Restaurante Bar San José

San José has built its name on traditional Cuban recipes cooked with some creativity. Each morning the team buys from farmers and cooperatives in the Valle de los Ingenios outside town, and fish comes from small-scale fishermen at the port of Casilda.

The restaurant describes its style as Creole tradition with a cosmopolitan touch, served with close, personal attention. It aims to be a place where Trinidad’s colonial history and today’s Cuban cooking meet.

The ropa vieja is slow-cooked, and the restaurant is proud of it. Lobster and prawns come grilled or enchilado, in a Cuban tomato-based sauce, and there is fish, pork and chicken, plus pizzas from the wood-fired oven and pasta.

At the bar, try its version of the canchánchara, Trinidad’s drink of aguardiente and wild honey, which the bar balances with macerated citrus. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free versions of the main dishes are available if you say so when booking.

From Marina Trinidad, on the road to Playa Ancón, the old town is about 20 minutes by taxi. San José is on Calle Antonio Maceo, also called Gutiérrez, a few blocks south of Plaza Mayor.

Book through the form on the restaurant’s website with the date, time and number of guests. The colonial patio can be reserved for private rum tastings, dinners and celebrations with live Cuban music, which works well for a charter group.