Sweet Havana

Cuban restaurant · Louisville

Sweet Havana

Cuban restaurant · Louisville

1

5510 Fern Valley Rd #101, Louisville, KY 40228

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Highlights

Tucked behind a car dealership, this family-owned Cuban deli offers a colorful mix of authentic sandwiches, sweet pastries, and warm hospitality.  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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5510 Fern Valley Rd #101, Louisville, KY 40228 Get directions

sweethavanaky.com
@sweet_havana_ky

$10–20 · Menu

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5510 Fern Valley Rd #101, Louisville, KY 40228 Get directions

+1 502 219 6663
sweethavanaky.com
@sweet_havana_ky

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Mar 6, 2025

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"It’s almost as difficult to find Sweet Havana as it is to forget it. Tucked away behind a car dealership in a small but brightly colored strip mall in Louisville’s South End, the name tells you exactly what you’ll get: a sweet taste of Havana, Cuba."

Los Kentubanos: Digging Into Louisville’s Cuban Side
View Postcard for Sweet Havana

Sam Wheeler

Google
Today I visited for the first time. The staff is very friendly and warm. I love the atmosphere and the pastries and dishes are really delicious. Definitely slow down for a few and enjoy some Cuban coffee and a sweet treat or an empanada.

Alex Cross

Google
Very tasty authentic Cuban food and drinks! The staff is very friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is nice, and prices are very reasonable. If you're in the mood for Cuban food, definitely give this place a shot!

Nathali Carrera

Google
Great atmosphere. Clean and everything is made in house. Authentic. Would 100% recommend. Edit: Sometimes though they have taken a long time getting our orders out. I understand they are busy though so it happens. Still recommend it though. They make good food.

Shanell Armstrong

Google
I will certainly be back, I'm from Birmingham Alabama and very much enjoyed this food. Service was the best and it was overall a really good experience!

Clay Greene (ChaosAgent77)

Google
This fun and upcoming Cuban restaurant has wonderful food and the nicest staff you'll meet. I highly recommend the medianoche or the Cuban Sandwiches as they are delicious. Go for the sandwiches and stay for the sweet cakes and kind people. The restaurant is nestled behind a car dealership but it is a gem of a find!

Sandra Joseph

Google
So hungry, I forgot to take a picture of the food! The Cubano Sandwich was very good. The only complaint is that the food was room temperature and I like my food steaming. They also have a good variety of pastries. Big portions, and pricing is very reasonable.

NAC

Google
Always good. Don't miss the opportunity to have the best latte "Café con leche" in town. Loves the filled potatoes (papas rellenas) and señoritas.

The K Green Show

Google
A truly authentic Cuban experience. Didn't know what to expect but I'm glad we sought the place out. Kind of behind a dealership and a shopping center so keep going until you find it. It's a bakery and a restaurant. Lots of pastry choices both sweet and savory and a wide selection of cakes. Staff was patient and helpful. Empanadas were great. Cuban sandwich was good (It didn't have the pork pulled meat like I'm used to, but the bread was super soft). Ask for light mayo on sandwiches or it will be heavy. Eggs were very flavorful and the Yuka frita were great.

Andy B.

Yelp
Great food, service was good restaurant was clean and organized. I went for lunch and had the skirt steak with 2 sides very good! Amazing looking deserts and breads in the display cases as well.

Maria Karla D.

Yelp
Perfecto lugar para comprar cosas de cumpleaños , panes , croquetas y dulces . ..............

Dan B.

Yelp
This place is fantastic! I had noticed it just by passing by. By the name, I thought it was primarily sweet oriented. When I finally got around to checking it out, I discovered a full, savory menu. I tried multiple items. Empanadas, tamales and croquetas de Jamon. All were great.

Clay G.

Yelp
This fun and upcoming Cuban restaurant has wonderful food and the nicest staff you'll meet. I highly recommend the medianoche or the Cuban Sandwiches as they are delicious. Go for the sandwiches and stay for the sweet cakes and kind people. The restaurant is nestled behind a car dealership but it is a gem of a find!

Kevin P.

Yelp
We tried the Cuban sandwich and got a coffee with assorted deserts to go. Everything was good, and we will be back.

Lesie H.

Yelp
Fantastic food, pastries and coffee! If we're in the area we always make it a point to stop in here for a bite and leave with trays of pastries and sandwiches for later, prices are very fair.

Sam L.

Yelp
Visiting from out of town and knew I had to go by and try it! The Ropa Vieja was fantastic! Also picked up some of the guava pastries and they were a perfect sweet treat. There were so many delicious looking things in the cases, I could imagine it taking weeks to try everything. Will definitely be top of the list of places to eat next time I'm in the area.

BlueMermaid67 F.

Yelp
We were visiting our son & saw this place in our search for Cuban places to eat. The atmosphere was very inviting & they were playing music from Cuba! There were people already dining there & it felt like you were eating at a relatives home. They had a variety of pastries & cakes & everything looked delicious! We had the Cuban sandwiches with sweet plantains. They were delicious! When we visit again we will return to eat here.

Shannon K.

Yelp
Best guava pastries around! Make sure you try out there other pastries and Cuban sandwich.

Tina R.

Yelp
Louisville is fortunate to have a good number of Cuban restaurants to choose from ranging from reservations required to quick bites. Locals, do not sleep on Sweet Havana. It's counter service and they will bring your food to you. We have had most of the sandwiches and all are delicious! The papas rellenas are the best in the city. They serve an incredible green sauce on the side and it is (chef's kiss). Their desserts taste as good as they look. This place is a fave. Next time we are having Cubano sandwiches at home I'm asking my husband to pick up a loaf of Cuban bread for them. Can't wait!

Amber P.

Yelp
Cuban sandwich was amazing!!!!!! Cuban bread we god I can't wait to make it into French toast!! star of the show was the papa rellenas!!!!!! Absolutely hands down best I've ever had!!!!! The pastries we absolutely fabulous amazing texture and the flavor spot on!!!!!! Can't wait to go back

Aurora M.

Yelp
While everyone in our group decided to eat overpriced "Cuban" food, I found this place. As someone who grew up eating food made by my abuela, abuelo and my amazing family and I found that same sabor "flavor" here at Sweet Havana. Took a friend with me but as a gringo he of course ate the famous Cuban Sandwich. I had the pan con lechón and it did not disappoint. Definitely one of the places to add on my trips when I'm up this way.

Stacey U.

Yelp
Great food! Great staff!! This restaurant has the best Cuban food in the city! The sweets are so yummy!!!

Emily H.

Yelp
This is the most authentic Cuban food I've had outside of South Florida. Very casual, they have a few tables and a little lounge area with a couch. Huge bakery section, I wanted one of everything but settled on flan and a coconut pastry. I judge Cuban bakerys on their Cuban sandwich and theirs did not disappoint. The person I went with wasn't very excited to eat here, but once the food came he loved it. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in the area.

Gypsy G.

Yelp
So basically I need a sugar daddy so I can have more money to buy everything on the menu multiple times... so uh yeah.

Desmond W.

Yelp
Fantastic food. Great service. Feels very authentic. Love love love the tres leeches cake. If you order the cuban sandwich, switch out fries for plantains.

Kavipriya K.

Yelp
After watching the baker and the beauty on Netflix, I sought out all the Cuban places in Louisville and the Havana bakery was one of the best! It s a small mom and pop cafe with minimal seating inside but delicious food and generous portions. The pastries are so well made and guava is incorporated in so many of them!! We tasted the bread pudding with guava which we actually found a little bitter on top but it was an acquired taste. The other pastries we tried were all really good! We also got the chicken combo plate- chicken was a little too dry for us but the sweet plantains made up for everything else! They speak only Spanish ( I think) so expect a language barrier.

Raishon B.

Yelp
So much deliciousness going on here!! They were a little crowded but understandably so. Everything looked amazing and tasted amazing as well. The staff were super friendly, taking the time to explain ingredients and make recommendations and we were not disappointed. My husband got the sweet havana sandwich and I got the bread pudding thats not pictured because I didnt have time for a picture. It was gone in a blink of an eye. Please stop by, im sure they have something for everyone

Heather M.

Yelp
Hidden behind a car dealership sits Havana Bakery Cafe. It sits on a busy section of Fern Valley rd. And Shepherdsville rd. After a walk in the park I decided upon this place since it's been a long while since I've had Cuban food. The interior is a little small but comfy. And very clean and presentable dining area with very few tables to sit at. I ordered a Cuban sandwich without mustard since I'm not a mustard type of person, I got mayo instead. I did wait a few minutes since they do make them fresh which I like. Once I got the sandwich and took the first taste, best fresh sandwich I have had in idk how long. The Mayo made the sandwich all the better. I didn't get any of their baked goods and I kinda wished I did. All in all I had a very pleasant visit here. I do want to return and try some of their other things. Especially the pastries and other goodies that they have.

Shelley S.

Yelp
This was out first time, and we needed lots of help. The menu was not in English so we struggled. We had the sweetest employee help us to describe the items and make recommendations. The check in offer is flan and was so yummy! The servings are huge. My mom and I could have shared a meal and had plenty left over. The bakery items look amazing. So pretty you don't want to eat them they look like art. Most impressed with staff. They went above and beyond.

Zach D.

Yelp
Love at first visit. I look forward to our next visit. I came with the family while out and about and not wanting to go right back home to avoid all the COVID crazies. I've been meaning to get here for quite some time. This great place is not close to my home here in LOU. The owner is a beautiful lady with amazing culinary talent. I went with hopes of a particular Cuban favorite. We spoke for a moment and I'll have to come back a different time this year for this special specialty. :-) Well, we would not let this rare opportunity go by without enjoying some greatness. The Cuban Sandwich was one of the best I've had. The best I've had was in Hialeah, FL. Welll duh. With that sandwich being a 10, Havana Bakery's was 9.9, just behind the gold medal winner. The rice was very good. The deserts......... we will probably get our child's birthday cake made here. Yup, yup. Probably will. I'm not holding out for another surprise discovery to have Havana Bakery go down to second for the cake. The pastry was perfect. Just perfect. Just right. I think I love this place. Not just for the food, but for the beautiful kind owner. Thank you Havana Bakery for being awesome.

Odalis G.

Yelp
I have been craving Cuban food a lot lately. I don't always have the time to cook so I make it a point to stop here. A lot has changed since my last review so I had to update. We all know that 2020 came with a bang so a lot of restaurants had to make some changes. The workers are wearing their mask and they have the floors marked for distancing. They also have a sign at the door in both Spanish and English stating that you have to wear a mask if entering. They always have some awesome looking deserts that I try my best to stay away from because I have serious sweet tooth. Once I take a bite, its over. I have to have more. If you like plantains, give their salted plantains chips a try. I love those. The times that I've been, I've never had to wait long. They also have a little outdoor sitting area on the side of the restaurant. I am not positive on this, but I don't think their menu stays the same every single time. But, they have always had what I usually order which is my congris, plantains and chicken.

Brandon H.

Yelp
Delicious Cuban food. From the appetizers to the entrees. Very friendly associates!

Carrie S.

Yelp
First time at this cute cafe. The food was delicious with large portions. Everything was fresh and amazing. We bought nearly 1 of every dessert! A must go to if you're in the area.

Monica A.

Yelp
Delicious cuban food! I loved the mango juice, Cuban bread and tequeño. Will most definitely come back again!

Noemi H.

Yelp
While visiting Kentucky, we came across this little Cuban shop. My husband had a Medianoche and I had the Pan con Bistec. We also each had a papa rellena, too. Everything was so delicious! We are definitely coming back whenever we visit again!

Sharon S.

Yelp
The best tres leche your mother didn't make!! So delicious and no judgement for not speaking Spanish! They are great at social distancing and I wasn't nervous at all!!

Ellyse L.

Yelp
What to get: flan Ambiance: basic, casual cafe Parking: shared parking lot ~~Location~~ Behind a car lot and other stores of a strip mall, Havana Bakery has a shared parking lot for customers. There's enough spots for sure, but I was surprised at how many spots were already taken by fellow customers before entering. Inside is a basic cafe layout with a counter to order from and a few tables to eat at. Nothing too fancy. They have both a savory meal menu and a display case of bakery items. There's not a spot for you to go to to order, so you just come up to the display case and order with a cashier. Easily done. ~~Food~~ I ordered 2 bakery items: the tiramisu and the flan. While the tiramisu looked more enticing, the flan was killer! The 5 star rating is solely from how bomb the flan was. The tiramisu was more layers of things other than the cake, but it was drying, so you'll want to have a drink with it. Not bad, but not what I was looking for. Now the flan. Smooth, sweet, and silky. The extra syrup at the bottom of the container is a must for every bite. I haven't had a great flan in years, so thank you Havana Bakery for being the stellar gem that you are. ==For Next Time== -Tres Leche cake -Looking for recommendations from them about their favorite bakery items. I'm game to find out what their best ones are ;) -More flan!

Josh F.

Yelp
My first time trying this establishment. I see it on Postmates a lot so decided I'd give it a try. I ordered the Cuban sandwich and a Coca Cola. The sandwich is spectacular! Comes on a pressed bun served with some straw fries. Very good. Atmosphere was quiet besides the music playing, which is absolutely ok with me. Great lunch spot if you're in the area. I'll definitely be back! Staff was very kind as

Liza S.

Yelp
I got the chocolate cake for my boyfriend's birthday and it was AMAZING! I definitely will go there again to get a cake for the special occasions.

Pedro O.

Yelp
There food is pretty authentic Cuban food only issue is they don't always have the items that are on their menu available. Other than that no complains place is very clean and has a nice vibe

Zain K.

Yelp
Quick update: My second time here was disappointing. The ropa was on the greasier side, and the black beans were bland. I'm not giving up though: next time, I'm trying the chicken.

Kalo S.

Yelp
Havana Bakery Cafe is very authentic. If you're looking for the popular dishes like ropa vieja or Pollo asado; no need to go to the over priced Havana Rumba, and do the whole sit-down and tip thingy. No offense to them, for $8-7 you can't beat this. I loved that the place was spotless, very clean, cool and comfy. I didn't try the baked goods but they all look very amusing and tasty. I liked the ropa vieja here better than Mi Cuban Sueno Express on bishop lane, but they all serve different things so both are just as good. This place is tucked in next to a car dealer so it took me an extra 30 seconds to find. The owner is already talking about expanding since it only currently sits 15, so the business is growing because the food is that good. The service was friendly and they are more than willing to educate you on the cuisine. Must try for sure.

Leslie G.

Yelp
Tricky to find but what a find. Great small cafe and bakery. Helpful staff. Great food. I'm

Peter J.

Yelp
Great Cuban find here in Louisville! Customer service was outstanding and the Cuban Sandwich was the real deal!

Jen D.

Yelp
Stopped in at this place off the recommendation of a friend and was not disappointed! Lots of great food for a small price. Guy behind the counter (wish I had caught his name!) was so friendly and explained what all of the options were. If you are not familiar with Cuban food don't let that stop you from checking this little gem out. They will help you find something you will like. This place is just starting out and I believe they will be just better with time. They said they are going to start doing up burgers soon. The exec chef worked at mussel and burger and guacamole so you know the burgers will be good. The location used to be s grocery so there are only a few tables right now but really, go for the food. Saw several people coming in for take out service too. The food. I had a Cuban sandwich that had fresh pork, ham, cheese, mustard, and pickle pressed thin just like it should be. The bread was crispy and the meats were very tender. The sandwich was huge, I took over half of it home. That's probably because I couldn't keep my spoon out of my husband's dinner box. He had congri, yuca con mojo, fried plantains, and fried pork chunks. It was all so good. The plantains were sweet and fried perfectly, a hint of spice on them. The yuca was tender and pickled onions really highlighted their mild taste. The pork fell apart and had the little crispy bits that make it good. The congri was fantastic. The best I've ever had. The price was fantastic as well. We both ate massive feasts and that total bill was under $20. Next time I will save some room for the delectable looking pastries -- tiramisu, eclairs, cakes, turnovers. We will be back. You should check this place out for lunch or dinner even if it's for take out. You won't be disappointed. I'm excited to see where they go as they grow.

Lesley S.

Yelp
Another one of those that I lost my review. ‍ Even after several visits I still don't think I'm qualified to review this place properly. Fellow Yelper Michelle checked in numerous times and had me jealous with photos. Stopped in the first time and it was later in the day. No menu board or much up had me unsure if I was in the right place. But the cabinet was full of desserts and other food items - similar to pictures I had seen. Ordered my husband the sandwich I believe he said Rueben and then the lady working convinced us to try the milk cake. He loved the sandwich and has asked to go back for another one. As for the cake - another example of why I shouldn't review- is it milk cake idk ? I can tell you it was really good and cold. I think the icing or topping was different the second time but I'm clueless. More like cool whip the second time. But it was so fresh and freaking delicious. Yes we will return again for that cake and to get him a sandwich !!

Carl K.

Yelp
Who would have known I would have to come 2,200 miles to my home town of Louisville, Kentucky from California to have Amazing Cuban food. Great food and amazing hospitality now I have a place to come to when ever I'm back here.

Stephanie R.

Yelp
So I looked on yelp for tres leches cake and this place popped up. I definitely was expecting more of a bakery feel but it had food that was pretty good . It wasn't super busy around 4pm. It was quiet . The music was really nice . The pork bits were delicious and the empanadillas (beef patties) were pretty good too. Over all spent about $30.00 for 2 people and one desert .

Lindsey A.

Yelp
I wasn't expecting a buffet when I came and I didn't think I would be impressed, but I was pleasantly surprised. I found everything to have tons of flavor, the chicken and arroz congris were better than the other known Cuban eateries in the city. The prices are great! For $6 I got a ton of arroz congris, Maduros and yuca con mojo with tiramisu and a drink. My father got the chicken, arroz congris, maduros, tiramisu and drink for $9. There was enough for leftovers too. Very impressed! The staff was very pleasant as well.

Gerlaine R.

Yelp
This is a hidden gem! I loved everything I tried at this place. You get a pretty good amount of serving for the price. The Cuban sandwich is a must-try, specially when it's served warm. The owner also gave us free pastelitos. Their pastries looked so good and I'm dying to come back and try ALL of them!

Cliff J.

Yelp
Stopped in today for lunch and was a bit surprised despite the prior 5 star reviews telling me how good it would be. To start, I immediately noticed how clean the restaurant was upon entering. The counter staff quickly greeted me and was more than helpful. There were plenty of options available, all the favorites of Cuban cuisine ready to go. Similar to a cafeteria line, pick what you want, get in and get out. There were also tons of dessert options available which looked absolutely delicious but given the amount of food I had in the lunch combo, I didn't need the extra calories. I ordered Ropa Vieja with congri rice and maduros. It was everything I imagined but also unique. I will gladly return and order again in the future! The prices on the menu make this place easily affordable. If you want authentic Cuban cuisine and you're in a hurry, look no further. Though it's a bit hidden and a slight challenge to find, it's well worth it!

Michelle R.

Yelp
Can't get enough of this place. Stopped by for lunch and couldn't help but grab some extras.

Amanda V.

Yelp
Havana Bakery is the shiz-SERIOUSLY! I decided on them for a baby shower, since a Tres Leches cake would nicely fit a taco bar themed dinner. For $50-55, we had a cake that fed 35 people and left many leftovers. It was moist and perfect, and several guests asked for a referral. In placing the order, Havana Bakery was very responsive and helpful. They even applied our cake topper for us and offered several icing color options. After placing this order - and before the shower - I also bought smaller sizes of the Tres Leches and Flan Cake (the latter is just as fantastic). The individual sizes, which are pretty hefty portions, are in the $5 range. I have only tried their sweets, not entrees.

Michael S.

Yelp
Every once in a while you come across a rare gem of truly genuine cuisine from a group of people that have a passion for their craft and Havana Bakery Cafe is it. From their magnificent Cuban Sandwich to their absolutely mouth watering Flan these guys know what they are doing. I've been to most Cuban Restaurants across town and some are great, some are good and others not so much. This spot is by far the #1 Cuban restaurant in town and by a long shot. Their passion bleeds through their food like blood through our veins. The two times I've visited I've left wanting so so much more. A fan of The Cuban Sandwich? These guys know how to make them. They have the perfect amount of pork in the sandwich, melted in the perfect amount of cheese, with just the right amount of ham and a great blend of mustard. They've got the science of that sandwich down to a tee, and once again their want to serve great food shows through when you bite into that juicy sandwich for the first time. Both times I've visited I had the Cuban Sandwich and finished BOTH meals with their remarkable Flan and I've been dying to go back for more. If you are looking for a great Cuban Restaurant, ready to knock you off your shoes. Go here. This review can wait, go get a taste of what real Cuban passion looks like and just how well that passion can translate into some mighty fine dining.

Adam B.

Yelp
Found this place on Yelp, it's near my work and I must have passed it 100 times. The dining area is quite simple, but the service is phenomenal. We went for lunch and were greeted with a very friendly bunch of smiles, and they asked us if we had been there before. When we said no, they gave us a quick overview of the menu which is simple but everything looked amazing. I ordered a Cuban sandwich, fried plantains, and diet pepsi. My friend ordered the same except he got the mashed potatoes with grated cheese. The sides were drop dead delicious. The drinks came from a soda fountain (not cans as they previously had from earlier posts), and the Cuban sandwiches were huge and very good as well. A good amount of juicy meet, not too much or too little, and some really good melted cheese with a light mustard and pickles. Overall - we'll definitely be back. Great Cuban food with great service for an average price. They also have a large bakery selection which looked amazing (I took a flan to go given the amazing reviews). 4 Stars!

Jason P.

Yelp
Have had Cuban Food in Miami, Los Angeles, San Diego and even Memphis but this place is right there with the best of them. Their Congri rice was the best I've had to date and their shredded mojo pork was perfectly done. Who knew that Louisville would have such a great Cuban food spot!?

Beth B.

Yelp
A hidden gem! This little place has to be one of the best kept secrets I've happened across in quite awhile. Spotless interior, very family oriented, and amazingly delicious foods await you here. Definitely one of those little restaurants that I'm certain would go far in a better location. Tucked in behind a massive car lot there on the corner, the best Cuban food and desserts quietly await those adventurous foodies amongst us. I think this place is begging to be noticed by the local Cuban food lovers! I can't leave this place without a family sized flan. Hands down the best flan I've had in Louisville!!

Kearstin R.

Yelp
I base my rating purely on the food. We ordered through Uber eats for dinner and were blown away at the flavors. I definitely would like to visit this restaurant for lunch to get a feel for the place. When we ordered they happened to be out of a few things, which was to be expected since we ordered around 6:30. But the employee was very nice and helped us decide what we could order instead. We ordered 2 fish and 2 chicken quarter meals. I am normally not a fan of tilapia, but decided to give it a try. You could taste the flavors all throughout, even after being fried. My family said they also enjoyed the chicken. It looked very moist. The congris and fried rice were delish. I personally would have liked if the fried rice had labeled that it contained ham. A few of my family members do not eat meat and had no idea it contained ham. But those who did eat enjoyed it very much. The tostones were perfection. Everything looked very appetizing. But let's get to the trees leches cake. This is by far the best we've ever had. And the slice was huge! 10/10 would eat here again.