Santa Clara

Widely regarded as offering both the best food and the best value meals in all of Santa Clara, El Alba serves authentic Cuban cuisine. All prices are in local CUP (as opposed to the CUC tourists have to use), making meals here some of the most affordable in the city for visitors.

As the name suggests, Santa Rosalia is as much a cultural and performance centre as it is a restaurant. It boasts a big open-air courtyard and patio bar, perfect for a cool evening, and regularly hosts live music.

Sabore Arte is always packed with locals, which testifies to the authenticity and quality of the food and the warmth of the serving staff. The seafood tends to be fresh, but you can't go wrong with the ropa vieja or ajiaco, either.

Hostal Florida Center is widely regarded as one of the best 'casas particulares' in Santa Clara, perhaps even in all of Cuba. It boasts heaps of characterful decorations and furniture, including plenty of antiques, as well as a lush garden and welcoming terrace. It is, naturally, a popular place to stay during visits to the city, but even if you don't manage to book a room, you should still definitely make a point of stopping by for a meal.

Sabor Latino comes highly recommended by frequent visitors to Santa Clara for its authentic Cuban cuisine and friendly and welcoming staff. The menu is varied and extensive, and servings are very generous. It is certainly worth the slightly higher than average prices.