La Barca Restaurant

La Barca restaurant is located at 16 San Pedro Street (also called Port Avenue), at the corner of Obispo Street, offering a choice of international dishes, with a deft touch by talented Spanish Chef José Carlos Castillo, from neighboring El Templete restaurant. It has two private rooms, an interior courtyard and a terrace overlooking the Havana harbor. This restaurant is renowned for its prime quality services, endorsed by Catalan Jordi Escarra’s technical assistance.(Further reading)
The site now occupied by the restaurant was once the property of González y Suárez S. en C. business partnership for supply importation. The back of the building was adjacent to Santovenia Count’s mansion, nowadays Santa Isabel Hotel. The building was home to several British entities such as the Diplomatic Legation to Havana, the Havana Coal Co., Havana Marine Railways Co. owned by Queen Victoria’s Fund, and the residence of Captain C.H. Stapleton, one of the most prominent British colony figures in the city, who was founding chairman of the Havana British Club.
La Barca, next to El Templete restaurant, has a pleasant sea atmosphere. If you cross the street, you can touch the Havana sea and feel closer to the villages in the distance. Just moments away from your doorstep is Plaza de Armas (Parade Ground) and further along is St. Francis of Assisi Square, with the once Franciscan convent as its prevalent feature, and currently home to one of the best cultural centers in the capital.