Restaurants in Havana: Le Chansonnier

Havana has a growing restaurant culture. Most savvy travelers who go to Cuba’s capital know about the hipster La Guarida or the relaxed family style of La Cocina de Lilliam. However, one of the hottest places now is Le Chansonnier in Nuevo Vedado. This is where a lot of the cognoscenti of the city go from top actresses and film directors to musicians and singers.

It used to be an old styled French restaurant – dark and gloomy.

I have written in the past about these private restaurants, which is a growing trend on the island as the government eases restrictions on small private businesses. They are called paladares. The idea started in the mid-1990s and grew significantly, but then retracted as taxes and controls took over in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They are back strong now though.

Le Chansonnier emphasizes simple fresh ingredients to grilled snapper and pesto to roasted rabbit and vegetables. The food is light and contemporary.

The wine scene in restaurants is not very interesting yet even though sales of wines in Cuba is at about $15 million, mostly to the 3 million or so tourists who visit the island each year. Spanish wine producers dominate, with Torres being one of the leaders. I drank a young vintage of Torres Vina Sol at dinner at Le Chansonnier. The fresh and clean white went well with my sautéed fresh octopus and garlic.

Check out this video on the kitchen technique at the restaurant.

Le Chansonnier

J 257 e/ 15 y Linea

La Habana

+53378321576

www.lechansonnierhabana.com