Havana Social

“After our meal, they brought us some type of chocolate rum and coconut shot on the house that was, like everything else, perfect.”

“The cocktail menu is crafty and exotic featuring a red champagne Sangria, Coquito and coconut mojitos.”

“Comes with 3 arepas
– Empanadas app (4/5) – comes with 4 different types (I think chicken, beef, mac & cheese, spinach & cheese).”

Havana Social

Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Happy Hour: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes

Price range.

$$ Price range $11-30

8 reviews

  1. I have overlooked this place for the past 4 years… Every morning/evening when I pass by the front door on my way to/from work, I assumed this place as a sub-quality tequila bar simply because of the blue neon sign/lights, which did not intrigue me that much. Finally I gave a try at Havana Social.

    Food was good, at reasonable prices (you can expect ~$100-120 for dinner for two people). My 3-star rating reflects ambience/coziness of the dining area. This place is somewhat cramped; tables are squeezed each other. Some people might like two huge fans on the ceiling with blue neon lights dominating the entire dining area, but I was not a big fan of such ambience. I didn't feel like staying at this place for an hour or so to relax and fully enjoy food/drinks while chatting with my long-time friend.

    Reservations are highly recommended, especially for Friday dinner and weekend.

  2. I was really drunk here. Well, we all were. So, when we ordered what we thought would be Latin cuisine and a Japanese bento box came out, we were like– wait, are we that drunk that we went looking for Cuban food and ended up at a hibachi grill?? Damn you Uber! It turns out that Havana Social is fancy like that! And the food was excellent. This place is smaller than a NY apartment, but it packs some serious flavor. The music was hot, that salsa beat can make a corpse dance, I tell ya. And the staff was so cool, so patient with me and my clearly inebriated friends. And then they brought out the flan with the one candle for my friend's bday and it was like, maaaan you guys are pretty cool for New Yorkers. Coz you know, y'all New Yorkers are usually rude. Yes, you are, I promise you.

  3. In the city for work, and when you visit NY you have to visit places that you wouldn't normally and of course eat food that you wouldn't usually eat. Well this trip I decided that I wanted to try Cuban food for the first time, since Cuba has been in the news lately and I'm planning to visit.

    I found this place on Yelp and based on the reviews, it sounded like a place that I wanted to check out (good food, music, and people).

    When I arrived, I was a bit disappointed. The place was empty. Yes, it was Tuesday, but it was after 7. I just expected a nicer crowd. I sat at the bar for the entire time by myself.

    Anyway, not being familiar with any of the dishes, I asked the bartender who was helpful and he suggested that I try the platter. That way I could taste a variety of different things.

    I tried the beef and lobster empanadas, the sliders, and something else I couldn't pronounce haha. All three dishes were tasty, but I think I played it too safe. Next time I'll try something more daring.

    As far as drinks, I tried their signature drinks, the Coqui and the Coconut mojito. Both tasted really good, but I didn't get buzz.

    All in all I had a great experience and I'm sure it would been packed if I came at a different day and time.

  4. Genuinely surprised by this spot. Lived so close to this place for years and never went inside because I was turned off by the club-like interior. Regardless, decided to give it a go Friday late night (kitchen still open).

    Got a seat at the bar and quickly ordered the BBQ Costillas ($15). Mini pork ribs dripping in BBQ sauce served with yuca fries and a small side salad. Ribs weren't the best thing, yet the sauce really saves it (nice sweet and tangy). Yuca fries are made hot – dipped those in that BBQ sauce as well. What I really liked about this place was the free thick chips+hummus dip to start. An excellent starter and better than the normal salsa and chips.

    To end the meal, bartender gave a free shot of Coquito – a sweet shot with a little kick. Love all the little extras and the fast service. If it wasn't for the annoying lighting, this would be a spot I'd visit way more.

  5. This is a really cool bar on 10th ave! I came in for a quick drink to kill some time and was pleasantly surprised. The bar area is not too loud, and my rose sangria was really tasty. Drinks are around $12 so pretty standard price. If I'm looking for a chill spot in the area, this would definitely be on the list!

  6. I first heard about this place when Yelp held an Elite event there, but never really thought to drop by despite seeing positive reviews. Since I'm from Miami, I was a bit dubious of how good the Cuban fare would be, but I was pleasantly surprised when I finally tried it out last Friday night. While pricey, the food was delicious and better quality than any Cuban place I've been to in Miami (looking at you Versailles). My boyfriend and I split the shrimp ceviche, which he found skimpy on the amount but I felt was fair. He then had the pork chop, which the waitress warned us would take half an hour to cook, but clearly it was worth the wait as he thought it was the best pork chop he had ever had. I sampled some of the pork chop and had to agree – it was moist and flavorful in every bite. I had the roast pork bento box, which arrived with plantains and arroz con frijoles negros. It was very tasty (as well as a generous amount) and I enjoyed the leftovers the next day. The meal ended on a sweet note, as Havana Social likes to treat patrons to a shot of chocolate/coconut rum on the house.

    Overall, quite pleased with my experience here and would recommend. I made a reservation on OpenTable half an hour beforehand and was shown in quickly, but for larger groups I'd probably call ahead. Service wasn't amazing (the waitress brought the wrong drinks) and the drinks were expensive, but what you're coming for is the Cuban food. I'd also try to come for happy hour while the cocktails are $8 – we had the mojitos which were pretty good but not worth $12.

  7. Although it seemed the hostess was high on the night I came, I was satisfied with the menu options, and quality of the food served.   I should note that they have an a la carte menu with entrée options ranging around $20-$30 but they also have a 3 course pre-fixe menu at $28 for dinner as well.  A friend and just ordered a la carte and shared the ropa vieja and the churrasco.  Both were very good, but I think the ropa vieja beat the churrasco by a hair.  Churrasco was a bit over done (medium instead of medium-rare as we had requested) and the chimichurri wasn't on the steak; it came on the side. Each came with a salad and a side of choice – we opted for the maduros (sweet plantains) and mashed potatoes.  The mash was garlicky and buttery – everything you expect and want when you order mashed potatoes.  Unfortunately the maduros seemed like they were sweetened with sugar or honey and had a hint of cinnamon added – I wish they explained this on the menu because it caught me off guard, and not in a good way.

    It was nice that they offered a dessert shot (coconut milk, cinnamon, run) along with the bill too.

  8. We had a broadway show at 8pm and wanted something to drink and eat before the show. So i checked on Yelp and stumbled upon a few suggestion choices of tapas/bar. I chose this place because it stood out of all the other places. A cuban tapas bar. A first for me. So HAPPY with my choice! We got there without any reservations and one of the owner managed to get us places at the bar. The best spots in a restaurant! We shared a Champagne Sangria, rose. A few platters to share with my husband and his sister. Everything was great! Is this cuban food? Wow!!! So good, tasty, full of bold flavours! I have to get to know this cuisine more. I am missing out on something… The barmaid was so sweet, nice and helpful. They really put the whole package on this place. We have a few tapas bar in Montreal but nothing compares to this one. They need to open shop in Montreal lol! Perfect start to a perfect night out! Oh ya… The owners are very nice as well 🙂

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10th Avenue 688
New York 10019 NY US
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Monday, 11:00 am - 12:00 am
Tuesday, 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Wednesday, 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Thursday, 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Friday, 11:00 am - 2:00 am
Saturday, 11:00 am - 2:00 am
Sunday, 11:00 am - 12:00 am