This chic paladar, situated in the penthouse of a Vedado apartment block, could very well be located in Paris or Barcelona with its funky decor and gourmet cuisine. Choose to dine inside the bright dining room, plastered in newsprint, or outside on the breezy terrace, which offers dreamy views of Havana. With a heavy emphasis on seafood with a Creole twist, the menu also offers meat and vegetarian options, all beautifully presented—think red snapper with clams, lobster and shrimp brochettes, tuna carpaccio, or slow-roasted lamb.

Although it is just around the corner from the famous Hotel Nacional, you have to be guided into the apartment building, where a small antique elevator takes you up to the penthouse. This is not a charming family-run paladar, but a stylish and professional restaurant, foremost in the new wave of private eating establishments in Havana. The paladar has an updated 1950s feel.

Cited by many as the best restaurant in Cuba right now, Café Laurent is idiosyncratically chic. The atmospheric lighting, trendy music and excellent service puts it in high-end territory, but the bathtub in the toilets –...more

Tome el antiguo ascensor hasta Cafe Laurent en el cuarto piso, donde un antiguo ático cerca del histórico Hotel Nacional se ha convertido en un elegante restaurante minimalista con un ingenioso toque de los años 50. Siéntese en la bohemia de La Habana contra una pared trasera cubierta con periódicos viejos, y elija entre más de 30 platos de fusión de influencia española del chef cubano Dayron Avilés Alfonso. Su especialidad son los mariscos, desde el pargo rojo en salsa verde hasta los camarones y la paella.

Aside from classic cars, communism and excellent Olympic boxers, the image of the Cuban cigar has continued to define the overall look of Cuban culture. Coveted by serious cigar enthusiasts the world over, Cuba has firmly placed itself as the cigar producer the world over and even non-smokers may forgo their healthy habits when in the capital of cigars (I did). You can find cigar shops all over the city, selling a range of top-quality cigars, all handmade within the country.

We arrived at a small apartment building in a taxi and were guided into the building and asked to get into quite a kitch-decorated lift. Within seconds we arrived at the penthouse and it was obvious to see that this was most definitely a residential building with a beautiful family run paladar located on the top floor. Café Laurent specialises in Mediterranean food and is quite the chic, professional restaurant, which is evident from the moment you step out of the lift.

Take the antique elevator to the fourth floor of Cafe Laurent, where an old penthouse apartment near the historic Hotel Nacional has been turned into an elegant minimalist restaurant with an atmosphere of 1950. Catch one of the more than 30 Cuban-sting fusion dishes from the Spanish-influenced chef Dayron Avilés Alfonso in Havana bohemia against an old-fashioned back wall. Its particularity includes fish, from green snappers to paella and shrimp.

A stone’s throw away from Havana’s Hotel Nacional is Café Laurent, a restaurant that’s located on the 5 th floor of a non-descript apartment building. Upon exiting the elevator, you enter quite a large, light-filled dining room where almost every white tablecloth clad table has exceptional views of the Vedado neighbourhood’s rooftops and the sea beyond. The food here is a Cuban-Spanish fusion with fresh fish and seafood heavily featured.

The café’s entrance may confuse you as it is located in a penthouse and you have to board an elevator to reach there. Now here comes the twist, as soon as you enter the restaurant you will be surprised to learn that it is not some shabby old restaurant run by any family but a stylish and professional restaurant, it have a updated 1950’s feel with old newspapers and magazines as the wallpapers of the restaurant.

It's easy to miss Cafe Laurent, which is disguised as a home in the residential neighbourhood of Vedado. Take the quirkily decorated lift up to the fourth floor however, and it reveals an airy, elegant restaurant with scenic balcony views and a simple menu of fresh, tasty food. I'm not usually a salad person, but I really enjoyed the prawn salad I chose, and the croquettes were some of the best I had in Cuba.

Located on the fourth floor of a converted historic hotel, Cafe Laurent is stylish yet minimalist, with a cool 1950’s twist. Cuban chef Dayron Aviles Alfonso has created something really special, offering dozens of Spanish-influenced fusion dishes that include the house specialty of red snapper in green sauce. The balcony at Cafe Laurent is not to be missed, offering breathtaking views of scenic Vedado

Café Laurent takes you back to the 1950s with its retro décor and ambiance. Situated atop a vintage building, it offers an eclectic French menu alongside stunning city views, providing a picturesque dining experience day or night. Café Laurent excels in delivering traditional French cuisine with a contemporary touch, celebrated for its excellent seafood options and a vast selection of wines.

Started by former employees of the outstanding government restaurant El Templete, Café Laurent is one of the best seafood outposts in the city. It sits atop a small apartment building within walking distance of the Hotel Nacional, and the view from the terrace extends up and down the Malecón. The seafood focus is evident in such excellent dishes as the squid in ink sauce that was spot on.

You’ll find a stunning contemporary dining area on the fourth floor of this decaying building if you use the property’s ancient elevator. Dayron Avilés Alfonso, a Spanish chef, is a master of seafood recipes, from paella to red snapper in green sauce. With its 1950s furnishings and newspaper clippings, the terrace provides stunning views of the city of Vedado and the Caribbean Sea.

Accessed by an antique elevator, Café Laurent is set in an old penthouse overlooking Vedado. Local chef Dayron Avilés Alfonso has designed the Spanish Basque-based menu, which has a focus on fish and seafood dishes. Diners tuck into beautifully presented plates of paella and red snapper in salsa verde in a bright and airy space – all whitewashed interiors and wide glass windows.

At Café Laurent you will sense the echoes of the glamorous Havana of the 50’s in this updated art deco penthouse with panoramic views from the El Vedado neighborhood to the sea. Just steps from the iconic Hotel Nacional de Cuba and the Hotel Capri, Café Laurent blends and harmonizes cosmopolitan cuisine with contemporary Cuban fare. Café Laurent puts Havana at your feet.

Other recommendations that I did not have time try include Doña Eutimia in the heart of the old town on Callejon de Chorro #60c off the Plaza de la Catedral, Paladar Rio Mar in Miramar with great views of the harbor at 3ra y Final #11 and Restaurante Paladar Cafe Laurent. There is also La Cocina de Lilian in Miramar and Atelier Restaurante, Penthouse, 257 Calle M.

Lunch would take place at Café Laurent, followed by ice cream at Heladeria Coppelia. The afternoon would be whiled away with a long stroll through the neighbourhood and a visit to Plaza de la Revolución and the Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón. The day would end with a sunset stroll on Paseo, dinner at Atelier and an evening walk along the Malecón.

Although it is just around the corner from the famous Hotel Nacional, you have to be guided into the apartment building, where a small antique elevator takes you up to the penthouse. This is not a charming family-run paladar, but a stylish and professional restaurant, foremost in the new wave of private eating establishments in Havana.

Paladares in Havana have a habit of opening and closing but some that we can recommend, or which have been recommended to us, include 5 Sentidos, Otramanera, La Guarida, Jama, Grados, Toca Madera, Atelier, El Cocinero, Café Laurent, San Cristobal, El Chanchullero, La Fontana, Dona Eutimia, Jibaro Bar & Lamparilla 361.

Perched atop a rooftop terrace with stunning views of Vedado, trendy yet unpretentious Café Laurent serves gourmet dishes with a decidedly Cuban twist. Trouncing all previous meals in Cuba, this paladar (a private restaurant that isn't owned by the state) was my most memorable gastronomic experience in Havana.

Cafe Laurent in Havana, Cuba is a charming and cozy restaurant known for its delicious fusion cuisine and stunning rooftop terrace. With a relaxed atmosphere and attentive service, it offers a unique dining experience where guests can enjoy panoramic views of the city while savoring delectable dishes.

Around the corner from the famous Hotel Nacional, a small antique elevator takes you up to Café Laurent, the frontrunner in a new wave of private eating establishments, and like nothing you’ve ever seen in Cuba. Think of superb service. Retro vibes with old newspaper cuttings papering the walls.

Called the Paladar for short, this amazing restaurant has been around for more than twenty years. It’s very popular so make sure you reserve a table and if you like a breeze, ask to be placed in the Courtyard. We definitely recommend trying the Paella as you sit back and soak in the ambiance.

Este restaurante se encuentra ubicado en la última planta de un edificio de la zona de El Vedado. Al entrar, te sorprenderá su ascensor. Se puede decir que ha entrado en mi top de ascensores molones en los que he montado, hasta la fecha compite con uno en Nueva York y otro en Las Vegas.

While the view and dining space at Café Laurent was beautiful, the food was lackluster. I ordered a beef tenderloin dish which was drenched in oil and the meat itself was pretty tough. I didn’t hear many complaints from my friends on their dishes though.

La ciudad a tus pies, gracias a la vista única de este restaurante que recrea el espíritu de La Habana de los años cincuenta. Una cita ineludible para la interpretación de los sabores cubanos. Calle M no. 257 e/19 y 21, El Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución

Experience: This paladar near Hotel Nacional is absolutely a hidden gem!. The hotel is located on the top floor of an extremely ugly fifties building. When you enter the elevator or staircase you genuinely wonder, am I in the right place?

The city at your feet, thanks to the unique view of this restaurant that recreates the spirit of Havana from the 1950s. An inescapable date to interpret Cuban flavors. Calle M no. 257 e/19 y 21, El Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución

Café Laurent is on the rooftop terrace of a six-story building. Long, white curtains gently blow in the breeze. There’s a partial view of Havana’s rooftops, but you can also see the Malecón and the sea.

The hip Café Laurent is located on the top floor of an eclectic building in the heart of Vedado. The spacious terrace is a great spot for lunch, giving spectacular views of the sea and

This chic paladar, situated in the penthouse of a Vedado apartment block, could very well be located in Paris or Barcelona with its funky decor and gourmet cuisine.