Restaurants open and close fast in Florida, so a Cuban kitchen that stays in one family for decades is a big deal. Some places on this list have been feeding Floridians since before cars were common, while others opened in the 1970s and 1980s and never looked back.
From Ybor City bakeries to a Key West neighborhood favorite, these spots show what happens when recipes, routines, and pride get handed down instead of sold off. Save this list for your next road trip, lunch break, or craving for a proper Cuban sandwich.
1. Columbia Restaurant, Tampa, FL
© Columbia Restaurant, Tampa, FL
Back in 1905, Theodore Roosevelt was president and Columbia Restaurant was already serving guests in Ybor City. More than a century later, it is still in the hands of the founding Hernandez Gonzaga family, which makes it the clear starting point for this list.
The menu blends Spanish and Cuban cooking. Paella and the Cuban sandwich are two of the dishes most tied to its reputation, and warm Cuban bread with salted butter arrives early in the meal.
The historic dining rooms are part of the draw, and tours of the restaurant are offered. Live music, a kids’ menu, and vegan and vegetarian menus round things out.
Hours run 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. most days, with service until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are recommended for lunch and dinner, and Saturday evening is the busiest stretch.
A free parking lot sits on site at 2117 E 7th Ave.
2. La Teresita Restaurant, Tampa, FL
© La Teresita Restaurant, Tampa, FL
Breakfast at 6 a.m., late dinner at midnight on weekends. La Teresita keeps long hours on West Columbus Drive, and that schedule fits a place that has fed Tampa for decades under the Capdevila family.
The cooking leans homestyle. Oxtail stew, stuffed fish, flank steak, vaca frita, palomilla, and chicken with yellow rice all appear on the menu, along with fried yuca, red bean soup, and tres leches cake for dessert.
Portions run large, and most meals land in the $10 to $20 per person range. I’d send anyone wanting an honest everyday Cuban plate in Tampa straight here.
Live music, a kids’ menu, takeout, and delivery are all available. Expect crowds on weekend afternoons and Friday evenings.
3. Versailles Restaurant Cuban Cuisine, Miami, FL
© Versailles Restaurant Cuban Cuisine, Miami, FL
Ask anyone in Miami where to get Cuban food on Calle Ocho, and Versailles will likely come up first. The Valls family has run it since 1971, and it has become one of the best-known Cuban restaurants in the country.
Inside, the roomy dining room keeps its vintage look with chandeliers. The menu covers a wide range of traditional dishes, and a bakery handles pastries and coffee for anyone in a hurry.
Hours are generous. It opens at 8 a.m. most days and stays open until midnight, or 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Plan for a wait on weekend evenings. Mornings are the quietest time, and plates usually run $10 to $20 per person.
4. Islas Canarias Restaurant, Miami, FL
© Islas Canarias Restaurant, Miami, FL
A drive-through window at a sit-down Cuban restaurant is a very Miami detail. Islas Canarias offers one, along with full table service, at its spot on SW 26th Street.
The Garcia family has run the business since 1977. The dining room keeps things modest and family-friendly, with colorful artwork and a recently renovated look.
Cuban classics are served all day, from breakfast through dinner. Cafe con leche is a menu favorite, and full vegan and vegetarian menus give non-meat eaters real options.
Weekends from morning to evening bring the biggest crowds. Weeknights tend to be calmer, and hours run 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., or 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
5. El Siboney Restaurant (Downtown), Key West, FL
© El Siboney Restaurant (Downtown), Key West, FL
Skip Duval Street for a minute. El Siboney sits in a residential part of Key West at 900 Catherine St, and the de la Cruz family has been cooking there since 1984.
Portions are famously generous. Grouper, skirt steak, mahi mahi, and coconut shrimp share the menu with a traditional Cuban sandwich.
Soup gets plenty of attention too, including conch soup and a Lima bean soup with a loyal following. Full vegan and vegetarian menus are available.
Doors open daily from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday evenings fill up fastest, so an early dinner is a smart move.
6. Havana Restaurant, West Palm Beach, FL
© Havana Restaurant, West Palm Beach, FL
Craving a Cuban sandwich at 3 a.m.? Havana Restaurant keeps a to-go window open around the clock on South Dixie Highway.
The family-run spot has been around for more than 25 years. It was voted Best Cuban Restaurant in Palm Beach and named for the best Cuban sandwich in 2019.
Inside, the rustic dining space stretches across two levels. Skirt steak and ropa vieja are standouts, and the coffee earns plenty of praise too.
Prices typically fall between $10 and $30 per person. Reservations are accepted, and weekend afternoons draw the biggest crowds.
7. Numero Uno Cuban Restaurant, Orlando, FL
© Numero Uno Cuban Restaurant, Orlando, FL
Orlando has a reputation built on theme parks, but Numero Uno has quietly served Cuban food in the South of Downtown district since 1978.
The Carmenate family runs it as a tight, independent business. Bright, traditional decor sets a relaxed tone, and lunch specials keep weekday regulars coming back.
Croquetas and maduros are easy starters, and a full vegetarian menu is available. Prices stay reasonable.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and it closes on Sunday.
Weekday afternoons are the busiest, with free parking on site.
8. La Segunda Bakery and Cafe, Ybor City, FL
© La Segunda Bakery and Cafe, Ybor City, FL
Plenty of Tampa’s Cuban sandwiches start with a loaf from La Segunda. The bakery has been making Cuban bread daily since 1915, and the More family now runs it in its fourth generation.
The cafe builds its Cuban sandwich on that bread with roast pork, salami, ham, and Swiss cheese. Pastries, cookies, salads, and strong Cuban coffee fill out the counter.
Plan for an early visit, since hours run 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day. There is no public restroom, so treat it as a quick stop.
Free parking is available on site. Grab an extra loaf to take home.
Dining and Cooking