La Fontana, encased in a hard-to-find but beautiful house in Playa, is one of the best restaurants in Havana, a position it has enjoyed pretty much since its inception in 1995 (back in Cuba's culinary Stone Age). The secret: the restaurant has progressed with the times, adding space, dishes and multiple quirks such as fish ponds and live jazz.
These days there are several areas in which to drink and dine, each with a different ambience. The centerpiece is a brick-lined terrace and open grill, but there's also a trendy chill-out bar that mixes potent cocktails.
Fontana is famed for its barbecue or, more to the point, its full-on charcoal grill. Huge portions of meat and fish are served, so go easy on the starters, which include lobster ceviche, tuna tartare, and beef carpaccio with rocket.