Los Mercaderes

Appears in
A Taste of Cuba
A Taste of Cuba

By Cynthia Carris Alonso

Published 2018

  • About
Calle Mercaderes No. 207

An employee of Los Mercaderes stands ready to welcome guests and check reservations. Behind him is the bell he rings to alert restaurant staff that guests are coming.

Several years ago, Yamil Alvarez Torres and his family decided to transform their high-ceilinged Spanish-style home in Old Havana to reflect the old-fashioned charm of their neighborhood. They dreamed of opening a paladar, and after three years of renovation, they opened Los Mercaderes in 2012 within the walls of their former home. A piece of the building’s original wall stands intact so that visitors can see the transformation.