Dining at Meliá Varadero, Cuba｜All-Inclusive Hotel Food Review

🌟 Overall Impression: Better Than Expected! As an all-inclusive resort in Varadero, Meliá surpasses Cuba's average dining standards—only half of my packed instant noodles were eaten, proof of the kitchen's skill ✨. While not on par with Cancun's luxury resorts, the $150-200/night rate serves up grilled red meats and seafood, making it a "conscientious choice" in Cuba's hotel scene. Pro tip: Dining areas are open 24/7 for late-night cravings! 🍖 Main Course Highlights: A Red Meat Lover's Dream ✅ Daily Grilled Beef Rice (Must-Eat) Three key elements: ✅ Tenderloin sliced and grilled medium rare, locking in juices better than Chaoshan beef hotpot ✅ Rice stewed with black beans and tomatoes, al dente like Spanish paella ✅ Served with homemade lime chili sauce, tangy like Hainanese yellow lantern chili ✅ Charcoal-Grilled Pork Ribs (Dinner Exclusive) Marinade secret: ✅ Marinated 12h in Cuban rum + cumin, skin crispy like Cantonese siu yuk ✅ Sided with boiled yuca, sweet-savory when dipped in honey ✅ Latin-Style Pasta (Lunch Quick Pick) Local twist: ✅ Mixed with Caribbean shrimp, tomato sauce brightened by pineapple dices ✅ Topped with local cheese, stretching like New York pizza 🦞 Seafood Reality: Boiled Basics, Paid Lobster Option ✅ Daily Boiled Seafood Station (Included) What's on offer: ✅ Mussels + calamari + sea bass (perfectly de-inked) ✅ Lemon juice and garlic at the condiment bar, but bring your own Laoganma for heat ✅ Paid Lobster Set ($25/piece) Value breakdown: ✅ 1kg+ steamed lobster, firm meat but mild seasoning ✅ Hack: Ask for butter + minced garlic to DIY garlic butter lobster 🥭 Fruits & Desserts: Papaya Is the Only Star ✅ Papaya Feast (Breakfast Must-Have) Taste surprise: ✅ Local papaya sweeter than Thai varieties, flesh as soft as cantaloupe ✅ Pair with Greek yogurt for a "Cuban-style fruit parfait" ❌ Other Fruit Misses Avoid these: ❌ Bananas as hard as potatoes, apples painfully sour ❌ Desserts are mostly cream cakes, sugary enough to make your teeth ache 🍢 Special Experience: Beach BBQ Days Every Wednesday/Saturday, the hotel hosts a beach BBQ— Top 3 must-tries: ✅ Mango-glazed chicken skewers ✅ Smoked sausages (oily like German bratwurst) ✅ Corn on the cob (buttered + cheesy) Ambiance bonus: Eat with ocean views; staff offer to take photos 💡 Practical Dining Tips Bring from home: ✅ Chili sauce (saves boiled seafood), ✅ soy sauce (for beef rice), ✅ honey (cuts dessert sweetness) Kid-friendly options: ✅ Plain pasta with tomato sauce (great for picky eaters) ✅ French fries (available all day) Money-saving hack: Order lobster with "Con Mojo" (lime-garlic sauce) for free flavor upgrade 📝 Final Verdict: Great for Families on a Budget Perfect for: ✅ Families with kids (light, digestible meals), ✅ budget travelers, ✅ red meat enthusiasts Bottom line: At Meliá Varadero, get "grilled beef + beach BBQ" for half the Cancun price—what more could you ask for? #CubaHotelReview #VaraderoCuisine #AllInclusiveResort #CubaTravelTips #FamilyFriendlyHotel