Tocororo Restaurant, elegance and cubanness

Hello, friends of Architecture + Design, greetings to all! Today I want to share with you my visit to a place I went last week with some friends, the Tocororo restaurant. This establishment is one of the country's emblematic restaurants and owes its name to the National Bird of Cuba, the Tocororo. This small bird has charming plumage that immediately captures attention due to its coloring, which includes those of our flag, white, red and blue. It is located on 18th Street, between 3rd and 5th Avenues, in Miramar, Havana.

The restaurant occupies an elegant house in one of the most beautiful and distinguished areas of Miramar. Its eclectic style combines diverse decorative elements in its designs, containing a great diversity of elements.

Outside, there is a beautiful garden with a marble fountain. In the corner, there is a large sign with a huge Tocororo that projects a great light at night. The exterior windows are covered with a beautiful varnished turned wood structure. The main entrance has two staggered wooden ceilings, covered with tiles, which create a wide roofed corridor leading to the entrance door. This door is made of turned wood and has the letter "T" on each side. Upon opening the door, we are greeted by a small, sophisticated foyer with a large mural painted with abundant vegetation. In one corner, as a subtle detail, there is a Tocororo perched on one of the branches.

Next to the foyer, there are two more rooms that function as living rooms. These spaces are full of ornamental elements. In one of them, there is a painting that covers the entire wall. There are marble tables with floral vases and beautiful sculptures. In addition, you can find very elegant wood and glass showcases, as well as stylish furniture.

We had lunch in one of the reserved areas. Although it had a huge table, we were accommodated there because the main room was occupied by a group of foreign tourists. The reserved area is spacious, with a pleasant temperature and a quiet atmosphere. Since we were alone, I had the opportunity to draw the curtains to capture the beauty of the stained glass windows. The food was exquisitely prepared. I was delighted to see that the plates and silverware were personalized and all the same, demonstrating quality service.

This salon stands out for its striking colorful stained glass windows depicting beautiful tricolor birds. The ceilings are decorated in relief, and huge chandeliers hang with elaborate and elegant crystals, reflecting an Art Nouveau style. There are marble and bronze sculptures, large paintings hanging on the walls and period furniture. There is also a pendulum clock, large sideboards and carved and turned wood display cabinets, which give the place an elegant and distinguished look. This is the case in almost every area of the house and are the features that make it an eclectic style design, by combining different styles, creating a unique and personalized aesthetic. Myself, I would have preferred a somewhat simpler approach, but I can't help but recognize the beauty of the whole.

At the end of our lunch, the foreign tourists occupying the Terrace Bar had already finished, so they allowed us to pass. I wanted to show them this place, as I had visited it before and knew it was beautiful, it is the busiest place in the house.

In this area, the ceilings and the bar are made of polished wood. The terrace is large and covered, with polished clay floors. It is the space that foreign tourists who visit the place like the most. The lounge is decorated with numerous stained glass lamps of different shapes and colors, and rings with various birds hang from the ceiling. In the center of the hall, near the ceiling, there are small stained glass windows that allow some light to enter, as the hall is quite dim. On both sides, there are large fish tanks with colorful fish. The furniture is completely made of wood, and at the back of the room there is a large piano. In the afternoons and evenings, a pianist entertains the restaurant. Next to the piano, there is a beautiful painting on the wall depicting a country landscape.

It was a lovely lunch. The restaurant staff is very attentive and professional, offering excellent service. We had a very pleasant evening, and I hope you enjoyed the place as much as we did. I wish you a wonderful day! See you soon!

The photos were taken with my Xiaomi Note 11 phone recreated with canva.

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