About
An award-winning collaboration with chef Douglas Rodriguez, Alma de Cuba embodies the soul of classic Cuban cuisine, bringing the unmistakable cooking of the island into the 21st century. A handsome bilevel space influenced by classical Spanish architecture, the restaurant’s clean-yet-sensuous aesthetic is the ideal backdrop for chef Rodriguez’s signature “Nuevo Latino” cooking, which applies a creative fine-dining eye to the distinct flavors he grew up with in Miami as the son of Cuban immigrants. Signature dishes include a variety of ambitious ceviches, scrumptious smoked marlin tacos and innovative interpretations of humble dishes like lechon asado and vaca frita. This dedication to Old Havana extends to the bar program, built around the classic mojito, plus timeless Latin tipples like the caipirinha, the daiquiri, rum punch and sangria. It’s the closest you’ll get to Cuba without buying a plane ticket — a Caribbean oasis in the heart of Philadelphia.
Douglas Rodriguez
The son of Cuban immigrants, Douglas Rodriguez was raised in Miami, growing up among the vivid sights, smells and tastes of his family’s native cuisine. After studying at Johnson & Wales, he’d go on to open Yuca, an upscale Cuban-style restaurant, in Coral Gables. Next came New York City, where he became executive chef and co-owner of Patria, a laboratory for the daring chef’s signature “Nuevo Latino” cuisine. In 2001, Rodriguez joined forces with Stephen Starr to open the acclaimed Alma De Cuba in Philadelphia, which continues to be recognized as one of the best Latino restaurants in America. Embodying the soul of classic Cuban cuisine, it brings the unmistakable cooking of the island into the 21st century.
