainstays of the national cuisine arrive in generous portions; your eyes, in the Jardin de Los Helechos, home to a floral explosion of 90 types of orchids and 350 types of ferns.The gentile Tivolí district, some of Santiago de Cuba's most exciting ensembles, singers and soloists take turns improvising. Friday nights are reserved for straight-up, classic trova, à la Ñico Saquito and the like.
Things to do in Santiago de Cuba
10. El Barracon
Overall Ratings
4 based on 78 reviews
Reviewed By binonatrip
I have to say the food in this restaurant was actually quite good compared with that in the hotel back in Guardalavaca. The problem I experienced was actually getting it!The restaurant did not seem able to cope with our group of around 50 arriving. Orders were taken and drinks issued. Unfortunately they were incapable of of serving my main course until everyone else had eaten theirs. It reached the point where I said I would take anything just to eat and not hold up the others. It was eventually explained to me that someone else had changed their order to fish and they had been served mine. They did not explain why that person did not have to wait if they changed their order. In the end I did 'catch up' as I finished my dessert before many others.I felt the time wasted in the restaurant would have been better spent in seeing other attractions in Santiago.
9. El Holandes
Overall Ratings
4 based on 92 reviews
Reviewed By DublinEdM
This restaurant (which also apparently offers accommodation) is literally a 50 metre walk from the Casa Granda Hotel, and opposite the Casa de la Trova music venue. We were the only diners there, which was disappointing, but it didn't take from the quality of the food presentation. I hope they do well, as their food deserves them to succeed. We had beer with our meal (we learned that beer happened to be more attractive because it's nice and cold whereas wine seems almost out of place) which was very inexpensive. Our table was facing directly out onto the street which was fine at first but then was unattractive because we were like a target for people passing by, begging from us. But I'd still recommend it!
8. Bendita Farandula
Overall Ratings
4 based on 97 reviews
Reviewed By ExPunkLondon
Bendita Farandula is an MN restaurant away from the tourist hustle of the very centre,in a small side street close to Plaza de Marti. Run by Adriano, it's a private restaurant with a nice feel and two areas the restaurant and the pizzeria upstairs. (Confusingly there is also an unconnected pizza restaurant next door and they share a common entry, so make sure to turn left as you come in off the street). It's probably the only restaurant in Santiago offering some Baracoan dishes such as pescado con leche de coco (fish cooked with coconut milk, green peppers, onions, a hint of garlic, and a hint of green chilli. Both subtle and flavoursome , this dish was a hit with both of us, as was the pork steak stuffed with ham and cheese in a breadcrumb crust. Served with jucca, a sort of potatoey-cassava-ey vegetable, and white rice, both dishes were excellent. As fish isn't always available in the market, you might need to check ahead if they have it. A bottle Spanish red topped off the order and was perfectly decent. The staff were efficient and Adriano speaks very good English. The bill was less than 600MN - 25cuc - before service, making Bendita Farandula even more worth seeking out. And don't forget to write a message on the wall as you leave.
7. El Morro
Overall Ratings
4 based on 110 reviews
Reviewed By Captain J
Our last day in Cuba we had lunch at El Morro Restaurant, co-located with the Spanish fortress of the same name in Santiago de Cuba, overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Lovely scenery, but today it catered to masses and masses of tourists arriving on many many buses; there were many many long tables jammed with tourists. Food was good, just kept coming and coming, served family style. I understand why the waiters hurried and were flustered, but they served as if they were working on an assembly line. Heaven forbid someone got their hand or head in the way, it would have been clobbered by a plate of food being placed on the table.Probably would not go back, glad I went there once.
6. Restaurant San Francisco
Overall Ratings
4 based on 94 reviews
Reviewed By Veganguy
I was a little apprehensive about service when I saw huge groups following us in to this outwardly unobtrusive restaurant. Thankfully the staff coped with us (8) and groups of twenty or so. They showed real teamwork and we never felt like we were lost in the crowd. This was a birthday meal for an 11 year old. His 5 year old cousin was also with us and they were really happy with the food. Without warning a vegan âvappetizerâ arrived for vegan boy which was a nice surprise. Most of our party had shrimp and other dead stuff but I happily had the sides and salads and very cold Cristal cervezas. They sat us on the second floor which was half open to the night sky. There was a singer and guitar player for atmosphere and entertainment and they were very nice. The singer passed by our table and sang happy birthday when I asked her and one other song. Her name was Yuni Infante and I bought her disc but it doesnât seem to work here at home. Too bad. Great experience, super location, family friendly and very good staff and service. Coincidentally, although I was the only âCringoâ (Canadian version of Gringo) in the group I met some Canadian friends there and my GF and I stayed until closing having some lovely libations. You cannot go wrong here.
5. Compay Gallo
Overall Ratings
4 based on 142 reviews
Reviewed By Andres_and_Angela
It is rare to find these types of restaurants in Cuba where the food tastes good and there's a variety of it. We were really positively impressed with our dinner although the place somehow lacked atmosphere to it. It wasn't also that easy to find.
4. El Palenquito
Overall Ratings
4 based on 163 reviews
comida criolla e internacional elaborada fundamentalmente al Carbón ambiente campestre buen servicio y buena Cocteleria
Reviewed By Deanno
The food was good but not great. The menu is only in Spanish which may indicate that it's more authentic for a local customer base, but the service could have been more accommodating when we asked about the dishes, especially since we were clearly trying to speak Spanish but struggling. Instead, one server acted with eye-rolling impatience and another was downright rude.One word of caution: if you're walking to the restaurant (e.g. from the Meliá Hotel), don't take Calle 6 to get there...there are a couple of blocks just before you get to El Palenquite where we felt very unsafe. We walked everywhere in Santiago and this was the only time we really felt very unsafe.Disculpe Señor que no haya tenido una buena experiencia en Nuestro Restaurant ,nada Justifica lo ocurrido, el Palenquito queda bastante lejos del Hotel Santiago y solo trabajan mujeres en el Salón y en el Bar si no le es molestia Revise las fotos en internet para estar seguros que fue nuestro establesieminto y poder tomar medidas para que no se repita, gracias por su opinión y por favor disculpenos por lo ocirrido
Santiago de Cuba Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Santiago de Cuba
3. Thoms Yadira Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 102 reviews
Reviewed By JadwigaZytka
Dinner in Thoms and Yadira's has been one of the best experiences in our whole trip to Cuba and certainly the best thing that happened to us in Santiago. We came encouraged by recommendations of eating good lobster and it occurred that everything was delicious. Those of us who ordered a sea food soup were almost full and it was just the beginning. If you enjoy cooking you can try live cooking, where you are given a chance to prepare your own food at this lovely balcony. That is great fun and amazing experience. If I were to list everything I like while my visit, I'd run out of space. I can only encourage you to try what amazing place has been created by Thoms&Yadira and their crew. It was a great pleasure to be your guests!
2. Restaurante Aurora
Overall Ratings
4 based on 159 reviews
Reviewed By TheLush101
We had a group meal here which was really good. Service in Cuba can be variable, but they took all of orders and got the food and drinks to us quickly. We had bread included plus some soup, then the usual Cuban salad (cucumber, tomato and cabbage). They also gave us some banana crisps (chips if you're American) - very moreish. I chose the fish medley for my main course which was really good. Also had some ice cream for dessert which was great. In all, that was all $16 which was great value so I'd definitely recommend heading here.
Best Cuban food near Santiago de Cuba, Santiago de Cuba Province, Caribbean
1. St. Pauli
Overall Ratings
4 based on 293 reviews
Reviewed By Hilary R
We loved this restaurant. It's on the pedestrianised street so it's pleasant to walk to. The menu is in both English and Spanish and is quite varied and creative, especially for Cuba. Our favourite started was the gazpacho, served in wine glasses and absolutely delicious. A tasty main was the roast chicken with lemon. Great cocktails and mains beautifully presented with salad and rice in quite small amounts on the side. If you have a large appetite order extras.
Top 10 Latin food in Santiago de Cuba, Santiago de Cuba Province, Caribbean
