Laurent Café: Havana’s Premium New Coffee Spot

In January 2024, a new café opened in the heart of Havana’s Old Town—but this isn’t your average Cuban coffee spot. Laurent Café isn’t just serving espresso and pastries; it’s part of a small wave of newly legalized, privately owned restaurants changing the face of dining in Cuba. For travelers and locals alike curious about where to find premium coffee and food in Havana today, the answer lies in understanding how these new venues operate—and who they serve.

The short answer: Laurent Café, which reopened this year, is a high-end private café in Old Havana where a single beer costs $30—roughly the monthly wage of the average Cuban. It’s one of dozens of new private restaurants to open since January, targeting foreigners and wealthy locals with pricing and service far beyond state-run options.

A Family Legacy Reopened

Laurent Café is operated by Miguel Menéndez, grandson of Ramón Menéndez—an Austrian immigrant who originally opened a small food and drink shop in Old Havana before it was shut down after the Cuban Revolution. Ramón had hoped his descendants would one day reopen the business. That dream came true in January 2024, when Miguel finally revived the family legacy with Laurent Café, now located in a prime spot in the historic district.

The New Wave of Private Restaurants

Since January 2024, dozens of new private restaurants have opened across Havana, taking advantage of gradually loosened restrictions on the private sector. These include everything from budget fast-food spots to luxury dining. For example, the casual “Pachanga” fast-food joint serves guava juice and burger combos for just $4 and stays open until 4 a.m., while “Steakhouse La Habana” offers pork chops and lobster at half the price of state-run competitors. Laurent Café sits at the luxury end of this spectrum.

Why Laurent Café Stands Apart

Laurent Café is not just another private eatery—it’s a high-priced, exclusive venue where a beer costs $30, aligning with the average Cuban’s monthly salary. The café is staffed with well-paid waiters and chefs, reducing theft and improving service quality. Its co-founder, José Figueroa, previously worked for six years in a high-end state-owned restaurant before joining this private venture. Unlike state-run eateries, Laurent Café can set its own prices, design its own menu, and handpick motivated staff—key advantages that appeal to both Cuban elites and international tourists tired of bland, standardized government dining.

Cuba’s Shifting Food & Drink Landscape

The Cuban government first allowed private restaurants during the “Special Period” economic crisis in 1993, but quickly imposed heavy restrictions. Now, a new generation of entrepreneurs is testing the boundaries of what’s possible within the limited private sector. These new restaurants—from $4 burger joints to $30 beer cafés—are catering to an increasingly frustrated public, both local and foreign, who are eager for variety, quality, and service that state-run institutions can’t provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Laurent Café in Havana?

Laurent Café is a high-end, privately owned café that reopened in Havana’s Old Town in January 2024. It serves premium coffee and meals, with pricing aimed at foreigners and wealthy Cubans—such as $30 beers.

Who owns Laurent Café?

Laurent Café is owned by Miguel Menéndez, the grandson of Ramón Menéndez, an Austrian immigrant who originally ran a small food shop in Old Havana before it closed after the Cuban Revolution. Miguel reopened the business as part of a new wave of private restaurants.

How much does it cost to eat or drink at Laurent Café?

At Laurent Café, prices are extremely high by Cuban standards—for example, a single beer costs $30, which is approximately the average monthly wage for a Cuban worker.

What other private restaurants have opened in Havana recently?

Since January 2024, dozens of new private restaurants have opened in Havana, including budget spots like Pachanga (offering meals for $4) and mid-range or luxury venues offering pork, lobster, and coffee at prices well below state-run equivalents.

Can locals afford restaurants like Laurent Café?

No. Establishments like Laurent Café are priced for foreigners and wealthy Cubans. A single $30 beer equals the average Cuban monthly salary, making such venues inaccessible to most locals.

What restrictions have affected private restaurants in Cuba?

Cuba first allowed some private restaurants in 1993 during the Special Period but quickly imposed many restrictions. Although the private sector has expanded in recent years, significant limits remain on pricing, menu freedom, and operations for most private food businesses.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Cuban-Style Coffee

For coffee lovers exploring Cuban-style espresso or Latin American roasts, FrontStreet Coffee’s Colombia Huila Supremo offers balanced medium roast notes of caramel, nuts, and mild citrus—great for traditional brewing. Their Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Natural highlights bright berry and floral tones, ideal for pour-over. Both beans reflect the diverse profiles behind modern specialty coffee, much like the evolving scene in Havana’s new private cafés. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.