El Templete in Havana gutted

[AlohaStyle]

Just a FYI for anyone traveling to Havana and was wanting to go eat at El Templete... it's gutted/empty right now.  I ate there 5 years ago and loved the food.  Had a few regulars tell me now it's still on their top few restaurant list so had it on my list if it worked out this time.  My wife and I landed last Wednesday and walked around a bit.  Next thing you know we were both starving and decided to walk to El Templete for some paella.  We got to the waterfront and I didn't see it.  We walked a couple blocks both ways where I thought it was supposed to be.  I saw some blue posts that reminded me of being there 5 years ago and the El Templete restaurante sign, but the inside was just an empty building, gutted during construction.  Walked back and forth some more.  Finally realized... shit, it's gone!?! 

 

No idea if/when it will be back...  I was too hangry to think about taking a pic, sorry.  

[Ethernut]

TY for the heads up! 

[Nino]

Can confirm it has been closed for at least a few months now. Was already closed last November.

I thought it would be renovating, then saw that it was dead.

Pity really and a shame. The best "state run" restaurant in Havana - had some really memorable meals and cigars there.

Will be missed if it doesn't re-open and it doesn't look like it will, sadly.

It's Cuba ....

[El Presidente]

10 minutes ago, nino said:

Can confirm it has been closed for at least a few months now. Was already closed last November.

I thought it would be renovating, then saw that it was dead.

Pity really and a shame. The best "state run" restaurant in Havana - had some really memorable meals and cigars there.

Will be missed if it doesn't re-open and it doesn't look like it will, sadly.

It's Cuba ....

It was open at Christmas as I took John De Costa, Jose and Di there for some squid ink Paella. One of my favourite dishes in Havana and Templete had nailed it. 

What a shame if it has closed permanently.  Perfectly positioned for a comfortable cigar and glass of wine/rum in old Havana.  Jamon Serrano, calamares a la tinta, fresh bread.....magic. 

Some of my favourite Havana long lunches have been there 

[Fuzz]

Bummer. I really did enjoy the squid ink paella too.

[...]

37 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

Bummer. I really did enjoy the squid ink paella too.

Ditto!

[oliverdst]

Then only time I was there was during my honeymoon. At the time both of us agreed that the good was very good.

[Nino]

6 hours ago, oliverdst said:

Then only time I was there was during my honeymoon. At the time both of us agreed that the good was very good.

Oliver ..... so how was the food ??

[oliverdst]

2 hours ago, nino said:

Oliver ..... so how was the food ??

The food was food.

[Ethernut]

11 hours ago, Fuzz said:

Bummer. I really did enjoy the squid ink paella too.

The squid Ink Paellla we had on the beach in 2016 was pretty darned tasty too!

[Cigar Surgeon]

Not surprising.

We stopped in during Partagas last November and they were out of everything. No squid, no ceviche, nothing. The food they did serve paled in comparison to all the visits we had in the past.

There was a good friend of my from the US we brought with us and talked up the experience so it was pretty disappointing. 

The best part was the waiter telling us that the ceviche and the squid was typically not available in November. Keith and I just laughed. 

[brentp]

Sad news, I loved that paella!

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