By Katerina Kamposou

Have you ever tasted true Cuban cuisine? In Athens, a city whose culinary landscape continues to expand with tastes and traditions from every corner of the world, a new addition has arrived to claim its place: a Cuban café that carries the warmth and rhythm of the Caribbean into the heart of the city. Its name is Tocororo, and you’ll find it in Halandri.

But what exactly does “Tocororo” mean? The choice was anything but random. The tocororo is Cuba’s national bird, a brilliantly colored symbol of the island itself. The café is the creation of Danae and Stavros, a couple who fell under the spell of Cuban culture through their many travels to Havana. Captivated by its aromas, flavors and vibrant spirit, they returned to Greece determined to recreate a fragment of that experience and share it with Athens.

At the heart of the space lies the café’s own micro-roastery, where carefully selected coffees, exclusively sourced from Latin America, no less, are roasted on site. Each cup offers a journey through Peru, Colombia, Nicaragua, Cuba, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala and even Jamaica, with every variety revealing a distinct aromatic profile that speaks to the character of its origin.

And what should accompany your coffee? Raúl, the café’s Cuban chef, prepares fresh handmade empanadas every single day, using dough based on a cherished family recipe. Baked on site rather than fried, they are light yet deeply flavorful, filled with rich homemade fillings crafted in the café’s kitchen. You’ll find versions with chicken, pork, chorizo and beef, all marinated using traditional Cuban techniques, alongside more Mediterranean-inspired options with tuna, mortadella and cheese. The meats are cooked with a kind of home-style devotion: slow-roasted in the oven rather than hurried in a pan, infused with Cuban marinades and the sort of care that tastes unmistakably homemade.

And for those with a sweet tooth, there’s also a dulce de leche and coconut empanada, a beloved Cuban indulgence.

The menu, naturally, would not be complete without authentic Cuban pizza. Its dough is thicker and softer than the Italian classic, almost bread-like in texture, and traditionally folded in half before serving. Inside, generous fillings await: plenty of melted cheese, chorizo, mushrooms, onions and peppers, with the option of adding a spicy sauce for an extra kick.

And what should you drink alongside your Cuban pizza? Classic rum-based cocktails, of course. There’s the traditional canchánchara, a vibrant blend of rum, lime and honey, alongside refreshing mojitos and the timeless cuba libre, each one carrying a little of Havana’s easygoing spirit.

15 Kolokotroni & 10 Gyftopoulou str., Halandri, +30 213049 3263