On a central corner of Havana, at the intersection of Mazón and Neptuno, a bright yellow cafe called Liva is doing something few businesses on the island attempt: its staff of a dozen young people all have Down's syndrome or are on the autism spectrum.
The cafe grew out of Cielos Abiertos, an inclusive project run by Mariolis Escobar, whose son Liván Valle — the cafe's namesake — works as one of its hosts. The idea came together in February 2025 and opened officially on March 21, deliberately launched at a bleak economic moment, just as Cuba rolled out emergency state-sector restructuring to save fuel after a US oil embargo tightened the island's energy supply. Rather than wait for better times, Escobar and a group of parents decided to create jobs for their adult children, many of whom had been sitting at home with no prospects.
The staff ranges from 20 to 35 years old. On a recent visit, waiters included Martha Fernández, 27, Claudia Sosa, 33, and Richard Pérez, 24 — who has Down's syndrome — alongside Andy Muñoz, 22, who has autism and helps in the kitchen. They earn roughly 1,000 pesos a day, a little under two dollars at the informal exchange rate, a reminder of just how harsh Cuba's economic crisis has become. A special education specialist and a psychologist also work on site, and Escobar says she only hires people attuned to the community she serves.
The operation itself is quietly clever. The menu leans on tacos, pizzas, pasta, sweets and fresh-squeezed juices, served at around six small tables. Because reading table numbers can be a barrier, each chair carries a coloured ribbon — staff match orders to a table's colour instead, so customers get served accurately and the team works with confidence. Since the space is too small to fit everyone at once, workers rotate, each getting at least two shifts a week.
For the families involved, the change goes beyond pay. Escobar says her team wants what anyone wants: a profession, fair wages, a sense of empowerment. Yamilé García, mother of waiter Martha, says Liva has made the young staff feel useful, fulfilled and committed. Richard already has his sights set on the kitchen: "I am capable," he told reporters.
Why should a traveller care? Because a coffee here does double duty. You get cheap, cheerful food a short hop from central Havana, and your money supports one of the few genuinely inclusive employers in a country where roughly 3,500 people on the autism spectrum were registered as of 2025, and where Down's syndrome occurs in about nine births per 10,000. Cuba's private cafe scene is booming out of necessity, and Liva shows how small businesses can open doors the state economy has closed. If you're in Havana and want a slice of everyday Cuban life with real heart behind it, this yellow corner is worth seeking out — and going back to.
Reported by OnCuba.
