The 5-Cent Tavern in Santa Clara | Unexpectedly My "Travel Canteen" 🍻

I had low expectations for the 5-Cent Tavern—Havana’s main branch put me off with its terrible, overpriced Mojitos 😤, and Trinidad’s Old Town had so many options I skipped it entirely. Yet in Santa Clara, this branch became my "lifesaver canteen," solving three meals in two days! 🍴 Why This One? Santa Clara’s 5-Cent Tavern hides in an old town alley, far less chaotic than Havana’s—more like a laid-back local spot. The food isn’t mind- blowing but solid: Cuban braised beef with black bean rice is a staple; the meat falls off the bone, and the sauce mixed with rice makes you finish two bowls 🍚; Fried plantains are crispy outside, soft inside—"crunch" when you bite, paired with cheese dip for maximum carb joy 🥳. Best of all, prices are nearly half Havana’s. Even the Mojito is refreshing: fresh muddled mint 🌿, just the right rum ratio—mildly tipsy without burning. Finally, I get why it’s legendary. ⚡ Power Outages Can’t Stop Foodies One noon, mid-meal, the lights suddenly cut out—another random blackout! But Cubans were impressively calm: waiters pulled out phone flashlights 🔦, locals kept chatting over drinks, and we ate every last bit of beef by streetlight. These "unexpected pauses" grow normal in Cuba. No WiFi, no AC—instead, you focus on food and company. A surprisingly nice travel quirk～ From "avoid list" to "canteen favorite," Santa Clara’s 5-Cent Tavern proves: sometimes, unplanned encounters are the most memorable. ❤️ #travel #solotravel #Cuba #santaclara #TravelCanteen