In Cuba, ice cream is sold at the state-run Coppelia chain of ice cream parlors. Coppelia was founded in 1966 by Fidel Castro, a Cuban politician a-nd revolutionary who served as Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, a-nd President from 1976 to 2008, his aim to introduce his love of dairy products to the Cuban masses a-nd to prove that a communist enterprise could provide better ice cream a-nd flavor s-election than American bra-nds. In Havana the capital, the Coppelia parlor is an architectural icon a-nd a major la-ndmark a-nd meeting place in the city.

Havana s Coppelia building is one of the largest ice cream parlors in the world. Holding 1000 guests, it is located on the part of Calle 23 known as La Rampa in the Vedado district, a-nd the flying-saucer-shaped building a-nd lot occupies the entire city block between Calles 23 a-nd 21, a-nd Calles K a-nd L. Coppelia has been a major city la-ndmark for both locals a-nd visitors since its opening in 1966, but acquired additional fame when it was featured in one of the most widely viewed Cuban films"Strawberry a-nd Chocolate".