Havana Cafe Everglades City, known as HavAnnA Cafe, is a Cuban and Cracker cuisine restaurant located at 191 Smallwood Drive, Chokoloskee, Florida, near the Everglades National Park. It serves fresh Gulf of Mexico seafood alongside traditional Cuban dishes in a tropical outdoor garden setting. The cafe is open seasonally and ranks in the top 10% of restaurants on TripAdvisor.
What Is Havana Cafe Everglades City?
Havana Cafe Everglades City is a Caribbean-style dining destination that blends Cuban cuisine with Florida Cracker cooking. Traditional Cuban staples and fresh Gulf of Mexico seafood are transformed into flavorful Caribbean-style dishes at this restaurant. For context, see our previous guide on Camellia Street Grill Everglades City: Menu, Honest Review, and 5 Reasons to Visit.
The restaurant is located in the heart of Chokoloskee, the island connected to Everglades City. It attracts both local residents and tourists exploring the Everglades region.
Where Is Havana Cafe Located?
HavAnnA Cafe is located at 191 Smallwood Drive, Chokoloskee, Florida 34138. The phone number is (239) 695-2214.
Chokoloskee Island is a few miles south of Everglades City and just outside the Everglades National Park. Visitors traveling from Naples or Marco Island use it as a dining stop before or after exploring the park.
When Did Havana Cafe Open?
The restaurant opened in 2005 after founder Carlos Valdes turned his dream of opening a restaurant into a reality. He gained his passion for cooking from his mother, and the family used word of mouth to build their customer base during the first 3 years.
HavAnnA Cafe carries the legacy built by Carlos and Dulce Valdez and has introduced new Cracker menu items alongside the established Cuban cuisine.
What Does Havana Cafe Everglades City Serve?
HavAnnA Cafe serves 3 primary cuisine categories: Cuban dishes, Florida Cracker cooking, and fresh Gulf seafood. The menu features Cuban-inspired food and drinks, including coffee, shrimp, and pastries, as well as homemade soups, salads, and authentic Cuban sandwiches.
What Are the Top Menu Items at Havana Cafe?
The most recommended dishes at Havana Cafe include:
- Cuban sandwich – pressed with pulled pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard
- Peel and Eat Shrimp – fresh Gulf shrimp served whole
- Shrimp Criollo – shrimp cooked with tomatoes, onions, peppers, and garlic
- Ropa Vieja Empanadas – shredded beef wrapped in pastry
- Steak and Eggs – a breakfast staple
- Big shrimp in garlic butter sauce
- Homemade sangria and fresh mojitos
The standout dishes are the Peel n’ Eat Shrimp and the Cuban sandwich, which are highly recommended by visitors. The garden setting adds to the overall dining experience.
|
Dish |
Category |
Key Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
|
Cuban Sandwich |
Lunch |
Pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard |
|
Peel and Eat Shrimp |
Lunch/Dinner |
Fresh Gulf shrimp |
|
Shrimp Criollo |
Dinner |
Shrimp, tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic |
|
Ropa Vieja Empanadas |
Tapas |
Shredded beef, pastry shell |
|
Steak and Eggs |
Breakfast |
Steak, eggs |
|
Homemade Sangria |
Drinks |
Red wine, fruit |
What Are the Breakfast Options at Havana Cafe?
Breakfast is served daily from 8 AM to 12 PM and includes fresh ground Cuban coffee with warm whole milk. Every breakfast includes fresh ingredients and authentic Cuban flavors. Signature breakfast dishes include the Rena, Chorizo Egg Sandwich, and Steak and Eggs.
Does Havana Cafe Have Vegetarian Options?
Havana Cafe offers vegetarian dishes. Options include plantains, yuca, black beans and rice, corn and pea empanadas, and a Cuban vegetarian platter. The vegetarian platter includes plantains, yuca, rice, beans, and flavorful vegetables.
What Are the Hours and Season at Havana Cafe Everglades City?
Havana Cafe is open October through April. It serves breakfast and lunch 7 days a week and dinner on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from 5 PM to 8 PM.
During its open season, the cafe operates daily from 8 AM to 8 PM.
Is Havana Cafe Open Year-Round?
Havana Cafe is not open year-round. It operates seasonally from October 15 through April. The Havana Cafe is open only for breakfast and lunch during the season, which runs from October 15 to April 15. Visitors planning trips between May and September should note the closure.
Havana Cafe Everglades City – Hours at a Glance
|
Service |
Days |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
|
Breakfast |
Monday to Sunday |
8 AM – 12 PM |
|
Lunch |
Monday to Sunday |
12 PM – 4 PM |
|
Dinner |
Thursday, Friday, Saturday |
5 PM – 8 PM |
|
Season Open |
October 15 |
– |
|
Season Close |
April 15 |
– |
What Makes Havana Cafe Everglades City Unique?
Havana Cafe is unique for 4 defining qualities: its outdoor tropical setting, its Cuban-Cracker fusion menu, its fresh Gulf seafood sourced locally, and its proximity to the Everglades National Park. No other restaurant in the Chokoloskee area combines these elements.
What Is the Atmosphere Like at Havana Cafe?
The cafe features a romantic tropical garden with palm trees and flowers. The outdoor setting creates an Old Florida vibe and feel.
The atmosphere is uniquely charming, with chickens roaming freely on the premises. The Cuban flair and island-like setting create a relaxed environment. Entertainment such as karaoke is available at certain times.
What Events Does Havana Cafe Host?
HavAnnA Cafe is a sought-after venue for private gatherings. Its outdoor space and catering services make it suitable for events of all sizes. Community events include Chokoloskee Swamp Superstar Karaoke and lively seasonal gatherings.
What Do Visitors Say About Havana Cafe Everglades City?
HavAnnA Cafe has received a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award, ranking it in the top 10% of restaurants on the platform. Visitors consistently highlight 3 strengths: food quality, friendly service, and the outdoor atmosphere.
How Is Havana Cafe Rated?
Reviewers on TripAdvisor and Yelp rate Havana Cafe highly for its Cuban sandwiches, fresh shrimp dishes, and welcoming staff. Recent visitor reviews from 2025 describe the peel and eat shrimp and Cuban sandwich as the best lunch of their vacation. The cafe has collected over 467 reviews on one platform alone.
What Do First-Time Visitors Recommend Ordering?
First-time visitors are advised to order 3 dishes: the Cuban sandwich, the Peel and Eat Shrimp, and a fresh mojito. The shrimp criollo is particularly worth trying, as the seafood is as fresh as possible given the local fishing community surrounding Chokoloskee and Everglades City.
How Do You Get to Havana Cafe Everglades City?
Havana Cafe is accessible by car from Naples in approximately 45 minutes and from Marco Island in approximately 35 minutes. The restaurant is located in a salmon-colored building on Chokoloskee Island. It is visible on the right side after crossing onto the island. The parking lot fills quickly, and cars often park on the grass across the street.
The address is 191 Smallwood Drive, Chokoloskee, FL 34138. Visitors arriving from Everglades City cross a short causeway bridge onto Chokoloskee Island to reach the cafe.
Is Havana Cafe Worth the Drive?
Chokoloskee and Everglades City rely on fishing and tourism. The seafood served at Havana Cafe is as fresh as possible, sourced directly from the surrounding Gulf waters. For visitors to the Everglades National Park, the cafe serves as a natural dining stop that combines local cuisine with a distinct cultural experience. The combination of Cuban cooking, Cracker traditions, and Gulf seafood creates a menu found nowhere else in Southwest Florida.
Havana Cafe Everglades City is located at 191 Smallwood Drive, Chokoloskee, FL 34138. Phone: (239) 695-2214. Season: October 15 to April 15. Hours: Daily 8 AM to 8 PM.
Donald Reeves writes about Everglades City the way the place deserves to be written about: without the brochure language, without the manufactured wonder, and without pretending that a town of 400 people sitting at the edge of a swamp is something it is not.
He has spent considerable time in Collier County’s oldest settlement, arriving during stone crab season when the waterfront smells of brine and work, and returning in the off-season when the tourists are gone and the town goes quiet in the particular way that only genuinely remote places can. He has paddled the mangrove tunnels of the Ten Thousand Islands, eaten at places with no hours posted on the door, and spoken at length with fishing guides who navigate these waters by memory rather than chart.
His writing on Everglades City FL covers everything from tidal fishing conditions and kayak trails to lodging, local history, and the complex past that most Florida travel content carefully avoids.
He writes to give readers the honest version.