This 40-year-old Key West restaurant serves some of the most traditional Cuban food you’ll find in America
El Siboney pays delicious tribute to Key West’s Cuban history.
Key West, the southernmost city in the continental United States, owes a great deal of its history, culinary traditions, and culture to the nearby island of Cuba. During the Ten Years' War (1868-1878) in which Cuba fought for its independence from Spain, many Cubans fled to Key West—a relatively short journey, as Key West’s southern shore is only 90 miles from Havana. By the middle of the 1880s, one-third of the island's population was born in Cuba. Today, nearly 150 years later, many Key West natives (fondly known as “Conch”) claim Cuban heritage.
But while Cuban sandwiches and cafés con leche can be found everywhere in Key West, truly classic Cuban dishes—ones that use original recipes without any efforts to modernize or fusion-ize—can be tough to find. That’s why El Siboney, a family-owned Cuban spot in Key West’s Old Town that’s been serving the island for over 40 years, is so widely beloved among Conchs and tourists alike.
A Celebration Of How Cubans Shaped Key West
El Siboney’s name comes from the Siboney people, one of two Indigenous populations of Cuba who inhabited the land long before the Spanish conquest began in the 1400s. The Siboney people were said to use the island’s native tobacco for sacred rituals, and their dedication to these plants informed the cigar production that would make Cuba famous centuries later and would draw many Cuban ex-pats to Key West.
The restaurant’s name belies its deep connection to Cuban culture and how it helped shape Key West. The same goes for the menu and the decor; El Siboney’s team cultivates a warm familial vibe that turns away from trends and social media-friendly decor and instead embraces guests who want to settle in with their loved ones, order plenty of food to share, and properly catch up.
A Menu Full Of Cuban Classics
Anyone who’s curious about Cuban cuisine but hasn’t been able to visit Havana will be glad to know that the food served at El Siboney is about as traditionally Cuban as you can possibly find on American soil. Rib-sticking beef and pork dishes are the stars of the menu; ropa vieja, a Cuban stew made with shredded beef braised in tomato sauce and pepper sofrito, is a must-order for carnivores and omnivores. The beef takes on a tender texture and deeply savory flavor, and El Siboney serves with with a hearty scoop of rice and sweet fried plantains for an appealing taste contrast.
Another personal favorite (as I always dine at El Siboney during my yearly visits to Key West) is the roast pork spiced with citrus and cumin and also served with rice and plantains. A single squeeze of lime over the top turns this dish into something rich and bright and truly memorable. If you’re looking for something less weighty, the ham croquetas are crispy snacks that disappear before you know it. And don’t forget to wash everything down with El SIboney’s dangerously potent sangria.
A Comfortable, Casual Dining Experience
Key West in general has a retro beach-bum charm; hip restaurants and bars with TikTok and Instagram in mind don’t tend to thrive here. Instead, locals and visitors appreciate venues that stick to the principles of comfort and easy living, and El Siboney delivers both in abundance. The wood paneling on the walls, the framed vintage Cuba posters, the faux greenery, the plastic-topped tables—nothing is “cool”, and nothing is trying to be. This is a place for Key Westers to enjoy great food and great company, and the fact that it’s been going strong since the early ‘80s proves that it’s doing everything right. I can’t wait to return, and I hope that any readers considering a trip to Key West add El Siboney to their must-visit restaurant lists.
