Cuba's cuisine offers an interesting mix of traditional Caribbean cuisine and the influence of Spanish colonization. The most common dishes are ropa vieja (shredded beef), chicken prepared in various ways, rice with beans, and fried plantains. In tourist restaurants, you will pay approximately €6–12 for a main course, cocktails such as mojitos, cuba libres, or daiquiris cost €3–4, local Cristal or Bucanero beer in a restaurant costs around €2–3, and coffee costs €1–2. In cheaper private restaurants (called paladares) or street stalls, you can get a simple meal – such as pizza, a sandwich, or a plate of rice with chicken – for €2–4. We took advantage of the breakfast option at most of our accommodations. If it was not included in the price, it was available for an additional €4–6. It usually consisted of eggs, pastries, fruit, and fresh juice.

Grocery stores have a limited selection – during our visit, we had trouble finding even basic baked goods. The prices of some items are relatively high: for example, bottled water (1.5 l) costs around €1.50 in stores, and a regular Tatranka cookie can cost as much as €2, so we recommend packing some cookies and crackers for snacks. On the other hand, fruit is significantly cheaper than in the US at local markets and street stalls; for example, avocados cost us €0.30. Overall, due to limited supplies, it pays not to be too picky and to enjoy the local cuisine as it is.