Rooftop Bar · Old Havana · Havana
El del Frente
The Imperatori brothers' paladar at O'Reilly 303, where the pours are heavy and the rooftop seats go first.
The Pitch
The One Across the Street
El del Frente means the one across the street, because it faces its older sibling at O'Reilly 304. Brothers Jose Carlos and Julio Imperatori run both, and Cubania Travel credits the pair with turning one block of Calle O'Reilly into Old Havana's best eating and drinking street.
The World's 50 Best Discovery list describes the formula: rum competing with gin across goblet sized cocktails, with service that is relaxed, charming, and heavy handed with the pours. The entrance is an unassuming door marked only BAR.
Climb past the dining room to the rooftop. That terrace over O'Reilly is the seat the whole building exists to fill.
The Room
Up the Stairs, Onto the Roof
The ground floor reads as a colorful modern paladar: patterned tile, mismatched chairs, art on every wall. The rooftop strings lights over a terrace barely wider than the street below. Generation Avocado's review calls the upstairs ambiance exceptional, and seats up there turn over slowest at sunset.
The Drinks
Goblets of Gin, Plates of Shrimp
Order a gin and tonic and it arrives in a goblet closer to a fishbowl, USD 5 to 8 depending on the build. TripAdvisor reviewers rate the cocktails among the best in Havana and flag that they pour heavy on the alcohol. The shrimp tacos with homemade salsas are the standing food order; the lobster runs a close second.
The Crowd
Young Havana Meets Golden Hour
The crowd skews young: Havana creatives, returning Cuban families, and travelers who did their reading. Sunset is the crush, when the rooftop fills and the ground floor holds the overflow. Weeknight afternoons are the quiet window.
What regulars say:
- The World's 50 Best Discovery notes rum competes with gin and the service pours heavy.
- TripAdvisor reviewers call the cocktails expertly made and the food presentation excellent.
- Cubania Travel credits the Imperatori brothers with remaking this block of O'Reilly.
Who it is for:
- Golden hour drinks above Old Havana without hotel rooftop prices
- A cocktail first dinner that stays in one building
- Avoid if you need fast service; the rooftop runs on island time
The Verdict
Where It Lands
The best casual rooftop in Old Havana right now, and the easiest place in the quarter to drink well without planning ahead. Time the stairs for golden hour and let the goblets set the pace.
Good to Know
Visit Information
Getting there: Calle O'Reilly 303, two blocks from Plaza de Armas. Look for the plain door marked BAR opposite restaurant 304.
Timing: Open daily from around noon to midnight. Arrive before 6pm for a rooftop table at sunset.
Cost: Cocktails USD 5 to 8, mains USD 9 to 15. Cash strongly preferred, as everywhere in Havana.
Pair This Bar With
More Nights Out
Own or manage a bar in Havana?
Sponsored listings, newsletter placements, and city guide partnerships put your venue in front of the right audience.
Worth Going To
Keep Exploring