Vista del Mar

CA4
Style of food: International
Cost: Expensive
Type of place: Paladar (private)
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for: Beautiful view over the ocean from the outdoor terrace.
Worst for: Relatively expensive for food which is good but not spectacular.
Ave. 1ra entre 22 y 24, Miramar
(+53)7203 - 8328
Open noon-midnight Mon-Sat, closed Sun

  • Vista del Mar is a quality paladar that has been around for many years. The main restaurant is on the 2nd floor of an attractive Miramar residence that looks out to sea. Sitting on the smallish balcony of the restaurant, it is easy to imagine just how glamorous this stretch of real estate was before the Revolution. Each house has its own pool right on the ocean and into which waves crash on a regular basis. Most of Vista del Mar’s neighbouring pools look run-down; that of the Vista del Mar looks the image of shimmering perfection complete with the odd turtle which is let loose to do a few laps.

    This is an open, airy place, which gives a spacious feeling and is one of the few places where you can really feel the pull of the ocean. Service is excellent, competent, experienced.

    The food is decent. Octopus is something of a speciality but there is a reasonable selection of dishes, which are done well, everything from a pork chop to lobster tails. They make mean sangria and one of the best Daiquiris. According to some (Canadian) reports this is the also the place for the Best lemon pie in the country which may kill you but is worth dying for. Go at sunset for the ocean view and if you are to believe Elena take some earplugs or tip large and early for some peace and quiet!

    The guitar player at Vistamar

    In one of the most beautiful paladares of the island, in a contemporary house, with a gorgeous pool, a magnificent view of the sea, and really good food, why in the world did anybody think they needed a guitar player singing Guantanamera and Hasta Siempre (the Che Guevara hymn)? I guess it works for the tourists, but for those who have been here more than a few months it’s more a nuisance than an attraction, made more so by the fact that the guy (who I am sure has very good intentions) tries to sell you his 10 CUC CD of songs. May I offer some advice? Expand his music repertoire, stop the promotion of his CD and let the patrons enjoy their meal

    
  • Barlovento

    Barlovento  LH 3

    Barlovento is a Mediterranean themed restaurant opposite the popular El Sauce nightclub. ‘Pepín’ who, while a mechanical engineer by trade always had an affinity for the kitchen, opened this new palad …

    Parrillada 84 y Quince

    Parrillada 84 y Quince  LH 3

    Translated Parrillada 84 y Quince means Charcoal Grill located on 84th Street on the intersection of 15th Avenue. What more do you need to know? This is really a neighbourhood place just off the busy …

    El Bacura

    El Bacura  LH 3+

    El Bacura is a great option coming back from a day out at the beach. This is a farmhouse-cum-restaurant and you are welcome to wonder around back where there is a weird and wonderful assortment of ani …

    La Casa de la Parra (Hanoi)

    La Casa de la Parra (Hanoi)  LH 3

    For anyone who has visited Vietnam and tasted even the street food in Saigon, the opportunity to go Vietnamese in Havana would be a treat to be savoured. Unfortunately, Hanoi Havana is just a name and …

    La Casa Sarasua

    La Casa Sarasua  LH 3

    If you want an opportunity to chat with an interesting paladar owner, then look no further than this friendly and welcoming paladar overlooking leafy Calle 25, near the university. The décor is provid …

    Italia en Cuba (La Terraza de Miramar)

    Italia en Cuba (La Terraza de Miramar)  LH 3

    I liked the look of the place from the outside. This really merits the name, the Terrace of Miramar. Located on the second floor with a nice view you wonder just where all these houses come from. It i …

    La Dominica

    La Dominica  LH 3

    La Dominica enjoys a great setting opposite the restored Colegio Universitario de San Gerónimo and the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales. Patio tables are the order of the day outside of the heat of …

    El Bambú

    El Bambú  LH 3+

    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 Bota …

    Habáname

    Habáname  LH 3

    This is really a relatively small walk-by place rather than a destination restaurant. This is not to be dismissive since we actually quite like the place and were several hundred of these types of pla …

    Torre de Marfil

    Torre de Marfil  LH 3

    The house now occupied by the Torre de Marfil (Ivory Tower) restaurant dates from the 18th century and is situated on Mercaderes Street, a part of town that in the second half of the 19th century was …

    « 8 of 14 pages »