We are taking a break until after the COVID pandemic ... but watch this space!

We are living in difficult times around the world with the spread of COVID-19. So far, the situation in Cuba...

This rooftop terrace of San Isidro is exceptional.

Montecristo was one of the leading brands of the recently Habano Festival. The popular brand celebrates its 85th anniversary this year. These are some of the Montecristo sticks that we like the most.

Here are 10 cool and casual places that we are sure you will love.

There are only things to love in this boutique luxury accommodation option in Havana. With just nine guest rooms, this...

If you are in Havana and have had a little bit too much of the local cuisine, fear not –...

It’s easy to imagine large groups of friends having drinks and sharing stories in this glamorous bar-restaurant. Located in Centro...

With a great climate year-round, Havana is the quintessential outdoor city with many cool rooftop restaurants and bars. Most hotels...

Totó e Peppino is a small, cozy and conveniently located Italian restaurant in Havana with an elegant, discreet and clean...

Havana is growing significantly as a gastronomic destination. Every day we see improved service and last year many new restaurants...

December is a bad time to be a pig in Cuba. Steaming dishes of roast pork cover every Cuban table...

Our new printed guide of top recommendations is already on the streets of Havana. In this eighth edition we carefully selected the...

Aguacate 11 is now the only Mexican restaurant in Havana. It doesn’t have a single competitor. But even if other Mexican...

Cuba’s fashion world is expanding rapidly. Several designer clothing stores have emerged in a very short space of time, giving...

If you are interested in knowing a little about what is happening in the contemporary Cuban art scene, here are three young independent Cuban art galleries that have attracted attention recently.

Great rum is synonymous with the Caribbean, and nowhere is rum more famous than in Cuba. Centuries of tradition, a renewed...

An interesting and exotic restaurant with exquisite Lebanese dishes...

Nobody makes better rums than the Cubans. Here is the latest batch we´re drinking:  Ron Cubay Carta Blanca: A clean,...

Clandestina sold his first t-shirt just over four years ago. At that time Havana was going through a period of...

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Casa Mía is a living example of the new Cuban paladar (private restaurants).

You can ask around and everyone will answer the same: El del Frente has the best cocktails in Havana. This place...

Havana’s chinese food rediscovers its roots with the new Beijing - almost certainly the best Chinese restaurant in the city

If you are looking for a more sophisticated alternative, here are Havana's 5 best fine dining restaurants.

Here are five great gift cigars that are not too expensive and deliver a great smoking experience.

Nonna Tina is a lovely Italian trattoria, cool and authentic...

Classic Cuban cigars are smokes that have been produced and enjoyed for decades, and still deliver exceptional smoking experiences despite...

A new contender for the title of coolest bar in Havana has arrived in San Isidro.

With this flyer in your hands, you’ll have no problems navigating this charming yet somewhat disconnected city

It's hard to think of a better location for a restaurant than this, within easy reach of pretty much anywhere in Old Havana.

Color Café stands out for its original approach.

Costa Vino is a small and cozy restaurant with impeccable service and also a serious restaurant, with its impressive wine offerings.

Here are five rums locals love for both their quality and their value.

If the thought of eating out in Havana with your toddler means you rarely actually eat out, these places could be your answer

Great grills and sublime service - click here to check our latest top 5 list, showcasing the top places to grab a catch in the city.

It can be one of the city’s best experiences: walking through the narrow streets of Old Havana, meeting its people,...

Santiago de Cuba rum is produced in the eastern part of the country, an area considered to be the Mecca of Cuban light rum.

Jíbaro is located in the neighborhood of San Isidro, one of the most picturesque areas of Old Havana.

Luxury rum is a growing category in the spirits world and Cuba is producing some of the most exciting examples at the moment.

Doctor Café is rarely mentioned in lists of top places to visit in Havana, but it's a unique restaurant

Idyllic palm-fringed beach experiences await just a short bus ride from downtown Havana

Here are Havana’s 5 top places to have breakfast

Whether you’re looking for Havana’s best pasta, pizza or passionate chefs, these top Havana Italian restaurants will have you covered.

If you're not into glamorous cabarets or repetitive electronic music, the Bombilla Verde is made for you.

These 5 fantastic Cuban restaurants in Havana combine delectable dishes with awesome ambience

Rita & Champagne, an all-white venue with a deep red door, should be high on your list of go-to places.

If you're in Havana and love live music, here are five excellent bars to add to your go-to list

These 5 restaurants take the Havana dining experience to a breathtaking level

This year (2019) marks 500 years since Havana’s foundation as a city, so there’s no better time to experience the place in all its celebratory glory

The huge tornado that struck Cuba on January 27 has inspired relief efforts from Havana's top attractions

For a dark, decadent and delightfully friendly, if slightly surreal, night out in Havana, this late-night Havana bar is close to perfect.

The most happening city in Cuba is poised for even more creative foodie infusions – here’s our take on the best dining options right now.

James Suckling's 10 best Cuban cigars of 2018 - the smokes that really go beyond all others. Click to reveal the full list.

Our new printed guide of top recommendations is already on the streets of Havana. In this sixth edition we carefully selected outlets and venues that captivated our attention in 2018. Read on for more and enjoy!

Renowned Cuban singer and composer Eme Alfonso presents her latest musical album ‘Voy’ to the public in a unique concert at the Mella theater on Friday, December 21, 2018 at 8:30 pm.

Star dishes include exquisite fresh pasta; complex variations with eggplant; and concoctions with spinach, sweet potato, yucca, millet, rice and whole wheat bread; tasty desserts; and freshly squeezed natural juices.

Looking for a cool spot with good breakfasts and lunches? Try Belview Art Café!

Ideal for large families or business meetings, Al Pescatore showcases a series of Italian culinary delights.

Toros y Tapas has some of the best tapas in town, hands down. Click to see our restaurant review now!

The brand-new paladar in Old Havana, 5 Sentidos is the latest talk of the town. Check out our review now!

For stunning sunset views, classic Cuban recipes and carefully crafted cocktails, visit the fine dining restaurant Porto-Habana.

A laidback restaurant that residents of Miramar don’t want you to find out, Tocamadera is a great lunch spot with gourmet burgers.

From Old Havana, take the ferry across the harbor to discover the rich history of Casablanca and Regla.

Jama is an exciting new restaurant, offering a mix of Cuban and Japanese cuisines in Havana.

Cuba’s ecotourism is booming and stealing the limelight from the other tourist attractions. Nature lovers, don’t miss out.

A new Italian restaurant in Old Havana has arrived. Il Rustico is opened with the Sicilian chef Fabio Palazzo, who is...

Celebrating the best of new contemporary music, Havana World Music (HWM) 2018 was a blast! Click here for all the event highlights.

Wine lovers, take note. Otramanera’s owner is a Spanish sommelier, who pays special attention to his wine selection. For Cuban standards, the restaurant has an excellent wine list, offering a wide variety of reds, whites and sparkling from all over the world.

The fifth issue of Havana Insider is now being distributed in Havana! Grab a copy and read all about the hottest venues and the best Cuban cigars.

Destino is an elegant and classy spot, serving an array of classic Cuban plates. Cigar enthusiasts will also love the limited-edition habanos.

The Cuban troubadours have taken over Bar Pazillo. Featuring renowned artists of the different genres every night of the week,...

Part bar, part café and part art gallery, El Dandy is a neat place tucked away in a little corner...

This charming coffee spot is hidden among the trees of a quiet area in Miramar, just a few steps from...

  When we talk about Cuban rums today, the usuals always come to mind, including Havana Club and Santiago. But...

  This year was a very good one for Cuban cigars available in the market. Many of the cigars in...

Marea is the only restaurant in Havana with its own private beach. Located in the backyard of one of its...

El Café is easy to miss. Located in Old Havana at one end of Amargura Street, just steps from Plaza...

Some years ago it was difficult to imagine a succesful Middle Eastern restaurant in Havana, but the Cuban gastronomic scene...

I started seriously smoking cigars in the 1990s after my first trip to Havana with The Wine Spectator, which was about to launch the American magazine Cigar Aficionado.

This legendary Cuban paladar is located right in the heart of Vedado’s “el Hueco” area. When it first opened in...

La Foresta is worth the 30-minutes drive from Old Havana to the exclusive Siboney neighborhood. Very close to the Havana...

  1. SOUVENIRS Clandestina: Villegas #403 e/ Tte. Rey y Muralla, Habana Vieja +53 53814802 This centrally-located shop in Old Havana...

Templete remains one of the best restaurants in Havana delivering excellent fish dishes in a Spanish inspired cooking technique and presentation....

Set right in the middle of 23rd Street,"Efe" Bar is a tropical oasis of palms and banana trees that invites you to exchange the city's heat and asphalt streets for refreshing Daiquiris.

Just one block off the Malecón is Havana’s newest restaurant, which is putting an emphasis on local ingredients and attentive service.

5 Esquinas Trattoria is located on the corner of the peculiarly-named “Sword alley,” a charming cobblestone street in the historic center of Havana. Indeed this is one of the most exciting restaurants in Old Havana. Pizzas here are the real deal and made in wood-fired oven.

Located in Vedado just a few steps away from Havana University and “La Rampa”, La Moraleja is a classic Cuban restaurant that gets it right.

Bartenders at the newly-opened San Juan sling top-notch potions, including a sharp and balanced Bloody Mary and a tropical-haven mango daiquiri.

Havana saw its first Indian restaurant open earlier this year and already the kitchen is off to a stellar star.

You'll be hard pressed to find a better restaurant view in Havana than the one at Vistamar.

After touring the Museum of Revolution, cool off across the street at Cha Cha Chá with a frosty strawberry Daiquirí and a fresh Caesar salad.

Music is mostly electronic, a rare genre to find in Havana, and DJs from around the world frequently run the floor.

Roma is a lunchtime favorite for out of towners looking for superbly fresh and authentic pasta and for Italians looking for a taste of home.

Though people can take down a cocktail and nibble on some cocktails during the day, this establishment is all about the night life.

Eggplant mousaka, plantains rolled in bacon and homemade “Picadillo a la Habanera”(mincemeat) are standouts.

Inside you’ll find reviews of top restaurants like Amigos del Mar and Casa Grande and bars like Roma and Espacios.

Themed nights like Diversity Night on Monday and Karaoke Night on Wednesday are worth checking out.

Chef Jorge Falcó Ochoa runs this “big house” in Cojímar only 7 kilometers from downtown.

Cuba’s most famous musicians can be seen hanging out in the VIP section at Fantaxy, which parties until 5 in the morning and enforces a strict dress code.

Specialties of the house are octopus and the “garbanzos marineros” served in a ceramic pot chock full of fresh shellfish.

How many restaurants in Havana take their best customers on sailboats?

When the bar takes up as much real estate as the tables, you should know where to invest your calories.

Popularity isn’t always an indicator of quality, but the crowds standing in line just off the Plaza del San Francisco are there for good reason.

Like so many of Havana's best spots, Espacios is hidden from plain sight set behind what looks like a typical Cuban residence.

If you’re looking for the Havana you’ve seen in movies, this is it.

Fabulous cocktails and locally sourced dishes are served in a dramatic, refurbished factory.

Starwood’s entry to the market is a promising sign of future partnerships.

If the city of Oz from the classic movie Wizard of Oz ever had a restaurant and bar, this is what it would look like.

The story goes that Ernest Hemingway liked to sit at the corner table overlooking the bay off the northern coastline of Cuba.

We are excited to announce that the third issue of Havana Insider is now out. Inside you’ll find reviews of...

It's the view that will really call you back. A sleek landing right on the water has picture-perfect sunset views.

It’s easy to imagine large groups sitting in this open-air pizzeria, downing Cristals, and never wanting to leave.

You could miss this understated restaurant that exudes exclusiveness the minute you walk through the gates.

Dinner for four at Le Cameron might run you close to 200 CUC, but few restaurants in Havana offer the same kind of getaway experience.

Tin Hao is well on its way to becoming a city-wide destination.

The major regulatory change marks the end of the $100 cap on Cuban rum and cigars that U.S. travelers can bring back from Cuba.

This annual event never fails to attract cigar enthusiasts from around the world.

The Mexican owner went as far as bringing in a chef from his native country to whip the kitchen into shape. It shows.

Tucked along a quiet street in Cojimar behind wooden doors is one of Havana’s most exciting restaurants.

Even the Chinese and Italians could learn a thing or two from the grandmothers in the kitchen.

In a strikingly high-ceilinged 120-year-old Vedado mansion, this stylish second-floor paladar offers competently done international meat, poultry, pasta and seafood dishes that satisfy even if they don't always totally dazzle.

We just revisited this newish and slightly more spacious annex of Havana's coolest but enduring "in" bar, O'Reilly 304, just across the street. Their drinks are still some of the very best in a city.

Even if other Korean restaurants were around, we doubt they could capture the same magic that we found at Club Su Miramar.

Cubans are obsessed with eating pizza, and few obsess over making it quite like Ivano at La Siciliana.

Coffee is another sign of changing dynamics between the United States and Cuba. Swiss giant Nestlé SA recently announced its Nespresso division would begin selling "Cafecito de Cuba" single use coffee pods in the United States.

I have written in the past about the Golden Age for Cuban cigars, pinpointing the period from 1988 to 1996 when the island made excellent smokes.

JetBlue announced today the first direct commercial flights between United States and Cuba in over half a century.

In 2012, Havana Cigar Festival commemorated 520 years of Cuban tobacco in the world. American actor/singer Jim Belushi was among the 1,500 guests that attended the event.

Today, private restaurants or paladars in Cuba seem to be opening up everywhere in Havana. But you would hardly expect, in the crowded and bustling streets of Centro Habana, to find a Swedish restaurant.

If you like O’Reilly 304, one of the coolest bars/restaurants in town, you'll love their newest venture, just across the street.

La California, a few blocks away from the Malecón in Centro Habana, occupies a 19th century house that was a “cultural center” back in the 1930s.

I have never had such a refined tequila as this. It was first made for the Rolling Stones tour in 1972 and Jose Cuervo sponsored the event.

Our second print edition of Havana Insider is now available on the streets of Havana, and via free download on HavanaInsider.com.

This cool new tapas restaurant, opened in early January, is owned by Partagas Cigars' former manager for quality control, Támara Diaz and her husband Alexis Ortas.

Located on the second floor of a 19th century house in Old Havana, Los Mercaderes is one of the most popular Cuban restaurants in Havana.

Rightly named after its Spanish owner Pilar, this private restaurant or known as paladar here opened its doors three years ago, and is – without a doubt - one of the best Spanish restaurants in Havana.

Nero di Seppia is an Italian restaurant that opened in June 2015, a new venture from the previous owner (and chef) of La Carboncita - Walter Ginevri.

You wouldn't expect President Obama to have dinner in a private restaurant on the evening of the first day of his official visit to Cuba - the first in nearly 90 years. But we think he made a good choice. President Obama chose Centro Habana's San Cristóbal - one of our favorite places to eat in the city.

The XVIII Habanos Festival in Havana concluded last Friday with a closing gala that was celebrated in Pabexpo in the residential neighborhood of Siboney.

The opening night of the XVIII Habanos Festival (18th Havana Cigar Festival) took place on February 29 at the Viejo Almacen de Tabaco y Madera.

The 18th Festival del Habano began on the 29th of February in a bright and warm Havana. The festival took off with the usual press conference at the Palacio de la Convenciones where journalists and professionals from the industry came for a review of the events during the festival as well as new releases and business figures from Habanos S.A.

Seven months after its July 2015 launch, HavanaInsider.com continues to lead the field. It is the single most useful website for travelers to Cuba who want to savor the very best the island has to offer. We extend a big thanks to all our readers for their great support and feedback.

Commercial rapprochement between Cuba and the U.S. seems to be a slow and cautious process, full of sand-traps and regulatory hurdles on both sides.

The White House announced February 17 that U.S. President Obama would travel to Cuba March 21-22, 2016. This is a political milestone in the measured but steady process of normalization between the two countries.

The name of this private restaurant in Old Havana may evoke the delicious distillates produced on the island. Or maybe the sound of an old American car engine starting.

We tasted Havana Club's ultra premium Union rum recently in Havana. It's a powerful and amazing expression of an aged rum, blended to pair with a Cuban cigar. The target was the powerful Cohiba Siglo VI.

This small jazz venue located in the middle of Vedado area is owned by one of Cuban jazz giants, Lázaro Valdés.

It always seems strange drinking bottles of mostly Spanish and Chilean wines in the few restaurants that offer them in Havana and outside the capital. Most often, everyone else is drinking cocktails, rum or cold beers. There is no wine culture in Cuba.

This sensational bar, situated on the 34th floor of the tallest building of Cuba - FOCSA, has probably the best views in the city.

Named after Richard Egues, a flute player and soloist in Cuba’s legendary Orquesta Aragón band, who went by the nickname “the magic flute”, this bar is located on the rooftop of a 10-floor building that is right in front of the United States Embassy in Havana.

This gem Havana bar located in the iconic FOCSA building, the tallest building in Cuba in Vedado, fits all the criteria Luis Buñuel, the Spanish film director, described except one - music.

HavanaInsider.com has only been online for about six months, but you know that I have been rating Cuban cigars since 1992 - first with Cigar Aficionado magazine and then with my own website JamesSuckling.com starting in 2010.

HavanaInsider.com was launched in July 2015 by JamesSuckling.com, as the U.S. and Cuba resumed diplomatic relations. It quickly became the go-to reference for visitors to Havana who want to experience the best of an amazing 500-year-old city.

Located in Old Havana on a small street facing Havana’s Capitolio, this privately owned bar resembles more like a cantina

Following James' recent interview with UK Cigar Scene Magazine, a popular London-based online cigar magazine, James shared more of his thoughts on the future of Cuba's cigar industry in this extra bonus video.

Located in Vedado, not far from the Melia Habana hotel, L'Atelier is a sweet spot of great food, atmosphere, and service that make it a stand-out among Havana's best restaurants.

A pleasant restaurant serving international cuisine with crisp modern and contemporary decor.

Located on the lower floor of an restored traditional limestone building with a few tables scattered in the pedestrian street, the food here is mainly Cuban, with pork and fish dominating the menu, which actually changes daily depending on the fresh ingredients available.

The Atlantic Council, a prestigious Washington DC think tank, just released the results of a recent poll—in four electorally important U.S. "heartland" states—that shows strong support for President Obama's Cuba policy.

This seaside restaurant is located off a small bay right where Miramar meets the Malecon and where the Almendares river ends.

The mesmerizing campus of Havana's Instituto Superior de Arte was once the city's premier country club.

Located on the second floor of one of the newly restored buildings that surround the Plaza Vieja in Old Havana, this loud, funky and eclectically decorated lounge-like restaurant commands one of the most envious views of the ancient Plaza Vieja from its terrace.

I was thinking about a Japanese whiskey and cigar tasting I did a week ago in Hong Kong at the Red Chamber cigar club prior to a Zachys wine auction on October 31. I said a few words about the cigar, a Montecristo Edmundo, which was My Cigar of the Year in 2014.

The hip Café Laurent is located on the top floor of an eclectic building in the heart of Vedado, just a few blocks away from the historic Hotel Nacional. This paladar is refurbished from an old apartment, but one can still have the cozy feeling of dining in a living room.

James recently did an interview with UK Cigar Scene, a popular online cigar magazine based in London, where he looked back to his more than 30 years of experiences writing about Cigars when working as the bureau chief of Cigar Aficionado magazine.

Al Carbón, a new restaurant that opened only a few months ago in Havana, is a new addition to Havana's fine dining scene. Created by the same owners of the immensely popular Iván y Justo, the restaurant strikes out in a different but equally successful direction, specializing in traditional Cuban dishes cooked over charcoal.

Cigar Paradise: New opportunity to get an up close experience staying on an estate in Cuba's finest tobacco region for cigars.

Habanos S.A., Cuba’s state company that distributes and markets Cuban cigars, has launched a new website, which according to the cigar company, will provide users better site navigation and more comprehensive information on cigars.

President Barack Obama met with President Raul Castro last week for the second time this year, on the margins of the annual UN General Assembly in New York. This followed steps by the U.S. Administration to further ease restrictions on individual U.S. citizens' travel and doing business in the island country.

This is hands down the best fish restaurant in Havana. Far from the salinas and commotion of Old Havana, it is tucked away near the mouth of the Jaimanitas river in a fishermen’s village of the same name in western Havana.

Café Bohemia offers a light menu that ranges from salads to Italian style panini named after both movie and novel titles.

Pope Francis just ended his four-day visit to Cuba, during which he met with President Raul Castro and, privately, with Fidel Castro and his family at the latter's home. HavanaInsider was present at the large mass in Revolution Square and noted the enthusiasm of the crowd for the Pope's message of reconciliation and human service.

In one of Cuba’s best tobacco growing areas, Pinar del Rio’s San Luis region, tobacco grower Hiroshi Robaina wakes up every year at midnight on September 21 to check the direction of the wind at his plantation, Cuchillas de Barbacoa.

This spectacular venue, which is located upstairs at the legendary Teatro Nacional in Vedado, offers some spectacular performances anything from trovadores or Cuba’s singer-songwriters to some of the most sought-after salsa ensembles.

September is usually quieter in Havana. Now things are changing and you notice it clearly from month to month. New restaurants and bars are popping up everywhere. Numerous direct flights from the U.S. are arriving full every day, and the number of American visitors is clearly up a lot.

This restaurant, whose name translates as "The Printer," is owned by Habaguanex, an enterprise of the Havnana City Historian's office. It is located on Calle Mercaderes in Old Havana, one door away from the famous Conde de Villanueva hotel, where you can also find one of Havana’s best cigar shops.

Visitors to Cuba has increased 17 percent so far this year compared with the same period last year, says the country’s Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero.

The Yellow Submarine, a bar located in Havana's Vedado, owes its name, as some of you might have guessed, to the Beatles’ seminal record - Havana's homage to the British pop band.

La Domínica, a lovely Italian restaurant facing Hemingway’s Ambos Mundos hotel in Old Havana, is one of the best Italian restaurants in Havana. The food is reasonably priced, and the live music performance really upped the experience.

The legendary Jazz musician Wynston Marsalis just released a new jazz album recorded before a live audience at the Mella Theatre in Havana, Cuba. Titled "Live in Cuba", the album explores the connections between American jazz and different types of Afro-Cuban music.

I have always been a fan of tubed cigars, or tubos as they say in Spanish. Tubos are so convenient for carrying single cigars, and they preserve the cigars beautifully.

Café Cantante Mi Habana is located in the basement of the Teatro Nacional, one of the corners of the iconic Plaza de la Revolución. It is very lively and well-kept, with lots of space for dancing, and some of the hottest, up-and-coming bands on the local scene are often jamming there.

Celebrated in popular and jazz circles in Cuba and far beyond, Roberto Carcassés' spirited, innovative style is on full display at Havana's Corner Café in Vedado area.

American airlines could start operating weekly charter flights from Los Angeles to Havana as early as December this year. Plus more stories on Cuban youth and essentials to know for Americans who want to invest in Cuban property in our weekly news digest.

Corte del Príncipe is an understated and unassuming little restaurant in Playa, one of the best Italian restaurants we've had so far in Havana.

Today marks a special moment in history of the United States and Cuba as the U.S. flag once again unfurls in front of the U.S. Embassy in Havana after 54 years. As a journalist who has been traveling to Cuba on a regular basis for more than two decades, this has left me breathless this morning.

The U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, presided at an official flag raising ceremony today outside the U.S. Embassy building on the Bay of Havana. Read our report and watch the flag raising ceremony here.

One of the quirky bars in Havana, Bar Bohemio has more of a touch of elegance than what the name suggests.

This video clip offers a beautiful overview of how a Cuban cigar is made--from picking the tobacco at the planation, to curing the leaf, and rolling the cigar at the factory, and, finally, to smoking and savoring a world class cigar. All in two minutes.

Vintage Classic American cars in Cuba from the 1950s have become poster images of Havana, but riding one is not always great. Don't be surprised to see duct tape and odd bits of homemade fixtures holding things in place.

Gastón Joya Perellada is one of Cuba's finest bass players. At 28, he has already played alongside Cuban piano legends Chucho Valdés and Ernán López-Nussa. A versatile and rounded musician, he has also performed with the Latin American Symphonic Orchestra under the direction of master conductor Claudio Abbado. Watch him perform a masterful solo during a show with the Ernán López-Nussa Trio.

Vintage Champagne and cigars is a great combination. Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal 2002 and Cuban cigar Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill is a great match.

A top Italian restaurant in Havana, Il Piccolo serves some delicious pizzas and pastas, a nice switch from rice and beans.

Cuba is renowned for its sensual and lively music. Pianist and composer Ernán López Nussa is one of Cuba's top musicians. Read our profile of him and watch his live piano performance.

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee voted in favor of lifting the travel ban to Cuba, just days after the U.S. and Cuba re-established diplomatic relations on July 21.

La Carboncita brings Italian flare with all the trimmings to an opulent area in Miramar. It's the most modernly styled Italian restaurant in Havana.

U.S.-Cuban relations are improving, but our societies are already close and increasingly linked. Respect can grow on both sides as our people have more direct contact with each other.

Cuban cigars are still the best in the world. No cigar delivers the unique aroma, special taste, and vivid freshness like a fine Cuban cigar, or “habano” as some Cubans call them.

Beginning March 1, 2015, MasterCard officially began handling credit card transactions by its American cardholders in Cuba, the first US credit card company to do so. However, the range of establishmnets accepting credit cards is limited, and many travelers have reported difficulty using U.S. Mastercards.

Rum went global centuries ago, but its cradle is in the West Indies, and the most famous rum comes from from Cuba.

This really describes the vibe in Havana at the moment: everyone seems incredibly excited with the prospects ahead of more Americans visiting Cuba.

I don't think the person who wrote the caption has ever stepped foot in Havana or Cuba. One key reason why Cuba is so safe is that the government’s security is extremely strong and its police force innumerable. However, more importantly, the Cuban people are friendly and do welcome visitors. They also understand how important tourism is to their economy and are looking forward to more Americans visiting following the recent change in U.S.-Cuban relations.

I was in Havana earlier in February for Havana Cigar Festival. Immediately when I landed, I lit a Cohiba Siglo I in the taxi. It's nice to be legally smoking a Cuban cigar after ten years of it essentially being illegal for Americans to smoke them. Nonetheless, in most cases it appears Americans still should not be smoking Habanos.

Havana's dining scene is hot, with greater variety and quality than ever. Here are the top ten restaurants in Havana that you should try out.

Havana’s bar scene is really varied. There are venerable places, steeped in history or associated with major literary figures, such as Hemingway’s favourite, El Floridita. Most of these are state-owned and major draws for foreign visitors.

Cuba is the holy grail for cigar smokers. Stream the award-winning documentary on Cuban cigars to better understand what makes the cigars so special.

La Guarida, one of the first private restaurants in Havana, has become synonymous with fine dining in Cuba.

Clenching the second spot on our Havana's top ten restaurant list, El Cocinero in the residential Vedado is the coolest restaurant in Havana.

Havana's best hotel, Hotel Saratoga in the heart of Havana, opposite the landmark Capitolio, is the place of choice for visiting stars and other VIPs.

O'Reilly 304 in Old Havana probably is the trendiest and hippest restaurant in Cuba at the moment. Its tacos, ceviche and daiquiri are must orders.

The Barrio Chino or Chinatown in Central Havana has become a unique sight in Havana, an essential fabric of the Chinese immigrants' history in Cuba.

This 22-floor, 462-room Hotel Melia Cohiba in Havana’s Vedado area is Havana’s most luxurious and modern business hotel.

Located on Plaza de San Francisco in Old Havana, San Felipe y Santiago de Bejucal Hotel skilfully combines tradition and modernity.

Cuba has two currencies: Pesos Cubanos, or National Currency (CUP), and the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC).

Accommodations and restaurant rates vary considerably, as anywhere. Here is a detailed break-down of travel budget to Cuba.

Tipping is always a nice way to show your appreciation for good service. You can tip in both CUP and CUC.

Like many things in Havana, getting a shave is like stepping into a time-machine. While I was in Havana attending the Habano Cigar Festival in February, I couldn't resist stopping by a local barbershop. Where else in the world can you get a shave and smoke a cigar at the same time? Now that's what I call “the good old days.”

Our Cigar of The Year 2013 is the Romeo y Julieta Churchill Reserva 2008. We have loved this cigar since the first time we smoked it in Havana back in 2012.

Café de los Artistas, opened less than a year in Old Havana, is a purveyor of great food and feeling. It serves some great ropa vieja and the best tostones.

Microbreweries are catching on in Havana, and Cervecería Antiguo Almacen de la Madera y el Tabaco is at the forefront. It serves the best beer in Havana.

The University of Havana is the oldest university in Cuba and one of the oldest educational institutions in Latin America....

Ten years after its official global launch, the Montecristo Edmundo is indeed a phenomenal cigar harking back to the glory days of Montecristo from the 1950s and 1960s.

The bottom line is that Cuban cigars can be bought like fine wines, following the vintage or date on the bottle (wines) or box (cigars). I believe that one can buy Cuban cigars according to the box date.

Tien Tan, hidden at the end of Barrio Chino (Chinatown) in Central Havana, is the best Chinese restaurant Havana has to offer.

El Templete, a nautical themed restaurant close to Plaza de Armas in Old Havana serves the best fish and seafood dishes in Havana.

Located in Central Havana just behind The Capitolio, Sia-Kara bar is a gem that has not yet made it onto many tourists’ radar.

People talk about Starbien as being one of the best restaurants in Havana. And, yes, the food is excellent quality.

Some people have been berating state-owned Cuban restaurants for shoddy service and bland food. They clearly haven’t been to El Aljibe yet.

Conveniently located on the eastern end of Plaza de Armas in Old Havana, Hotel Santa Isabel is one of the boutique hotels owned by the city's Habaguanex.

When owner Hubert Corrales told us La Esperanza is the “last vanguard of home-styled cooking in Havana,” we were very skeptical at...

We were excited to smoke a vintage Vegueros Especiales No. 1 , but when we took a cool draw off the cigar before we put the lighter to it. IT WAS PLUGGED!

Habana Café, located inside Hotel Melia Cohiba in the heart of Vedado, is Cuba's answer to the ubiquitous Hard Rock Café.

Cuba has a very sound health care system. Cubans citizens receive free medical care through a national health service.

There is a network of SERVIMED pharmacies, which require payment in CUC. Here's a list of SERVIMED pharmacies we compiled for tourists in case of emergency.

Cuba does not present any unusual health risks to travelers, but visitors should take routine precautions, such as drinking only bottled liquids.

There is a network of SERVIMED clinics in Havana for tourists in case of emergency. Here is a useful list.

The Colón Cemetery has become known nowadays more than a burial ground, but a place that showcases Cuban history and architecture.

La Rampa, which means “the slope” in Spanish, is the last stretch of the famous Calle 23, leading up to the center of Vedado, Havana.

King Bar in Vedado, Havana is definitely ruling the night scene like a king. This is one of the top bars the city has to offer.

Overlooking 17 Street in Miramar, Havana, where old American cars roam by, the atmosphere in Madrigal is unfettered by the bustling on the street.

Sloppy Joe's bar was perhaps one of the most luminous and lustrous places along side with Tropicana and Salón Rojo del Capri during the 1950s in Havana.

The annual Havana Cigar Festival kicked off on the morning of February 23rd, 2015. The day took off with a press conference, where Jorge Luis Fernandez Maique, Commercial Vice-President of Habanos, the global distribution and marketing organization for Cuban cigars; and Javier Terres Ercilla, company Vice-President of business development, gave some insight on the sales of cigars around the world. Please click here to read our report on the first day.

This is the first of a series of interviews with the different managers of the great cigar shops in Havana. In this video, we talk to Leonerto Pérez Hernández, director of La Casa del Habano at Club Habana.

The store is located in Hotel Conde Villanueva in the heart of Old Havana. Old Havana is the historic centre of the city - the first neighborhood to ever exist in Havana.

Hiroshi is the head of Finca Robaina, the legendary estate where Hiroshi’s family has been growing tobacco since 1845. Hiroshi would not be where he is if it weren’t for his grandfather, the great Alejandro Robaina.

In this second segment, Hiroshi and James discuss the importance of technology in the curing process. The curing of the tobacco is one of the most important parts in the process of making a cigar – it adds balance as well as that beautiful golden copper color to the wrapper.

Once the cabaret salon of the luxurious Capri casino, Salon Rojo del Capri remains one of the classic spots in Havana’s nightlife.

La Casa de la Música de Miramar has been continuously delivering some of the hottest salsa performances in Havana since...

La Zorra y el Cuervo, a subterranean, cramped, smoky jazz club is the epitome of the genuine jazz joint –think of the Village Vanguard.

Many people are surprised to find there is a museum in Cuba dedicated to the French emperor Napoleon, and that wouldn’t...

The Museo de Artes Decorativas (Museum of Decorative Arts) is a work of art in its own right. The site is the original residence of María Luisa Gómez Mena, a wealthy patron of Cuban artists. Built in 1927, the sumptuous, French Renaissance-inspired mansion was designed by French architects P. Virad and M. Destugué. The residence was claimed by the Cuban government in 1964 and became what is known as today - the Museum of Decorative Arts.

This is a stop that visitors to Cuba have to make. Otherwise, what’s the point of visiting a country that is famous for its national drink - rum? Opened in 2000 by the country’s most famous rum brand Havana Club, the museum uses visuals and models to guide visitors through the whole rum-making process, from harvesting at sugarcane plantations to the final bottling process.

Cuban’s devotion to ice cream is almost religious, and there’s good reason why Coppelia is popularly known as the “ice-cream Cathedral”.

Hotel Nacional’s striking architecture, commanding seaside location on the Malecón in Vedado, Havana and retro feel make it a natural draw. The hotel has soul.

Tropicana, a legendary cabaret that first opened its doors in 1939, remains to this day one of the classic spots in Havana’s night life.

El Floridita is an institution in Havana for its daiquiri and its association with the towering literary figure Ernest Hemingway.

La Terraza is inarguably the best barbecue restaurant in Havana. The smoked pork chops in pineapple sauce, barbecued ribs and...

Ivan & Justo is a place where you can’t get in without a reservation. We chanced it twice, each time we were politely turned down by the doorman downstairs.

The first day of the 2015 Havana Cigar Festival took off a with a press conference at the Palacio de las Convenciones in Havana, where Habanos’ business development vice-president Javier Terrés Ercilla and commercial vice-president Jorge Luis Fernández Maique commented on the new releases as well as the company’s relevant commercial information.

Under the influential Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), Galería Villa Manuela in Vedado, has been pushing the boundaries...

On the second day of the 2015 Havana Cigar Festival, the press and participating guests had the opportunity to visit some of the top plantations in Vuelta Abajo, recognised by many as the best tobacco region in the world.

Bella Ciao, a lush Italian restaurant deep in the Miramar area delivers stellar classics that stay faithful to their Italian roots. With outdoor seating under a roof of green ivies and trees, there’s a casual atmosphere that plays nicely off the classic austerity of many of the dishes on the impressively packed menu.

Located in Central Havana, it is often referred to as “La Casa de la Música de Galiano” to differentiate it from its Miramar analogue.

A taste-off between two top Cuban cigars - a Partagas Serie D No. 4 and a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2. See which one wins.

Opened in December 2009 by a Spanish art aficionado Concha Fontenla, this spacious art gallery on O’Reilly Street in Old...

The magnificent Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts) is a showcase of world and Cuban art, setting Havana's tone as a major art city.

At a quaint paladar like Doña Eutimia, offering hearty Cuban food at extremely reasonable prices, foodies beat a path to this top Cuban eatery.

La Bodeguita del Medio in Old Havana, popularized by Hemingway has never seen a shortage of patrons. If you want mojitos, this is the place.

Located in the upscale Embassy neighborhood of Miramar, the Meliá Habana Hotel is unquestionably one of Havana’s better hotels.

Visitors to Cuba (including Cubans living abroad) are required to have medical insurance adequate to cover medical expenses that may arise while in the country. Travelers may be asked to show proof of such upon arrival, and should check with their insurance companies beforehand to confirm coverage.

Corner café comes alive during the night when hip young Cubans converge in this pub for live music performances, DJ jam sessions and sultry jazz dancing.

An urban jungle just under the bridge of Calle 23, the Parque Almendares is located in the heart of the lively Vedado area.

I smoked a number of new releases at the 2015 Havana Cigar Festival, and the best cigar so far was actually not one of the official releases from Habanos, the global marketing and distribution company for Cuban cigars.

A lot of cigars were smoked during the 2015 Havana Cigar Festival, the annual mega-cigar festival in Havana celebrating the greatest of Cuban cigars from February 23 to 28. I smoked and rated just about everything that was handed out during the five-day event that including various dinners, seminars and visits to cigar factories and tobacco plantations.

Fábrica de Arte Cubano, an avant-garde artistic bar in Vedado area in Havana, is born out of the initiative of renowned Cuban musician X-Alfonso.

Café Miramar, a sleek jazz Club, located right next to the old Miramar cinema, has recently become one of the hot spots of Havana's jazz scene.

Statistically speaking, Cuba is very safe, with the lowest crime rate in Latin America.

Shopping is not Havana's draw, and travelers should bring an adequate supply, even of such personal staples as toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo.

Most of Old Havana is eminently walkable - the best way to experience it. Traffic city-wide tends to be light by most urban standards, as few Cubans own private cars.

Now. If you mean weather,high season is also dry season, and Havana's limited hotels can quickly fill up in this November-April window, when daytime temperatures average in the low 80s.

Tourism in Cuba is booming as relations between the U.S. and Cuba continue to thaw. In the first five months alone, the island country welcomed around 1.7 million people, a 15% increase over the same period last year.

Founded in 1983 as a tribute to Wifredo Lam (1902-1982), Cuban’s most celebrated surrealist painter, it has grown into an important cultural institution.

This art institution was inaugurated on November 15th, 1986, and is best known for its photographic exhibitions. La Fototeca de...

Founded in 1962, Galería Habana is the first art gallery opened after the revolution. It is the country’s benchmark fine art gallery.

José Martí Memorial located on Plaza de la Revolución is dedicated to Cuba’s national hero José Martí.

Though Plaza de la Revolución is not particularly distinguished for its architecture or design, the square carries important historical weight for the Cuban Revolution.

Museo de la Revolución has a large exhibition of photographs, documents and memorabilia detailing Cubans’ struggle for independence and Fidel’s guerrilla revolution.

The resplendent El Capitolio standing solemnly in Centro Habana is one of most iconic buildings in the country. Inspired by...

The 2015 Havana Cigar Festival concluded with a gala dinner at Pabexpo in Havana's Siboney neighborhood. The night was dedicated to to the 80th anniversary of the Montecristo brand. Throughout the dinner guests were entertained by various musical numbers while they smoked cigars handed out after each course.

Day four of the 2015 Havana Cigar Festival saw Phoenicia, the regional distributor of Habanos in the Middle East, continental Africa, Cyprus and Greece, organize a cigar tasting session at El Laguito cigar factory, where many Cohiba cigars are manufactured.

Located in Havana’s Vedado, El Gato Tuerto is a dimly lit bar with gleaming furniture, crowned with a small stage and a few tables distributed around it.

Until the Saratoga was operational this was the best hotel in Havana. This attractive, large (427-room) hotel in Parque Central, opened in the '90s, is one of the newer additions to the city’s roster of top hotels.

During this year's Havana Cigar Festival, Habanos, the global distribution and marketing organization for Cuban cigars, reported sales of $439 million.

The Parque Central is huddled by some of Havana’s most famous landmarks such as El Capitolio, Gran Teatro de La Habana, Manzana de Gomez and Payret Cinema.

There’s no better place to enjoy the pinnacle of Cuban performance arts than in the Gran Teatro de La Habana (The Great Theatre of Cuba).

Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús is one of a few Gothic buildings in Havana. It remains the country’s tallest and most beautiful Catholic church.

The former residence of Count Villanueva was turned into a courtyard-style boutique hotel in Old Havana in 1998. One of the 20-odd hotels run by the city’s hotel brand Habaguanex, the nine-room hotel has a red façade that opens up to a lush courtyard. A café is hidden in the back of the courtyard, where free-roaming birds and peacocks amble lazily. The lobby and reception are well furbished and the front desk staff are more than willing to provide suggestions for visiting Old Havana.

El Palenque, a large Havana food court, a local institution, stands out as an unpretentious and authentic eating spot that that attracts a large number of Cuban families and foreigners.

Established in 1995, around the same time as La Guarida, La Fontana in Miramar endured through the years and worked...

This is one of the most upscale restaurants in Havana, located in Plaza de San Francisco in Habana Vieja (the very professional and jacketed waiters traded off-street salsa with classic live piano performance). The decor is striking and grandiose; you'll regret it if you dress down.

In a short span of two years since its opening in 2013, Mediterráneo has already amassed a loyal following among Havana foodies and visitors. The restaurant’s overall environment is agreeable: Mediterranean blue and white decor, spacious, airy, attractive and modern.

If you are pressed for time and have to pick one place to go for great food and drinks, make it O’Reilly 304, a hip and trendy bar in Old Havana.

This is the oldest square among Old Havana’s five squares built in the early 16th century. Plaza de Armas, was originally known as Plaza de la Iglesia.

El Cocinero, an airy bar in Vedado, has one of the most extensive drink menus in Havana. There are over 30 different cocktails.

Plaza de la Catedral, the best preserved of the old squares in Habana Vieja,  owes its name to Catedral de San Cristobal...

Originally known as Plaza Nueva, meaning “new square” in English, Plaza Vieja was constructed in 1559, and was considered Havana’s...

French-style bakery is still a new concept in Havana, and you’d be surprised by how some local bakeries can turn out jaw-dropping, hard-as-a-rock chocolate muffins. Bianchini is in a class of its own, a bakery-cum-café that first opened near Plaza de Sanfrancisco over ten years ago.

Café El Escorial is the closest thing Havana has to Starbucks, minus the takeout services. If you insist, bring along your own mug or even a Ziploc bag (like Cubans do) for a café con leche, the holy grail at this quaint café shop on Plaza Vieja, for only $1.2 CUC!

Castillo del Morro (Morro Castle), short for Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, standing at the mouth of Havana Bay, is an iconic landmark in Havana.

Very different from La Zorra y el Cuervo, Jazz Café is located on the second floor of a glass covered...

In recent years, Don Cangrejo has become one of the most sought-after venues on a Friday night in Havana. Also...

From the usher, dressed in a Russian sailor suit, greeting guests at the front entrance, to its vintage Soviet propaganda...