Entertainment in Central Cuba
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Club Mejunje
Set in the ruins of a roofless building given over to sprouting greenery, Club Mejunje is Havana-hip and more. Among the plethora of nighttime attractions here is Cuba’s only official drag show every Saturday night – a must-see! Other items on an eclectic entertainment menu include regular trova, bolero and son (Cuba’s popular music) concerts, children’s theater and disco nights. If you’ve only got one night, this is the place.
reviewed
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Disco Ayala
It might not be the first time you’ve gone jiving in a cave, but this surreal place up by the Ermita Popa church beats all others for atmosphere and animation. While it’s mainly a place to let rip and dance J-Lo style in the semi-darkness with as many mojitos as you care to sink, this disco also puts on a decent cabaret show with a pre-Columbian Indian theme.
reviewed
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Casa de la Música
One of Trinidad’s and Cuba’s classic venues, this casa is an alfresco affair that congregates on the sweeping staircase beside the Iglesia Parroquial off Plaza Mayor. A good mix of tourists and locals take in the 10pm salsa/dance show here. Alternatively, full-on salsa concerts are held in the casa’s rear courtyard (also accessible from Juan Manuel Márquez; cover CUC$2).
reviewed
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Bar Daiquirí
Presumably Papa Hemingway never dropped by this cozy joint named after the drink he so famously popularized because the prices are extremely reasonable. Shoehorned into lively Lino Pérez, this is where locals and backpackers warm up on their way to an all-night salsa binge. There are snacks, if you’ve got the stomach.
reviewed
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Casa del Gobernador
Push your way through the swinging saloon-style doors and you’ll uncover one of the city’s most understated go-local gathering spots. More noted for its throat-warming rum than its piping hot cuisine, the Gobernador (yes, it was once a provincial government office) is Santa Clara in a bottle in more ways than one.
reviewed
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Casa Fischer
This is the local ARTex patio, which cranks up at 10pm with a salsa orchestra (on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) or a folklore show (Friday). If you’re early, kill time at its art gallery (free) and chat to the staff at the on-site Paradiso office about salsa lessons and other courses.
reviewed
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Palenque de los Congos Reales
A must for rumba fans, this open patio on Trinidad’s music alley has an eclectic menu incorporating salsa, son (Cuban popular music) and trova (traditional poetic singing). The highlight, however, is the 10pm rumba drums with soulful African rhythms and energetic fire-eating dancers.
reviewed
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Taberna La Cancháchara
This place is famous for its eponymous house cocktail made from rum, honey, lemon and water. Local musicians regularly drop by for off-the-cuff jam sessions and it’s not unusual for the Cancháchara-inebriated crowd to break into spontaneous dancing.
reviewed
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Bar Juvenil
Dancers should head to Bar Juvenil, a courtyard disco near Máximo Gómez (enter via park), with palms, pillars and Moorish tiles. During the day there’s table tennis and dominoes; at night it’s an alcohol-free party.
reviewed
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Casa de la Trova
Trinidad’s spirited casa retains its earthy essence despite the high package-tourist- to-Cuban ratio. Local musicians to look out for here are Semillas del Son, Santa Palabra and the town’s best trovador, Israel Moreno.
reviewed
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Teatro Rubén M Villena
The elegant old Teatro Rubén M Villena has dance performances, plays and Theater Guiñol for kids. The schedule is posted in the window and tickets are in pesos.
reviewed
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El Bar Club Boulevard
A nexus for Santa Clara’s musical youth, this much-talked-about cocktail lounge has live bands, dancing plus the odd humor show. It generally gets swinging about 11pm-ish.
reviewed
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La Marquesina
Glued onto the corner of the wondrous Teatro La Caridad building, this lively bar is where the young intelligentsia go to down cocktails and listen to local bands.
reviewed
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Café Literario
What, a student coffee bar with no laptops? Revisit the pre-Microsoft years with strong espresso, piles of books and plenty of pent-up undergraduate idealism.
reviewed
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El Güije
El Güije is another newer nexus; bank on open-air shows at night and ask about dancing classes during the day.
reviewed
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Centro Cultural Las Leyendas
Centro Cultural Las Leyendas is an ARTex cultural center with music till 1am Wednesday to Saturday.
reviewed
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Las Ruinas de Sagarte
A ruin (Trinidad’s full of them) with a good house band and a high-energy, low-pressure dance scene.
reviewed
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Casa de la Cultura Juan Marinello
It looks a bit hollow inside, but concerts in this colonial casa often spill out into the adjacent park.
reviewed
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Las Ruinas del Teatro Brunet
This jazzed-up ruin has an athletic Afro-Cuban show on its pleasant patio at 9:30pm nightly.
reviewed
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Cine Romelio Cornelio
This cinema, on the southwestern side of Parque Céspedes, shows films nightly.
reviewed
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Estadio Rolando Rodríguez
This stadium, at the southeastern end of Frank País, hosts baseball games.
reviewed
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