Café Fenicia

A stand-up window counter on Calle Ocho pouring some of the city's most reliably strong coladas alongside guava-stuffed pastries still warm from the oven.

The line moves fast because everyone already knows their order—colada, a croqueta preparada wrapped in wax paper, maybe a pastelito if the tray just came out. There's no seating to speak of, just a ledge and the hum of dominoes players next door, but that's the point: Tenicia runs on rhythm, not romance. Come before 9am if you want the guava pastries at their flakiest.

Best for: Morning fuel and quick Cuban bites before wandering Calle Ocho