Milano Lounge Club

Style of food: International

Cost: Expensive

Type of place: Paladar (private)

Food
Ambience
Service
Value

Best for: Miami style contemporary glamour. Quality food.

Worst for: Expensive and to date lacking the clientele to make for the necessary vibe

Ave 3ra No 2404 E 24 y 26, Miramar, Playa, La Habana

(+53)7203 - 4641

While Milano may be the new kid on the block, opening in mid April 2013 in Miramar’s burgeoning entertainment district, there was nothing modest about the smart party that announced its arrival loaded with bling-bling. This is a beautifully decorated Miramar mansion, which could have walked in straight from South Beach, Miami. All white lines, minimalist and stylish.

You can eat inside the main house, on the smallish terrace (our choice) or out in the pleasant garden (watch out for chairs sinking into the ground though!). There is a small chill-out space inside although truth is told this is a place for a party, get your DJ and fill out the garden with the glitterati of Havana.

The menu is well put together if somewhat lacking in a theme and definitely on the pricey side. Look for standard international fare: appetizers include Serrano ham, brochette and mozzarella salad while main courses include an excellent Fillet Mignon, several lobster dishes (all about the bling-bling remember) and an interesting sounding chicken with yoghurt as well as a range of pastas (the ravioli was great).

We hear there were a few growing pains the first weekend as the place got slammed and food took forever to be served. The night we went perhaps they were overcompensating with staff everywhere you looked. Give the place a little time and we are sure it will be up there with the very best places to eat in Havana.

Pricey butter or oil for your bread at Milano

Milano opened to a big splash on April 20, 2013. This is an extremely good-looking place, decorated in white and with a huge window looking out on the front yard that faces 3^rd Avenue in Miramar. The food is O.K. but overpriced and the service is below mediocre. In our last visit we ordered a basket of their delicious homemade olive oil and rosemary bread, but it was brought without any oil or butter, so we asked for some. Ten minutes later we were presented with two tiny bowls (one with oil and one with butter) and informed that our bread would go up in price from 2 cucs to 5 cucs, because the bread did not come with any spreads. In my humble opinion that is beyond ridiculous but I am still willing to give them the benefit of the doubt since they are new and the waiters very obviously lack experience.