Havana (AP) – For Sonia Pérez, entering the Doña Alicia restaurant in Havana wanted to enter a film. Even as Cuba …
Havana (AP) – For Sonia Pérez, entering the Doña Alicia restaurant in Havana wanted to enter a film. Even as Cuba Fight against current breakdowns And technological rarity, this restaurant jumped in the 21st century with digital menus, Alexa compatible assistance, contactless bathrooms and even a food processor.
“I thought I was in a cartoon film!” said the 64 -year -old government employee, amazing the contrast with technological realities outside. “I want there to be more in Cuba … We are really very late in technology.”
Although banal in the world, such automation is a complex feat in Cuba due to the frequent power cuts of the island and the lack of modern technology.
Open seven years ago, the restaurant gradually adopted technology, starting with tablets at tables, followed by Alexa Services And culminating at the arrival of Doña Alicia – a robot deviating food named after the owner's grandmother – who now assists human servers in the dining room.
Customers are welcomed with digital menus on the screens of their tables, allowing them to browse and order traditional Cuban dishes such as salty pork steak, pasta and sweet desserts. The bar still improves the experience offering drinks such as mojitos or freshly manufactured daiquiris. Human servers are on site for the least informed in technology.
Prices align with those of other private restaurants, making them unaffordable for the average Cuban and reflective Inflation of the island.
Despite the challenges of limited and often unreliable Internet access to Cuba (mobile internet only became generalized in 2018And the breakdowns are frequent due to the energy crisis), Doña Alicia seems to navigate these obstacles.
Manager Yadiel Hernández believes that technological progress helps to attract customers by creating a unique and attractive culinary experience in Havana.
“We have noticed a change,” said Hernández. “Children and adults find it interesting to have a robotic assistant bring food to the table … It's a new experience.”
____
Follow the AP cover of Latin America and the Caribbean to https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material cannot be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
