Eating on a Budget in Havana

Tourist restaurants tend to be fairly expensive in Havana, and you may soon find eating blows a hole in your budget.

Fortunately, there are ways to eat on a budget in the Cuban capital, as long as you know where to look. The first tip is to look for street food stalls that have menus in Cuban pesos (CUP). These places aren’t aimed at tourists, and everything is super cheap. You can get a small pizza for 40 cents on the dollar, or a portion of spaghetti for the same price.

It might be amazingly cheap to eat here, but, for most visitors, the food is just too bland to eat for long. The next step up is to visit the state-run restaurants, where you can get meat, rice and beans for around $1.50. El Bulevar in Havana Centro is a hot spot for these places, but you’ll find them dotted all over the city.

Travelers often find cheap food in the markets, and Cuba is no different. However, the choice is limited in Havana. There is a restaurant in the Vedado market, though, and the food seems decent enough.

Privately run restaurants known as paladares can also be affordable, but they can also be incredibly expensive. Always check the menu before you order to avoid any nasty surprises.