Cuban Coppelia in Havana – the joy of the nation

Everyone has something that brings them joy and satisfaction. For Cubans, it is the shared joy of having a real ice cream almost for free.

The symbol of Cuban ice cream is the state ice cream parlour chain of Coppelia, responsible for the country ice cream supply. You can taste Coppelia ice cream in Cienfuegos, Santiagо, Тrinidad, Santa Clarа, Varadero, and in other cities. Coppelia ice cream is a completely natural product, but its variety as you may have already guessed is limited. They usually offer several flavours, and three balls of ice cream with a dessert cost you around 3 – 10 Cuban Peso, which is 0,10 – 0,40 Euro. Prices here are offered only in the national currency “Peso Cubano”. Read here more about the currency in Cuba. People stand in line for hours in front of each Coppelia parlour, especially during the summer season from June until September or simply when it is sunny. Don’t forget that in Cuba we enjoy summer all year long. 🙂

The biggest Coppelia parlour is located in Havanа, Vedadо. The idea for having Coppelia in Havanа belongs to El Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz and the godmother of the brand is Celia Sánchez Manduley – a revolutionary from the Cuban Revolution, who named the brand after her favourite ballet. The parlour building is huge and is also known as the “Ice Cream Cathedral”. It was founded on the 4th of June 1996. Coppelia was inspired by the most successful Cuban movie of all times “Fresa y chocolate” /strawberry and chocolate/. The Coppelia building in Havanа is an enormous construction with six halls. It can seat up to 1000 guests at a time. In 2016 the building was completely renovated.

What strikes foreigners the most is the large number of workers that accommodate and serve the guests. At least 10 people are responsible for the order at the entrances, and once seated one man takes your order, another brings it to you and you pay to a third one. But this is absolutely normal around here. Coppelia is worth visiting not only because of the high-quality ice cream but because of the serving process itself as well. You might have already guessed that I always include Coppelia in my excursions because I am keen on authentic experience!

The two things you need while in Coppelia аre patience and Peso Cubano. I have tried their ice cream and I can guarantee its quality. The only disadvantage of Coppelia is that they don’t serve coffee… Well, I suffered through it somehow… 🙂 An essential part of the experience in the parlour is the gloomy waiters, who take your order so fast they often get it wrong… However, keeping in mind the insignificant price, we should simply smile and enjoy. In the past few years they took up the practice of inviting foreigners in front of the long queue and giving them a special menu with prices in Peso Convertible, which basically means 24 times the normal price. This is valid, however, only in Coppelia in Havana.

You know what they say: “Too much of a good thing is a bad thing…” So now Nestle is slowly taking over the market undermining the Cuban Coppelia… I hope they do not succeed!