Copellia, Havana . Cuba

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• Corner of Calles 23 & L Havana Vedado Cuba
• Destination: Havana
• Open: Daily
• Telephone: +53 7 832 6184
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Copellia

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The Industriales baseball team. The Tropicana cabaret. The Communist Party. Cuba has its share of institutions and Coppelia is right up there with the best of them. Founded in 1966 as the revolutionary government's response to Howard Johnson's (the leading US ice cream purveyor at the time), Coppelia remains a point of pride amongst Cubans - even as they gripe about it not being as good as in the old days.

Navigating the different areas of the sprawling parlor can be tricky, compounded by the fact that there are sections for customers paying in national money (pesos Cubanos, CUP) and others for those paying hard currency (pesos convertibles, CUCs). Here's the deal: If you're paying in CUCs, there's no need to wait - just enter at Calle 23 and L and head left to the hard currency section. For the full experience, mark a place in one of the three pesos Cubanos lines at Calles 23 & L, Calles 21 & L or between the two and wait - up to an hour on a busy day.

Once inside, servers direct you to the appropriate section and table (or stool if at the counter). Usually there are only a couple of flavors available, except in summertime when you may encounter as many as four. Ask for a 'jimagua' (two big scoops, 2 pesos) or an 'ensalada' (five scoops, 5 pesos); you can mix flavors. 

Mapa de Copellia

Copellia is located in Havana

Capital of Cuba and the country's administrative, political, cultural and scientific center, it is also the capital of two provinces: City of Havana and Havana. Though only around 280 square miles (727 square kilometers) in size-0.65 percent of the archipelago's total area.

The Old Havana and system of forts led UNESCO to declare it a part of world heritage in 1982. Founded on its present site in 1519, the settlement of San Cristobal de La Habana prospered mainly due to its bay, which was a natural port of call for ships sailing to and from the New World. Starting in 1634, because of its strategic location, San Cristobal de La Habana was considered the key to the New World-as attested to by royal letters patent-and the main defense of the West Indies.

The Cuban capital consists of an immense number of buildings in a wide range of architectural styles, built in the course of nearly five centuries. These styles range from the pre-baroque to the baroque, neo-Gothic, neoclassical, eclectic, art noveau and art-deco, to the modern.

Alejo Carpentier, one of Cuba's most famous authors, called it "the city of columns" and focused attention on its streets, which he considered a perennially rich show of life, humanity and contrasts that was bound to entertain any observer.

Over 14 kilometers of excellent beaches lie to the east of the Cuban capital. To the south, a green belt contributes to a healthful atmosphere.

Review about Restaurants: Copellia