Havana restaurants that should be on your radar

It’s hard to keep tabs on the growing dining scene in Havana. Sushi? Greek? Vegan? Pizza? Many great restaurants get lots of press and some simply fly under the radar. Here’s our lowdown on which new tables are worth booking and a couple of places that may have slipped your notice.

Beneath the modernist structure of the large Meliá Habana in Havana’s Miramar district is the tucked away, La Bella Cubana, an Asian restaurant with a sleek interior: bamboo print decorates the wall and dimmed lighting filters through black and gold ceiling lamps. The chef hails from Heredia in Costa Rica and he and his team provide a slick service to accompany the very tasty food. Think tiradito of salmon in ponzu with a touch of pumpkin sauce, chicken gyozas, sashimi, tempura dishes and a delicious black uramaki packed with umami flavour – salmon wrapped in nori seaweed accompanied by a dip of truffle, sweet-and-sour sauce and chard. The service is top notch; the desserts are a bit hit and miss.

Baracoando is a new offshoot from Baracoa’s, and indeed Cuba’s only vegan restaurant. Chef Aristides Smith is quite the character and his commitment and enthusiasm for vegan food and lifestyle is infectious. He and his family have opened a Baracoando branch at 660 Manrique Street between Estrella and Reyna, Centro Habana. From his own farm plot come the freshest of veg all served up on traditional platters. He creates the most amazing flavours from aubergine, pumpkin and peppers and his ‘secret’ ingredient, fresh stevia. Dine downstairs, or with the breeze on his terrace. Reserve one day before via WhatsApp (+53 5258 9319) or landline (+53 7860 6207). Children and pregnant women eat without charge.

Pizza in style? Look no further than Bellavana at Casa Italia. The setting in Miramar (5^th Avenue corner of 6^th Street) is sublime in the leafy gardens by the pool. The doughiest of crusts comes out of the garden oven with toppings such as tasty mortadella or mushrooms, black olives, ham and mozzarella, all fresh Italian ingredients.

At Mythos, find the only Greek restaurant in Havana (211 Cuba Street between Empedrado and O’Reilly, Old Havana) feast on a smorgasbord of delicious mezze. Generous helpings of hummus, black olives, soft pita bread and tzatziki are perfect for sharing. The spacious restaurant has a Mediterranean vibe with blue and white decor, and a painted depiction of a Greek god (Dionysus?) clutching a glass of red on the wall.

Bringing a dash of cool to the artsy el Vedado neighbourhood is Candela (Avenue 23 and F Street) where cocktails and fruit shakes are served up alongside very good ham and cheese croquettes, soft bao buns stuffed with Shanghai pork pancetta, onion and mayo. Burgers, pastas and steak are on the menu, too, at the pretty alfresco patio setting. Its apple tart on a creamy pastry base is a winner! Look out for the odd live music and DK nights.