http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33400 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33400 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29441 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29441 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26534 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26534 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21711
The casa is located right next to Havana University and within a short walk of Havana Libre and The Nacional, two big hotels where you can change money, hire a car, book excursions or top up on food/drink.

The Casa offers good food whenever you want it, though it is located in the Vedado area, which also has a range of alternatives. Vedado is supposedly great for nightclubs, though we hit it while jetlagged on a Monday, so can't vouch for this.

It is a 30 minute walk (or $2-4 taxi ride) along the Malecon (sea wall) to Old Havana. We stayed in Old Havana later in our trip but would be happy to stay in Vedado again.

This was a great first stop on our tour of Cuba. It was also good value. I would recommend it wholeheartedly.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21711 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12043 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12043 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8585 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8585 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8536 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8536 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8475
Apart from the famous La Guarida, some of the best are: Cocina de Lilliam (Calle 48 #1311, Miramar, +7 209 6514); Casa de Adela (Calle F #503, Vedado, +7 832 3776); Le Chansonnier (Calle J #257, Vedado, +7 832 1576). Book ahead.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8475 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8370 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8370 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8356 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8356 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3150 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3150 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8358 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8358 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8357 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8357 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8204
Far better to go there to start with, watch your pizza being made and ideally be entertained by a fabulous quartet while you're waiting (just as well as the service is fairly glacial; ask them to play 'Oye Como Va' or 'Chan Chan', rather than the more stereotypical fare). You'll save 30-50% over the Floridita's prices and be able to see what you're eating!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8204 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5703
You then wait with all the locals until your pizza is lowered down to you in a basket attached to a Heath Robinson style pulley system. You then swap pizza for money and the basket goes back up. If you need change then the basket is lowered back down and money is distributed fairly under the command of the man on the roof pointing at you and shouting “Seven pesos!' The pizza is good too, if a little oily.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5703