There are few things more mythical than “authentic Cuban flavor”. how many times have we heard these three words together? But… what is the authentic Cuban flavor? We still don’t know very well. What is clear is that if there is such a thing, you are sure to find it in one of these stores:
1. The Giraldilla
Classic Cuban place where you can taste a very good ropa vieja. Although really, all the food is quite good and the prices are not exorbitant for the quality of the dishes. The place is very cozy and if you are Cuban and homesick for the island, you will feel at home here. Photos of la patria everywhere and traditional music (sometimes live) to make you feel like your palate travels to Havana without leaving Barcelona.
Address: Carrer de Provença, 32
2. El Cubano
We don’t know what to choose, if it’s the delicious homemade food (they don’t only have Cuban dishes but these are the stars of the menu) or the treatment of the owners. If anything is appreciated when you go to try food from another part of the world is a generous guide and help to know what to order, and here you have that assured.
Address: Carrer de l’Agricultura, 284
3. Old Havana
It is difficult to choose between its ropa vieja, arroz congri, fried malanga, yucca, tostones, picadillo a la habanera… and yes, it is easier to say directly the whole menu. And we warn you, it’s not a cliché, everything is great with that successful combination of Spanish, Cuban and African touch. The only thing that fails a little may be the price, something understandable being in the middle of Born.
Address: Carrer dels Banys Vells, 2
4. Of Coupe
Half Peruvian, half Cuban, De Cupé is the perfect combination of the best of the two Latin American gastronomies. The best thing, the amount of food. The size of the plates is generous and to stay hungry here is to have serious gluttony problems. We recommend that you give it a try if you are a regular who is unable to escape the Cuban flavor but want to vary a little without taking too much of a gamble.
Address: Carrer de Felip II
5. La Ronería
We could not say goodbye to Cuban places without talking about mojitos. And in that sense, La Ronería is the real queen. It more than lives up to its name because the rum here is from another planet. It’s more of a cocktail bar than a restaurant, but if you leave Barcelona without trying their mojitos it’s as if you hadn’t been to any Cubano in the city. By the way, if you are really passionate about mojitos, here are some other good options.
Address: Carrer de Calàbria, 5
Cover photo: La Giraldilla’s Facebook page