We went to Café Bohemia, on Habana Vieja‘s gorgeous Plaza Vieja, on a hot and humid September day. Although the crisply restored modern eatery has tables spread over an inviting white interior patio, weather drove us inside, where the air conditioning was a Godsend.
Café Bohemia offers a light menu that ranges from salads to Italian style panini named after both movie and novel titles. We chose the ham sandwich named – who knows why – after Gabriel Garcia-Marquez’s autobiographical novel “Memoria de mis Putas Tristes” (“Memories of My Sad Whores”). The panini was made from roasted pork leg and fresh tomatoes. It was a winner with a refreshing homemade lemonade. The café also has an extensive list of cocktails, fresh juices and multiple coffee choices (which is rare in Cuba). The interior is small but very comfortable, and the staff were particularly helpful and friendly. The menu makes this seem a little like Cuba’s answer to Le Pain Quotidien, the international bakery-restaurant chain group. Perfect for a quick light lunch while walking the streets of Old Havana.
Address: Plaza Vieja, San Ignacio #354, Habana Vieja
Tel: +53 7 8603722
Opening hours: Noon till midnight
Price: Moderate
Website: http://www.havanabohemia.com/cafeacute-bohemia.html