A café Di'Tú has reopened in Sancti Spíritus, featuring a menu that includes dishes priced up to 4,500 pesos —more than the monthly minimum wage for a Cuban— in a country where the average worker earns less than 13 dollars a month.
The reopening was announced by Empresa Extrahotelera Palmares S.A. on their social media, under the slogan "The news that the entire people of Sancti Spíritus were waiting for!".
The menu on the board, visible in the images from the opening, reflects the rising prices that characterize the food industry: an espresso costs 200 pesos; a frappuccino, 500; the filled croquettes start at 1,000 pesos, while the Chicken Wings reach 2,500 pesos and the Chifiados Chickens go up to 3,000 pesos.
The house specialty, the Tabla Ditú, costs 4,500 pesos.
It is ironic that one of the dates on the regime's symbolic calendar is celebrated with the reopening of an establishment that, judging by its prices, is anything but a popular option.
The establishment, located across from the Paseo Marcos García, resumes operations "completely renovated" as part of the so-called summer actions and in commemoration of July 26, the anniversary of the assault on the Moncada Barracks.
Among the new developments highlighted by Palmares is the installation of renewable energy sources, presented as a guarantee of service continuity.
The measure is an implicit admission that the blackouts —which affect all of Cuba— pose a real obstacle for any business on the island.
The official account of Trinidad Travel also celebrated the opening with a nostalgic note: "We who already have gray hair remember the smell of fried chicken that filled the classrooms of José Martí University back in the year 2000."
El Di'Tú has a history in Sancti Spíritus dating back to when it operated near the university campus before falling into neglect like so many other state facilities.
Palmares S.A. began the national revival of the Di'Tú network in June 2024, starting with establishments close to hospitals in Havana.
The expansion into provinces like Sancti Spíritus comes two years later, amid an economic crisis that makes it increasingly difficult for most Cubans to afford dining out.
However, the prices being presented now stand in stark contrast to the salary reality in Cuba.
The minimum wage in Cuba was raised to 3,210 pesos in June 2026, following a 53% increase. Nonetheless, the Ditú Table at 4,500 pesos surpasses that full minimum wage.
The official average salary is around 6,930 pesos per month, equivalent to less than 13 dollars at the unofficial exchange rate.
Additionally, inflation in Cuba is out of control, with the restaurant and hotel sector experiencing a year-on-year increase of 26.54% in July 2026, making it the sector with the highest price increase.
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