El Atelier

CA5
Top Pick
Style of food: Contemporary fusion
Cost: Expensive
Type of place: Paladar (private)
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for: Interesting menu, beautiful building with great décor and good service.
Worst for: Getting a reservation in busy periods.
Calle 5ta e/ Paseo y 2, Vedado
(+53)7836 - 2025
Open noon-midnight daily
  • Atelier keeps getting better, recent renovations have improved the place while the food remains excellent. Atelier is run by Niuris Higueras who has a passion for creating food. She is the driving force–modest, capable, and warm. She defines the style of the food as signature cuisine, an experimental culinary workshop. The food changes every day, every week, hence those handwritten menu. Eclectic, everything from Falafels, Pato confitado [candied duck], Lomito de res con camarones y Espuma de apio al olivo [sirloin steak with shrimp and celery mousse], Conejo al vino [rabbit in wine] to cerdo asado (roast pork). Desserts are standard (flan, tarts, ice cream) but good.

    The large main room is decorated with sparse modern lines, inside a typically idiosyncratic Vedado mansion. Two balconies have boundless cushions for the outdoor lounge. An antique hob outside, old sewing and adding machines inside make the place retro yet not old.

     ‘This is such a good-looking restaurant in Vedado and with consistently quality food that nowadays is difficult to get in without a reservation. It is set in an old house located in Calle 5 and decorated by original art (mostly for sale, by the way), and with table settings that highlight antique china and glassware. The food is good, I personally love the filet mignon and I have heard wonders about the rabbit. But one thing I can’t resist is the falafel, the Middle East-inspired appetizer, totally vegetarian and made with chickpeas, served with a yogurt dressing. Order it next time, not an easy treat to find in Cuba.’

    The falafel at the Atelier:

    This is such a good-looking restaurant in Vedado and with consistently quality food that nowadays is difficult to get in without a reservation. It is set in an old house located in Calle 5 and decorated by original art (mostly for sale, by the way), and with table settings that highlight antique china and glassware. The food is good, I personally love the filet mignon and I have heard wonders about the rabbit. But one thing I can’t resist is the falafel, the Middle East-inspired appetizer, totally vegetarian and made with chickpeas, served with a yogurt dressing. Order it next time, not an easy treat to find in Cuba.

    
  • La Carboncita

    La Carboncita  LH 5

    His is Walter Ginevri’s (the Italian pizza guy) new place in Havana, except that actually this Paladar is owned by Eneida, a pleasant, businesslike woman, who has lived for some time in the accompanyi …

    El Cocinero

    El Cocinero  LH 5+

    El Cocinero opened in February 2013 and has instantly become a smash hit. Located underneath the imposing brick chimney of the same name (which used to be a vegetable oil factory), this bar/restaurant …

    La Casa

    La Casa  LH 5

    La Casa is more than just a restaurant; it is the crucible of the Robaina family, from the 91-year-old great grandmother to the latest great grandson and everyone in between. Located on the ground flo …

    La Fontana

    La Fontana  LH 5

    La Fontana is quite simply one of the very best places to eat in Havana. Great food, a good atmosphere, efficient and unobtrusive service for a reasonable price make this a real Havana institution, th …

    Ivan Chef Justo

    Ivan Chef Justo  LH 5

    There is only one problem with Ivan Chef Justo and that is describing to people how to get there. Actually it is not that complicated, opposite the Museum of the Revolution on the Old Havana side. Con …

    Habana Mia 7

    Habana Mia 7  LH 5

    HM7 is not the nickname of a famous athlete or some secret code name. It is, though, a symbol of tranquility and relaxation—a newly discovered, little known formula for a perfect evening. HM7 is one o …

    La Guarida

    La Guarida  LH 5+

    Enrique and Odeisys Nuñez first opened what has become Cuba’s most celebrated paladar on July 14, 1996. During 2009, it closed its doors out of what may be determined as an abundance of caution before …

    Otra Manera

    Otra Manera  LH 5

    Best for Beautiful modern décor and good food. Don’t miss Pork rack of ribs in honey. Sweet & sour sauce and grilled pineapple

    Casa Miglis

    Casa Miglis  LH 5

    Little is given away by the regular entrance, but as soon as you walk into the restaurant you get an idea why this took Mr Miglis over a year to renovate this building to fit his dream of opening Cuba …

    La Pachanga

    La Pachanga  LH 4

    Havana was needing a cafe that, while keeping the celerity and simplicity of a fast food joint, gave the food a gourmet touch to such dishes as Pollo Pachanga (Pachanga chicken), the delicious smoothi …

    « 2 of 14 pages »