Cafe Habana

In 1998, Sean Meenan built Café Habana in an old-school Dominican diner that had been holding it down on the corner of Elizabeth and Prince long before NoLita was born. Inspired by a storied Mexico City lunch joint where legend has it Che and Fidel plotted the Cuban Revolution, Café Habana is a mix of straight-shooter authenticity and nonchalant cool.
Fourteen years later, it’s a veritable institution, replete with celebrity sightings, reviewer accolades and dedicated aficionados. It’s the kind of place where old-time neighborhood denizens pull rank on beautiful hipsters for the best tables, and that’s not up for negotiation on anyone’s watch.