Cuba Larry's

Feast, Sip, and Explore: Conquering Varadero’s Tastiest Haunts

Welcome to Varadero, where the sunburn is inevitable, and the mojitos flow like water—assuming, of course, you haven’t already had your fill of both.

This little slice of paradise is more than just sandy beaches and all-inclusive resorts; it’s a culinary playground waiting to be devoured.

From seedy bars that might have stories older than your grandmother, to fine dining establishments where the seafood is so fresh it practically swims onto your plate, Varadero has something for every kind of traveler.

The key here is to dive headfirst into the chaos—order the mysterious dish you can’t pronounce, chat up the bartender for local secrets, and for heaven’s sake, dance like nobody’s watching. Because in Varadero, they probably aren’t.

They’re too busy living the good life, one delicious bite and boozy sip at a time.

Calle 62 Boulevard

There’s a place in Varadero where the rum never runs dry, the music cuts through the salt air like a machete, and the nights melt into mornings with a smile and a hangover. 62 Boulevard isn’t polished. It’s not trying to impress the tourists with lobster tails or linen napkins. It’s raw—honest. A battered red classic car might be parked out front, a guy with a trumpet blasting notes into the humid air, and locals dancing like they’ve never had their hearts broken. Here, you drink rum straight, shout over the band, and let the beat rattle the bones of whatever stress you came to Cuba with. This isn’t a resort show—it’s real life, one sweaty salsa song at a time.

Don Alex Restaurant

In a town where grilled lobster and mojitos steal most of the spotlight, Don Alex rolls in quietly with something different—Italian soul on a Cuban street corner. No pretense, no tuxedoed waiters. Just the smell of fresh basil, bubbling cheese, and dough kissed by a scorching oven that’s seen a few lifetimes. The loaded pizza arrives like a love letter from Naples—with Cuban flair, of course—topped high and unapologetically greasy in the best way. Four frosty beers on the table, the whole thing running you about 6000 CUP. That’s ten bucks for a full stomach and a slow, satisfied grin. Don Alex doesn’t try to be Havana’s Little Italy—it’s Varadero’s version, and it works just fine.

Nona Tina Restaurant

Nona Tina feels like the kind of place you stumble into after a long walk, sunburned, a little buzzed, and starving for something that feels like home—but better. It’s Italian, but not the stiff, white-tablecloth kind. More like your nonna’s rebellious sister opened a spot in Varadero and decided to serve lasagna so rich, so decadent, you could almost forgive every heartbreak you’ve ever had. It’s layered with slow-simmered sauce, creamy béchamel, and enough cheese to ruin your shirt. Pair it with three glasses—yes, three—of surprisingly excellent Cabernet Sauvignon and you’ve just spent $23 USD on a meal that could make a grown man weep. This isn’t tourist-trap spaghetti. This is comfort, poured into a casserole dish and served with a wink.

Salsa Suarez Restaurant

Salsa Suárez isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a full-on seduction wrapped in tropical air and the slow burn of garlic and lime. You sit down thinking you’ll have a beer and maybe a bite. Then the lobster shows up—grilled, dripping with citrusy butter, daring you not to make a mess. The oyster cocktail hits next, cold and briny, followed by a crisp salad and a mountain of rice with a dipping sauce so good you start negotiating with your conscience for a second helping. Three or four icy beers in, you realize you’ve spent $55 and lived like Caribbean royalty. This isn’t just dinner—it’s a reminder that life’s too short for bland food and watered-down drinks. At Salsa Suárez, they know that. And now, so do you.

Don Quixote Restaurant

Don Quixote might sound like a literary gimmick, but there’s nothing imaginary about what comes out of the kitchen. The place leans old-school—stone walls, carved wood, a whiff of cigar smoke lingering from someone’s long lunch. You start with the shrimp cocktail, served cold and clean, drenched in a sauce that actually respects the shrimp—$8 USD and worth every peso. The draft beer is cold, crisp, and $5 USD, poured into a glass that sweats like you do after a walk through town. But the main event is the lobster—$45 USD of buttery, garlic-soaked glory that lands on your plate like a mic drop. This isn’t fusion, it isn’t modern—it’s just damn good food served with zero apologies. Cervantes never ate like this.

La Floridita Restaurant

There’s a lot of noise in Varadero. Tour buses. A thousand “best mojitos” signs competing for your wallet. But if you know what you’re doing—or if you get lucky—you find yourself at La Floridita. No, not that Floridita in Havana where Hemingway supposedly drank daiquiris like water. This one’s quieter, humbler, maybe even forgotten by the selfie-stick crowd. And that’s exactly why it’s perfect.

You come here for the food, sure—grilled fish, Cuban staples, a few nods to Spanish comfort—but what you really come for is the piña colada. And I don’t say that lightly. This thing isn’t a tourist-trap slushy. It’s art. Pineapple so fresh it probably had a name. Coconut cream that hugs your throat. A generous pour of Cuban rum—none of that measured shot nonsense—and a touch of cinnamon on top like a wink from the bartender. Is it the best piña colada in Varadero? Some will argue yes. I won’t argue at all. I’ll just sip quietly and order another.

The vibe? Easy. A little rustic. A little romantic. A place where you slow down, sweat a little, and remember that life doesn’t always have to be filtered, scheduled, or made for Instagram. Sometimes, it’s just a rum-soaked afternoon, a half-finished plate of shrimp, and a cocktail that makes you believe—if only for an hour—that everything is exactly as it should be.

Kiki's Club Restaurant

Kiki’s Club isn’t fancy. It doesn’t need to be. It’s the kind of place where the tables wobble a little, the pizza oven runs hot, and the beer is always cold enough to make you forget about the heat. It’s loud, chaotic, full of laughter, clinking glasses, and the smell of dough, garlic, and grilled meat riding the salty breeze. You don’t come here for fine dining—you come for the attitude. For a plate of spaghetti that doesn’t apologize for being messy. For pizzas that hit the table scorched and loaded, like they’ve just survived a street fight—and won. Locals, expats, and sunburnt tourists all squeeze in elbow to elbow, and somehow it works. Kiki’s isn’t trying to impress you—it already knows who it is. And that kind of confidence tastes damn good.

Hotel Villa Cuba

42200 Reparto La Torre Ave Las Americas

Varadero

Phone: 53 45 668280

Email: [email protected]