El Bambú

Style of food: Vegetarian

Cost: Cheap

Type of place: State

Food
Ambience
Service
Value

Best for: Great value for vegetarians

Worst for: Disappointing if your expectations are set too high

Jardín Botánico Nacional, Carretera del Rocío km 3½, Calabazar

(+53)7697 - 9159

Open noon-5pm, closed Mon

Once upon a time this was the finest vegetarian in Havana. The Japanese Garden in Havana’s Botanical gardens locates this. The setting is wonderful, the Japanese Garden is a real highlight of the Botanical Gardens. A small gazebo looks out over a shallow lake-cum-large pond around which are set immaculate gardens. This makes a great destination within the overall gardens being a walk of around one hour from the main gate or a 20 minute ride on the back of a trailer pulled by a tractor.

The restaurant itself is outdoors, al fresco under vines, which hang attractively. This is an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet priced in Cuban pesos, which makes it amazingly good value. A complete meal will cost you less than CUC 1. Quality wise, this is not the best of anything and carnivores are better taking their own sandwiches, but dedicated veggies will find it amazing good value and surprisingly tasty. Think soups and salads, root vegetables, tamales and eggplant caviar.