Cuba Libre
Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bars, Cuban [Edit]
Neighborhood: Olde City10 S 2nd St
Philadelphia, PA 19106 (215) 627-0666
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Mon-Thu 4:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Fri 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun 4:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Music: DJ
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri, Sun
- Happy Hour: No
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: Yes
68 Reviews for Cuba Libre
This joint was quite lively; in fact, it had the best atmosphere of any nightspot that we saw in town on our two-night trip. There was salsa dancing, and some of those ladies and gents were really talented. It was rather packed, so we crowded around the bar to sip cocktails and watch the show.
The mojitos were excellent, and I fell in love with a waitress. I wonder if she noticed me...
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I have yet to try this place for a meal but last night we stopped in to have mojitos and we were not disappointed. I'm just sorry I only had one!
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i LOOOOVED cuba libre. we got drinks here at the upstairs bar, so i can't speak for the food. but the latin drinks selection was great - the most extensive mojito/caiparinha menu i've seen.
after my first sip of my grilled pineapple mojito, i boldly declared it as the best drink i had ever had. but then after a while i realized it was very sweet and didn't seem very alcohol-y...but it was pretty, so who cares?
what i really liked was the 1950s havana vibe of the place (not like i was around during the 1950s in havana)...yes, kind of kitschy and disneylandified, but i have to admit, i bought into it wholesale. i mean, i guess a place like this kind of goes against a lot of what cuba stands for - but i was on vacation enjoying my mojito. critical analysis goes out the window during times like these.
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Very hip place to go for dinner or just for drinks. This place definitely stands out among the hundreds of bars in Old City. In the summer the windows (size of the entire front) are open so it kind of feels like you are outside. They have professional dancers that they hire salsa to get the dancing going.
Foodwise, it is spectacular, but their mojitos are the best in town.
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I have a hard time rating a place that's both a restaurant and a bar, since where I like to eat dinner is often very different from where I want to party. But in this case, I give both 4 stars. The ambience is cool for either; I love feeling like I'm in Disney's version of Cuba and it's definitely a trendy Olde City spot, which if that's what you're looking for Cuba Libre is perfect.
Dinner: Good food... not sure how authentic, but I don't really care. Love the fried plaintains and the pulled pork was delicious. Oh the mango butter that comes with the bread, fantastic.
Bar: I came here recently for the first time on a Saturday when salsa was going on, and boy was it fun! I know a little salsa from a few lessons in college, but that was about all I needed to know. Guys come up to you and ask you to dance, then lead and twirl you around enough that you look half-decent (at least I think I looked half-decent, maybe that was just the alcohol). Then after a few songs you split up or politely excuse yourself and that's that. Big improvement over the come-up-from-behind-and-start-grinding style at usual clubs.
Mojitos are pricey but very tasty. No cover in old city is a plus too. I'm sure I'll be back when I'm in the neighborhood.
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cuba libre gets 3 stars for ambiance alone. the 4th star is for its cuban coffee and delicious mojitos. i dream of their cuban coffee, made with steamed coconut milk. i try to recreate it at home, but it's not as good as sipping it in this cute little restaurant that looks like an outdoor patio in another country, down to the stuccoed walls, palm fronds and rattan ceiling fans.
i've been here for brunch and for nightlife... and i have to say i much prefer the brunch. the place screams perfect brunch spot to me because it's got that lazy tropical morning kind of feel. the food ain't bad either. the bacon is as thick as cardboard but tastes much better and is also more peppery than the store-bought slices of pork. i've had nut-crusted french toast and coconut infused waffles... and i love those waffles but maybe i just love everything coconut. did i mention the coconut steamed milk coffee???
for nightlife, it gets crowded, it's dark, and people are stanking their BO up on your back. BUT... their mojitos are pretty good.
regardless of the evening scene, though, i would and will go here again for the coffee and brunch. it is so worth it.
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I've been here just once for dinner, and all that sticks in my memory is the delicious bread and mango butter and a particularly bad vegetarian selection (but that's Cuban food, no surprise).
But what keeps me coming back? Salsa night! Yes, the dance floor can be a little crowded. But where else in the city are you going to find so many tiny, adorable old men who are going to teach you to salsa and buy you some of those delicious (but expensive) mojitos?
(Note to girls: bring a small purse that you can wear and still dance, not a chunky bag that has to be left under a potted plant.)
Plus, this place let me in when I was still underage and using my friend's Chilean ID. Cuba Libre, te amo.
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So. This is my second time eating here... It's been a while. Anyway, the food was really effin' good. I can't complain about my baked Juevos and Chorizo thinger at all. The portion was good; it was piping hot and had a ton of flavour. My girlfriend though... The portions she received were just comical. She got the Juevos Benedict on a crab cake. They came out on small cookie sized crab cakes. Seriously, it was like 5 bites.
On to the drinks. Coffee was great. The Cuban Mary was nice and spicy but weak in terms of booze. And 8 bucks is a lot to ask for a bloody mary that comes in such a small cup. Then again, I didn't come here thinking it was going to be a bargain.
Dessert. Yeah, we got dessert at brunch. So what of it?
We had the bread pudding topped with hazelnut crunches, whipped cream, and this awesome fruit (maybe apricots?)
The staff kinda sucked. She forgot to bring us their signature bread and mango butter. Also, I felt like we were profiled from the time we walked in. Maybe it was the t-shirt I had on. Who knows?
4 stars for the food, 3 stars for the service, and 2 stars for the value (price to portion index)
Overall: 3 stars. And I would certainly come back.
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Scene and hype, yes. Delivery, eh. There are places nearby and near enough that I'd go to before here. If you want to see and be seen, why not. Otherwise, it's alright. Not great, not horrible. 2.5 stars.
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one word: mojitos.
oh yeah and the plantain chips are awesome too :)
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The hunger of a three hour tour and 6 hour nap needed to be quelled, so on a stop in Penn's Woods (ya'll history bluffs) I came to Philly and stopped in Ben Franklin's olde stompin grounds and came across the very un-american Cuba Libre... A Cubano/latin spot that on the inside looks like it hasn't been restored since the Alamo...but hey it works.... now on to the eats....
The french toast... geez.... encrusted with nuts and stuffed with the most heavenly cream ever.
The Mojitos were good and refreshing, and made correctly! the right amount of sour/minty fizzyness
I had the crabmeat/eggs benidict that looked small, but was enuff to fill me up and almost order seconds.
The people here seemed to be anything but locals, but it works when you're not in the mood for cheez steaks topped wit cheez whiz... but it's mos def the combo of crowd, food, and ambiance that gives it 4.5 stars...
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Cuba Libre was one of my first brunch spots I visited in Philly, and I must say it did not disappoint. I love the atmosphere, the feeling you are outside- a very open, airy feel. I have been here a few times; each time the service has been good and the food was consistent. For appetizers, I recommend the canasta de pan (the spreads are pretty good), but they also bring complimentary bread and mango butter (delicious!). For entrees, I enjoyed the huevos benedict, and the huevos enchilados is also very good, and definitely try the french toast- fluffy and just heavenly!. For coffee, definitely recommend the cafe cuba libre, the coconut flavor blends quite well. For sides, the papas criollas have a very good flavor and one of the better breakfast sweet potato dishes ive tried.
I have never eaten here for dinner or lunch, and have not had drinks at the bar. But, from quite a few people I have heard you cannot go wrong with the mojitos!
Great atmosphere, pretty good service, and okay food.
The chef definitely has some creativity (which is a must if you want to roll with Steven Starr), but the taste seems more like a sell out to the pop music of the food industry rather than a really good restaurant with excellent food. The one time I went my friends and I tried out the special 15 item tasting course since I thought that would provide a general feel for what the restaurant offers because of the variety in the offer. Well I was wrong.
The aesthetics to the dishes were well executed. There was even dry ice smoking out from under one of the dishes! But where it failed was the taste. One item was good, which I forget, but most of everything else tasted like the food one of my friend's mom cooks... You want to be polite and say it tastes good, but really it was just ehhh, and that's how I felt towards the server.
Maybe I was just getting what I paid for. 15 really small plates (actually just three courses subdivided by plate into three smaller courses, but really it was just three courses) for $42 is pretty good... I think? Until next time, all I have to say is it's Cuba Libre, like most of its other Starr counterparts, is more about the hype than the taste.
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Cube Libre was a pleasant surprise in Olde City, Philadelphia. The food was very good: we started off with a Ropa Vieja Arepa, which was amazing. I then had the Ropa Vieja entree, which came with fluffy steamed rice...the tomato-based beef stew was great and full of flavor (although, it could have used just a little less salt). The rice was plain, but a good way to clean the palate since there was so much flavor in the stew. The dish also arrived with plantains that were cooked to perfection and were just the right amount of sweet. The ambiance is lively and the decor gives a sense of Cuba at night. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone in Philly or those who are visiting. It's located in a nice and safe area lined with other restaurants and bars, so it's a great place to have an evening out on the town.
Cuba Libre is an amusing place for a meal and fun for late-night salsa dancing and drinking. They're right in Old City, on 2nd Street between Market and Chestnut. (Their other location is in Atlantic City.) Their attractive, naturally-sky lit interior resembles an outdoor eatery. Each floor helpfully has a bar, saving you a walk if you get thirsty. I'm told their signature mojito is worth it, but since I'm not a fan of mojitos, I had a chocolate cake shot instead which was a hoot! (UPDATE: Returned again for drinks and we had a kickass bartender - Alban - who made us chocolate cake shots, and something with five types of Stoli and sugar cane juice - good times.)
Cuba Libre serves Cuban cuisine and is open for lunch, brunch, and dinner. Their menu has a bevy of traditional and creatively re-imagined appetizers, soups, salads, and entrees, including hot sandwiches. (There's even a glossary of culinary terms on the back for those unfamiliar to Cuban terms.)
I lunched here awhile ago, but for a weekday bite, it's too long - we were there for TWO hours! My favorite appetizer is the chicharrones de la casa ($9): crisp marinated chicken, skirt steak, pork masitas, chorizo (pork sausage with garlic and paprika) and a jalapeno pepper, tossed in a spicy mojo picante. We requested the optional hotttttt Habanero! For an entree, I had the "spicy" guava rib sandwich ($11), with shredded guava BBQ rib meat, Criollo slaw, in a toasted brioche roll. Chips and salsa came on the side. Not bad, but a little plainer than I would have liked. I've also had their ribs (they stuck to the bone) with a flavorful sauce. I happily requested a couple of Habaneros (remembering the chicharrones, above) and our server obliged.
For dinner, I remember their Honduran-style Fire and Ice Ceviche the most vividly: when you combine sushi grade tuna, coconut milk, jalapeno and ginger sauce with a red onion escabeche you get a MESS of textures, cold temperatures, warm foods, and hot flavors!
Last I checked, there's no cover for the late-night activities. Join in and dance, if you know how, and if you don't, there usually are folks willing to teach. Try to catch a basic lesson first - don't know if Cuba Libre offers any, but Brasils should, right down the street. Recommended.
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Went to Sunday brunch on my first visit to Cuba Libre. The warm, tropical ambiance was a nice escape from the chilly weather outside.
We started with the Canasta de Pan. I was slightly disappointed with the churros, but loved the sweet banana bread, flaky guava hojaldres, and pineapple marmalade. I had the Huevos Enchilados which was a nice combination of tang and spice. My husband had the Pollo Frito con Panqueques (their version of chicken and waffles). Although they were skimpy with the chicken, the corn cakes were filling and had a delicious caramelized crust.
My favorite of the day was the One-eyed Ropa Vieja Hash, which my mom ordered. The shredded beef was tender and spicy, while the potato hash provided a perfectly sweet contrast. I will definitely go back to have this all for myself. It's something I could start obsessing over...
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This place is seriously one of the coolest restaurants I've been to. Atmospheric decor, relaxed vibe, and friendly staff made my last night in Philly a blast. Their famed mojitos were indeed delicious, although a little too weak for my taste (I didn't even manage a buzz, which probably would have bumped up the score to 5 stars).
The food was great, I'd recommend trying the Fire and Ice ceviche, if only for the "Ooo preeeetty" presentation factor. And be prepared to ask for 4-5 refills on your bread basket, because their mango butter and sugar (and cinnamon?) toast are a mouth-orgasm inducing PHENOMENON. I think my party blew past 6 baskets of those suckers, no joke. Cuba Libre was definitely my second most memorable Philly dining experience, second only to shoving a big fat greasy cheese steak right into my arteries.
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OK, so... in celebration of Fidel Castro's resignation, Cuba Libre is offering a free Cuba Libre cocktail with every entree... Who could pass that up, right? Perfect excuse to go out to dinner. lol
Well, I like to drink. However, I don't like to drink at Cuba Libre. lol If it weren't for that, I would definitely have rated this place a 5.
Last night was my first time visiting. I had a dinner reservation with two friends.
The place is beautiful, the food is delicious, the waitress was nice, the drinks/drink service SUCKED.
One of my friends ordered a Malibu and Pineapple... Although we could clearly see the bottle of Malibu sitting on the display wall behind the bar, the bartender went to the far end of the bar and after glancing over her shoulder to see if we were looking - I have mastered the art of pretending I'm not watching my bartender - poured her a Bacardi Coco and pineapple... She didn't really care, so I didn't complain, but (as I'm learning) I'm one of those people who asks for very specific things and gets annoyed when those requests aren't honored. I don't mind being told that they don't have Malibu... But don't tell me ok, then sneak me something else. *ugh*
Between the three of us, we ended up ordering the Plato Guevara (which is made for two people), and the "15 Tastes of Cuba" for the third person.
That food was so delicious and there was so MUCH!!! Wow. There were two types of steak (strip - my favorite thing on the table - and skirt), jumbo shrimp (can I get an order of those to go!), chicken breasts (well-seasoned, but a tad dry) and chorizos (pork sausages, but I don't eat pork) on the Plato Guevara, and the 15 Tastes of Cuba came with like 5 different entrees, including the most delicious salmon I have ever tasted! The spinach that came w/the 15 Tastes was so good we actually commented on it. lol
The only thing none of us cared for were the way too sweet maduros (fried ripened plantains)...
Oh, wait, I'm lying... lol. The other thing no one cared for was the free Cuba Libre cocktail. lol. It is house brand rum, fresh lime juice and coke... WAY too much fresh lime juice.
All three of us are two binges away from needing new livers and all three of us left half-full glasses on the table. lol
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I'll break my review down by everything I digested:
Classic Mojito: 4 stars -not quite strong enough
Caipirinha: 5 stars -perfect
Ceviche: 4 stars -amazing, but not enough for a party of 5
Mariquitas (plantain and yuca chips and dips): 4 stars -the sauce was great
Bread and Butter: 5 stars -holy mango butter, Batman!
Lechon Asado (slow roasted pork): 5 stars -GET IT!
And I sampled....
Pescado de Oriente (sea bass): 5 stars -and I don't even like fish that much!
Vaca Frita (short rib steak): 5 stars -so, so tender
The decor: 5 stars -they brought the bill in a cigar box!
The service: 5 stars -even the manager came by to check on us. (He was extremely well-dressed.)
Overall: 5 stars, a nice buzz, and infinite props for impressing my out of town guests with the restaurant choice.
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This place gets 5 stars for food, drinks, and atmosphere... and negative stars for the jar-headed douche bag "security guards" and the less-than-attentive wait staff. Too bad... if they got rid of their pretentious and rude staff, it would be 5 stars all the way!
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Not being a fan of communism (an understatement) but still enjoying Cuban food this is the perfect name for a Cuban restaurant. Immediately I know that I won't walk in to a cigar smoke filled room of military fatigue wearing, bearded men, playing cards and plotting la revolucion. Instead bring on the yuppies, Muerto a Fidel!
We got there around 630 and were immediately seated upstairs but shortly thereafter the crowd greatly increased, or I guess you could say... invaded. The double rotating fans, tropical plants and large picture on the wall of a Cuban street made for good atmosphere, festive but not cheesy.
A couple of mojitos were delivered in record time and upon my notice of this our server laughed and said they had it down to a science. I did not know they had a MS in Mojito.
Presentation was excellent and my 15 tastes of Cuba tasting menu was plenty of food. Fire and Ice ceviche was mostly good tuna, the black bean hummus with plantain chips was excellent. The entree was one piece of smoky, very wood flavored shrimp, a small medium rare steak and a piece of nicely caramelized salmon on a bed of watercress with sides of black beans and rice, and of course the sweet fried plantains are hard not to love.
I'd recommend watching Lost City (2005 film) about Havana in the 1950s as what it was, could be and should be and then enjoying a nice night out. Cubra Libre, Cuba Libre indeed.
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I've only been here once at night, and once for brunch.
Nighttime: I liked it - there was a good crowd, and the drinks were fun. I wouldn't go every weekend, because it was kind of expensive, and a big outting, but for every now and then as something different, I had a blast. Plus, it's fun to just watch the dancing, even if you are no good at it.
Brunch: Fantastic. From start to finish.
Wandering about Olde City, looking for a place to eat brunch, I am so glad I passed over Continental and ended up here. I think the decor is somewhat authentic - if anything it is fun and different. And, according to my friend, it had a great bathroom (clean, large). She made sure to tell me this, knowing I'd soon be yelping. Plus, they had all the windows open, so even though we were in the back, it still felt like we were on a patio. And finally, perhaps my favorite piece of ambiance - they bring the check out in a cigar box. A little detail, but is unique and well-noted!
The service, from the second we walked in the door was as good as it gets. From the maitre d in a red bow tie who stopped by to see how we were doing, to our waitress who knowledgeably described the meals, to the staff who brought our food and knew who ordered what without having to ask (I am always impressed when this happens and it is a different person bringing the food than taking the orders), to the folks who cleared the table and knew enough not to clear one plate until both of us were done eating - I was impressed.
The food, too, did not disappoint. A lot of the food on the menu was really authentic, from my experiences in Miami and elsewhere. I went with the eggs benedict, on top of a fried crab cake, on top of "avocado smash." It was very tasty. (Although, even as I write this, I still find myself craving the french toast with almonds and honey drizzle that I had to pass over in favor of the eggs. Next time, I guess) My friend opted for the Cuban Sandwich which was massive, and according to her delicious. Very meat-filled. Plus it came with fried plantains which had some spices on it that made them even tastier than usual. As a side dish, we opted for the arepas. My only other experience with an arepa was actually in Key Biscayne, and the ones at Cuba Libre were equally as fantastic. They are like a mini grilled cheese, with very gooey and delicious cheese, inside a sweet bread of sorts. Hard to describe, but well worth a taste!
In the beverage department, I tried the pina colada which was delicious and strong (at least for me at noon on a Saturday). My friend got something that had lots of fruits involved, which she couldn't get enough of.
So impressed with our experience were we that we even stayed on for coffee!!! The Cuban coffee with steamed coconut milk was so tasty that despite the fact that I was too full to drink even water, I pressed on and drank the whole thing. The Cuban coffee with Mexican chocolate was FANTASTIC. I wish I had gotten it, in fact. It was very chocolatey, in the good way, and had a nice spice at the end of each sip.
All in all, the decor, service, and food, all met and exceeded my expectations, which were especially high after several years of wanting to go. Way to go, Cuba Libre!
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If I could, I'd give Cuba Libre 4.5 stars...the ambiance is amazing. I totally felt like I was somewhere far away from Philly - perhaps Cuba except that I've never been there so it's hard for me to say. The drinks are very tasty as well - about 8 different mojitos to choose from as well as lots of other cocktails. I didn't look into their wine menu so I can't say if it was good or not. The food menu was full of lots of interesting items, many of which made me salivate in anticipation. However, once the food arrived, about half of it was amazing and the other half was ok/good.
Recently, the chef has changed to the guy who used to work at Pasion. I was made to believe this would be a good thing and perhaps all the hype raised my expectations so high that I don't know what I was expecting. The Guava BBQ ribs were quite fatty, about every other bite was full of fattiness - gross. The empanadas (Tres Amigos) were pretty tasty but nothing to rave about. The ahi tuna ceviche was just ok - the portion was pretty small, the flavors didn't seem unique in any way but the presentation was awesome - it came out smokin' and living up to its Fire and Ice title :) We also had the duck salad caribe and that was amazing - my favorite by far. I'd honestly go back for it again and again. We also had the camarones served on a sugar cane stick and they were well cooked and served atop a tasty yam and apple mash. I swear we had one more dish but I don't remember it...
We then ordered dessert and neither was my cup of tea. The bread pudding was very dense and hard. Even though it tasted good I just didn't like the texture. It came with poached pears, whipped cream and rum raisins. Then we had the chocolate torte with dulce de leche gelato and that was good but too sweet for my personal taste. If I were to go back, I'd probably have a passionfruit mojito for dessert as they are to die for! (I ordered mine with white rum as I figured the passionfruit rum would just make the drink too sweet). Overall, I had a great time with friends over great drinks and good food. I'd go back just for the ambiance and the duck salad caribe ;)
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I would rate this place 3.5 stars.
Came here for lunch and I gotta say that the mojitos are soo good but way too strong for me (I can't handle anything, my husband had it). They make them with pure sugar cane juice which makes them extra good, but they don't come cheap. I think it was about $13 for the mojito.
We started off with the fire and ice ceviche which was good but really tiny. It was quite expensive as well. I think about $15. Not worth the price.
I ordered the Plato Miramar salad which was: house smoked tuna, mojito-cured salmon, smoked duck breast, Serrano ham, queso blanco, sweet grape tomatoes, caper berries and marinated asparagus. Watercress and romaine salad, Spanish sherry vinaigrette. This salad was good but a bit too salty because of all the meats and the caper berries.
My husband ordered the good ole EL Cubano sandwich. The sandwich was delicious. After having a few bites of this, I wish I had ordered this instead. Kinda pricey at $12 though.
Over all the service was excellent, the food was good, but nothing too exciting, and kinda over priced.
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As usaul I ordered way too much food... Yummo! The seafood soup was to die for. I am not sure if I loved the empenadas. I am used to the ones in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. I definately did not like the watermelon mojito.
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Have eaten here a few times over the years, but a recent trip prompted a five-star review. No, it's not cheap -- and the irony of Cuban food costing this much is obvious. But if you're looking for low prices in Old City, well, there's a Cosi at 4th and Chestnut.
Looking for a place with an inspired decor and food to match, plus the area's best mojitos? Cuba Libre has got you covered. The house mojito is so good I'd always stuck with it. Now that I've had a pineapple mojito, I'm torn. Might even venture into some other varieties. I realize the $8 to $10 price tag is a bit steep, but that's comparable to a glass of good wine and a couple bucks more than a pint. From what I can tell, some people are paying almost as much for coffee these days, so let's call it a wash. The mojitos live up to the hype.
The food is also quite tasty. Our favorites: The fire & ice ceviche, which comes in a coconut on a steaming plate of dry-ice. Black bean soup with a spicy kick. And the Plato Cuba Libre, a sampler entree that changes daily and features small portions of the main dishes along with maduros (fried platains) and a watercress salad. On this visit it was the ropa vieja (shredded beef) and churrasco a la Cubana (skirt steak with garlic mashed potatoes) -- both delicious -- and lechon asado (pork), good but a step down from the other items. The dry and chewy tostones also weren't my cup of tea.
Didn't do dessert this time. No worries, the mojitos and food filled us up just fine. Service was very good from start to finish. Overall, it was another trip that left us saying, "We have to come back more often." Next time, it'll likely be for brunch. Highly recommended.
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I have nothing but good things to say about Cuba Libre. First off, the mojitos are awesome. They put just enough mint, lime and sugar together. So, so good. The food isn't bad either. The bread with the mango butter is really good. When I was here for last week for restaurant week, they had potato salad with baby octopus for the appetizer and flat iron steak with chipotle espresso sauce and spinach for dinner. I loved it. I'll definitely have to go back again, especially for brunch.
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i love the salsa nites here as people really are here to dance and have a good time... it gets pretty crowded though so thats a lil intimidating if you don't know how to salsa.
as for the food, the one thing that stood out for me here was the butter... some kind of mango concoction but so good!
i don't remember what i ordered here but i just remember its still better than any place i've tried in ny...
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My only regret is that I don't live in Philadelphia and will have to take away my one visit and what a visit it was. I was in town for work and a self professed foodie had Cuba Libre among others as a place to visit. Here again, extremely lucky given how this turned out.
I had walked past the restaurant the night prior and I could have sworn it looked like a trendy dance club night spot.
I arrived here hungry for brunch and was blown away by the interior decor. The only word I can muster these many days later is 'tropical'. The place evokes my probably wrong image of Havana with Palms greeting you and interesting stairs leading up to otherwise concealed rooms. Just good use of space.
Oh yeah, this is a restaurant. The food was stellar. I have this bad habit of always eating pork whenever I venture into a Cuban restaurant. I had one of their highlighted sandwiches -if you are there for brunch, you would not go wrong picking this.
Our server was self-effacing and engaging. His clumsiness which seemed calculated put us at ease and made me want to sit back and drink mojitos all afternoon, but alas we were in town to work.
I won't even knock off a star for their terrible beer menu.
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Wow! Cuba Libre is fantastic for brunch. I would love to have dinner here sometime as well. This place would be great even just for a coffee stop...really delicious coffee. I definitely recommend ordering the house coffee!
I went on a sunny afternoon with my parents for their wedding anniversary. I had the rib sandwich - a lot better than I thought it was going to be. My father had the shirred eggs, which came in a small box. The eggs were perfect and very filling. The complimentary fresh bread was also a huge plus.
The decor of the restaurant really made you feel as though you were somewhere other than Philadelphia...which on a chilly, Autumn day was just what we needed. I loved Cuba Libre and give it 5 stars...I can't wait to dine here again.
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my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia. Been there a couple of times and absolutely LOVED IT. My first time was for brunch and I LOVED my french toast. Its by far the best french toast Ive had. I loved how it tops off w/ hazelnut. =) another great thing about Cuba libre is the mango butter. I usually don't use any butter on my bread ... but this was SOOOOOO delich ... its worth 5 stars on its own.
Went back for dinner and I LOVED their arroz con pollo and something else w/ pulled beef with some tomato sauce. it was just soooooooooo good. =) cant wait to go back again
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Very, very nice and fun cuban restaurant in historic district. We were a group of coworkers in need of decompressing during our company's annual conference. The drinks and appetizers were delicious (including my limeade made on request). There is such a variety of delectable dishes my colleagues had a hard time picking! There were two vegetarians in our group and we found something to eat! There's excellent side dishes you can order as your entree (the rice and beans and bean soup are veggi) and they have an entree that's all veggi (the ravioli). I had the black bean soup to start off with, and it was huge! With little cheese sandwhich mini-wedges (Arepas) on the side. I then had maduros, tostones, and steamed garlic yuca. YUM!!!
The decor is lovely, making it seem as if you were in a tropical paradise. We sat upstairs and enjoyed the vintage street and large street poster that made it seem like we were in old cuba.
A great place to go for drinks and nibbles, and has a delectable dessert list too, which can't be missed.
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went here for lunch when i got back in town and really liked seeing some of the same cuisine i had when i was in colombia. you can't expect entirely authentic food, but it definitely hits the spot ; )
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I live in Ca, but came to Philly on a business trip in July. We were looking for places to eat, and everyone told us to come here for the mojitos. So we did. And WOW! The service was excellent, the mojitos the best I've ever had, AND we even finished off an appetizer sampler after having a cheese steak. That's how good it was. I would recommend this place to anyone, and we kept telling the manager to open one in LA. I would live there! I've tried looking for places like it here in LA, and have yet to find one that even comes close. Plus the music was very fun after a mojito or 2. =0)
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Many times going to Philadelphia, I would pass by Cuba Libre wondering if that huge crowd in front of the place would equate to a totally awesome place to eat. On my last trip to the city, I planned brunch there, and wow. It was amazing.
I had made reservations the night prior, and showing up the next day was a piece of cake. We were seated immediately at our table. It was a group of 6 people as well. The decor of Cuba Libre makes you feel as if you are somewhere in Cuba enjoying a wonderful brunch. Too bad the weather wasn't Cuba-esque.
Now to the food, the mojitos were wonderful. This was my first mojito so I didn't have anything to base it on, but if I had mojitos like this all the time, I would be in heaven.
For a little appetizer I had the torrejas which is a high-end version of french toast. It was filled with mascarpone cheese, and topped with hazelnuts and almonds. I think I can eat 3 of those for breakfast, it was so good. I still crave it.
My main course was a bit close to home, but it still was very good. I had the "Pollo Uno, Dos, y Tres" which was chicken breast, chicken sausage, and 2 eggs. That hit the spot, I was very satisfied with my brunch experience.
I was very satisfied with Cuba Libre, and I wouldn't mind stopping by again. I'd always use reservations to be safe though, you don't know when there will be an influx of people trying to get in. Play it safe, use the reservations - and get the mojitos.
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Cuba Libre is a great stop anytime of the day! Good food, helpful staff, great drinks, fun & friendly bartenders--all in a cool, lively setting. I've yet to try the brunch here but the menu looks AMAZING. This is a great place for groups or to take visiting out-of-towners.
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I went to Cuba Libre for an event sponsored by my college for our Senior Week. For four years, I'd been hearing rumors about the world famous mojitos and salsa dancing, but never made it down to 2nd and Market until four days before I graduated.
I wasn't disappointed. Cuba Libre's decor has a fantastic, weathered 1940s Havana vibe with its lazily whirring paddle fans, large potted palms and cracked plaster walls. The upstairs bar includes an iron balcony, which looks over the main dining area that is cleared out at night to become a makeshift dance floor as a live DJ spins Latin music. I normally don't dance - I'm a white girl from Connecticut, there's only so much I can do - but even I couldn't resist. Thank God it was a Thursday night and a partially closed event, because if there had been real salsa professionals there, I would have been against the wall like a seventh grader at a semi-formal.
God bless the bartenders, because the mojito is one of the most labor-intensive drinks out there. I'm a bit of a mojito snob, but I wasn't disappointed - the classic mojito ($9) was delicious, but for a real treat, go for the pomegranate mojito ($11). Pricey, yes, but absolutely refreshing and delicious.
I can't speak for the food, as we sampled one of the special events menus, but the passed hors d'oeuvres - I'm not a foodie, but I remember the empanadas, beef skewers, fried crab, and miniature mozzarella and spinach panini were all delicious and flavorful, and if they were any indication of the quality of Cuba Libre's regular dinner menu, then I might just have to move back to Philadelphia.
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