The 7 Best Budget-Friendly Restaurants In Cuba

Eating out in Cuba doesn’t have to be expensive. If you know where to go, you can get good meals for around $4. Check out these restaurants to find out where you can eat well on a budget.

El Carmelo

Restaurant, Fusion

It looks fairly fancy from the outside, but El Carmelo provides a welcome surprise with its prices. There are offers for less than CUC$5 which include a main, drink, and dessert, or you can get a lasagne for CUC$2.50. Another positive is the huge portions, which mean you can fill up for next to nothing.

Artechef

Restaurant, Cuban

Another restaurant that serves great food in an elegant setting at bargain basement prices. Set a few blocks away from the Malecon, Artechef boasts well-dressed staff and a formal dining room, but most of the prices hover around CUC$3–4. Take a look at the daily specials in the window before you go in. State-run Artechef is also a culinary school, so you get to experience some artistic Cuban cuisine for rock bottom prices.

El Cochinito

Restaurant, Cuban

The name of this state-run restaurant translates as “the piglet”, and pork dominates the menu. Prices are in Cuban pesos, and you’ll struggle to spend more than CUC$2.50 even if you order a selection of items. Specials can cost as little as CUC$1.30. It gets busy late on, so arrive around 7.30pm.

Buona Sera

Restaurant, Italian

Another restaurant priced in Cuban pesos, and one that is a popular student hangout thanks to its proximity to the University of Havana. As the name suggests there is an Italian theme, with pizza and pasta dominating the menu. Dishes start at CUC$0.35, and beers can be had for CUC$0.75. You might not want to eat here every day, but you’ll get a great idea of the realities of Cuba as you sip on a beer and mingle with the students.

Cinecittà

Restaurant, Italian

This cinema-themed restaurant also serves Italian food, although it’s a bit higher quality than Buona Sera. You can get pizza and pasta for CUC$0.35, while lasagne and cannelloni cost around CUC$1. Beer and ice cream are also incredibly cheap. Arrive early on weekends as this place is incredibly popular.

El Chanchullero

Bar, Fusion

Old Havana is packed with tourist traps selling bad food at high prices, but El Chanchullero is a welcome exception. It’s got a laid-back, trendy feel to it, and an irreverent sense of humour. Main dishes cost CUC$4–5, and the portions are absolutely huge. There is also a long list of great cocktails, and it’s a nice spot to start an evening.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.