Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant
Havana '59 is a privately held Cuban restaurant, cigar bar, and private event venue operating since 1994 in Richmond, VA's Shockoe Bottom District, serving adult diners, private event hosts, and catering clients through dine-in service, banquets, catering, and branded merchandise.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersRichmond, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant does
Havana '59 is a privately held, single-location Cuban restaurant and cigar bar operating in Richmond, Virginia's Shockoe Bottom District since 1994. The business operates from a historical multi-floor building at 16 N 17th Street, combining a full-service scratch kitchen serving Cuban fusion cuisine (entrees $20-$40), a full bar with house-pressed juices and specialty cocktails, and an in-house cigar lounge. The venue also functions as a private event space accommodating up to 120 seated guests or 160 cocktail-style on combined second/third floor patios, with a first-floor mezzanine for smaller groups.
The company generates revenue through four primary streams: dine-in restaurant service, private events and catering (weddings, corporate, birthdays with banquet menus priced $30-$50/person), special events (weekly Thursday Salsa Nights at $5 cash cover), and ancillary merchandise (gift cards $25-$250 and branded apparel) sold through an e-commerce storefront. Customers span individual adult diners seeking an authentic 1950s Havana atmosphere, private event hosts sourcing distinctive venues, and catering clients booking Cuban fusion off-premise. Distribution occurs through the physical venue, a dedicated online ordering platform (havana59.onlineorder.site), WeddingWire and The Knot venue listings, and active social media presence on Facebook and Instagram.
The operating model is asset-light and traditional hospitality with no disclosed proprietary technology or AI capabilities. The business relies on long-tenured brand recognition (30+ years), a unique historical ambiance, locally sourced ingredients, and in-house preparation to differentiate. Approximately 7 employees support operations, and recent strategic activity has focused on incremental same-store expansion: addition of Sunday dinner service, online ordering, branded merchandise, and expanded catering offerings.
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant
- Legal name
- Havana 59 Cigar Bar and Restaurant
- Website
- https://havana59.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Havana '59 is a privately held Cuban restaurant, cigar bar, and private event venue operating since 1994 in Richmond, VA's Shockoe Bottom District, serving adult diners, private event hosts, and catering clients through dine-in service, banquets, catering, and branded merchandise.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cuban Restaurant and Cigar Bar
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cigar Bars & Lounges (CRANACAK)
Keywords
Where Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Dine-in Restaurant: Food and beverage sales from dinner service, bar, and cigar lounge. Full Cuban fusion cuisine menu with cocktail program featuring house-made ingredients including fresh-pressed juices.
- Private Events and Catering: Full-service and drop-off catering for weddings, corporate events, birthdays, and special occasions. Banquet menus priced per person or per item. Venue rental with food and beverage minimums.
- Merchandise: Gift cards and branded merchandise (t-shirts) sold through online store. Gift cards available in denominations from $25 to $250.
- Special Events: Weekly salsa nights with $5 cash cover charge. Private event venue bookings with combined second and third floor patio accommodating up to 120 seated or 160 cocktail-style.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Banquet Hors D'oeuvres (per piece/serving) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Banquet Dinner (per person) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cigars |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cocktails and Mojitos |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dinner Menu Items |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Gift Cards |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Branded Merchandise |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Havana '59 operates a single-location Cuban restaurant and cigar bar in Richmond, VA, serving scratch-kitchen Cuban fusion cuisine (dinner menu, bar/cocktail program, cigar selection) alongside private event hosting for weddings, corporate events and birthdays (up to 160 guests), full-service and drop-off catering, weekly Salsa Nights, and an e-commerce store for gift cards and branded apparel. The business has operated continuously from its Shockoe Bottom venue since 1994.
Product overview
Havana '59 is a single-location Cuban restaurant and cigar bar in Richmond, VA's Shockoe Bottom District, operating since 1994. The establishment functions as an integrated hospitality business combining a scratch kitchen dinner service, full-service bar with specialty cocktails and cigars, and private event/wedding venue. Additional offerings include catering services with custom Cuban fusion menus, a dedicated online ordering system, Sunday dinner service, weekly Salsa Nights events, and branded merchandise (gift cards and apparel). The venue spans multiple floors including a smoking section, non-smoking section, and patios for private events accommodating up to 120 seated guests.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Dinner Service Full-service Cuban fusion dinner restaurant offering appetizers, soups, salads, and main plates including Churrasco a la Habana, Steak Frites, Paella Mariscos, Ropa Vieja, and Cubano sandwiches; open Monday through Sunday with varied kitchen hours.
- Bar and Cigar Service Full-service bar offering mojitos (original and specialty flavors at $10-$14), specialty cocktails with fresh-pressed juice additions, and an extensive cigar menu ranging from $8.95 (Shockoe Valley Robusto) to $26.95 (Davidoff Nicaragua) across mild to full-bodied selections.
- Private Events and Weddings Event hosting service for weddings, corporate events, birthdays, rehearsal dinners, and celebrations. Venue includes second and third floor combined patios (up to 120 seated/160 cocktail-style), first floor mezzanine for smaller groups, and full building buyouts; no separate space rental fee, only food and beverage minimum required.
- Catering Services
Companies that use Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Morton's The Steakhouse: Morton's is a national upscale steakhouse chain with strong private dining and event hosting capabilities. Comparable to Havana 59 for premium pricing, event venue economics, and the broader upscale dining + private events business model.
- Magdalena's at The Tobacco Company / Maggiano's Little Italy: Maggiano's is a national upscale Italian-American restaurant chain with extensive private event and banquet programs. It is comparable to Havana 59 for the banquet/catering/private events revenue stream and overall upscale dining positioning.
Direct peers
- Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar: Cuba Libre is a multi-location Cuban restaurant and rum bar chain that combines traditional Cuban cuisine, craft cocktails, and a nightlife atmosphere. It is a strong national comparable for Havana 59's combined food/cocktail/experience positioning.
- Kuba Kuba: Kuba Kuba is a Cuban restaurant operating in Richmond, VA, directly competing with Havana 59 in the same Cuban cuisine niche within the same local market. It serves as the most direct local comparable for Cuban food offerings in Richmond.
Regional players
- The Tobacco Company Restaurant: The Tobacco Company is a long-standing upscale restaurant in Richmond's Shockoe Slip that combines fine dining, cocktails, and event/private dining capabilities. It competes with Havana 59 for upscale dining and private event clients in the same Richmond market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant social profiles
Digital presenceHavana 59 Cuban Restaurant financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant
What does Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant do?
Havana '59 operates a single-location Cuban restaurant and cigar bar in Richmond, VA, serving scratch-kitchen Cuban fusion cuisine (dinner menu, bar/cocktail program, cigar selection) alongside private event hosting for weddings, corporate events and birthdays (up to 160 guests), full-service and drop-off catering, weekly Salsa Nights, and an e-commerce store for gift cards and branded apparel. The business has operated continuously from its Shockoe Bottom venue since 1994.
Is Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant a public or private company?
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant founded?
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant based?
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant is headquartered in Richmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Dine-in Restaurant is the primary driver. The others are private Events and Catering, merchandise and special Events.
Who are Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Morton's The Steakhouse and Magdalena's at The Tobacco Company / Maggiano's Little Italy. Direct peers are Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar and Kuba Kuba. The Tobacco Company Restaurant is listed as a regional player.
Does Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant have an API?
No public API is recorded for Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant.
What industry is Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant in?
Havana 59 Cuban Restaurant's product category is Cuban Restaurant and Cigar Bar. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRANACAK, Cigar Bars & Lounges. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.