Other entertainment in Havana
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A
Teatro Nacional de Cuba
One of the twin pillars of Havana’s cultural life, the Teatro Nacional de Cuba on Plaza de la Revolución is the modern rival to the Gran Teatro in Centro Habana. Built in the 1950s as part of Jean Forestier’s grand city expansion, the complex hosts landmark concerts, foreign theater troupes, La Colmenita children’s company and the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. The main hall, Sala Avellaneda, stages big events such as musical concerts or plays by Shakespeare, while the smaller Sala Covarrubias along the back side puts on a more daring program (the seating capacity of the two salas combined is 3300). The 9th floor is a rehearsal and performance space where the newest, mos…
reviewed
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B
La Bodeguita del Medio
Made famous thanks to the rum-swilling exploits of Ernest Hemingway (who by association instantly sends the prices soaring), a visit to Havana’s most celebrated bar has become de rigueur for literary sycophants and wannabe writers. Past visitors have included Salvador Allende, Fidel Castro, Nicolás Guillén, Harry Belafonte and Nat King Cole, all of whom have left their autographs on La Bodeguita’s wall – along with thousands of others. These days the clientele is less luminous, with package tourists bussed in from Varadero to delight in the bottled bohemian atmosphere and the CUC$4 mojitos (which, though good, have lost their Hemingway-esque shine). The menu specialty is …
reviewed
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Sala de Fiesta Macumba Habana
Cocooned in a residential neighborhood southwest of Cubanacán is Macumba, one of Havana’s biggest venues for live salsa. The outdoor setting is refreshing and the sets long, so you’ll get a lot of dancing in. You can also dine at La Giradilla in the same complex. This is a great place to catch jazz-salsa combos and timba music, a modern extension of salsa mixed with jazz and rap and championed by NG La Banda (who perform here regularly).
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C
Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba
Founded in 1962, this high-energy ensemble specializes in Afro-Cuban dancing (all of the drummers are Santería priests). See them perform, and dance along during the regular Sábado de Rumba at El Gran Palenque. This group also performs at Teatro Mella. A major festival called FolkCuba unfolds here biannually during the second half of January.
reviewed
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Prado & Animas
A good old-fashioned Prado place with a time-warped ’50s feel. The cafe also serves simple food and coffee but it’s best for a beer, sitting at one of the window tables beneath the baseball memorabilia (including a picture of a pelota -playing Fidel).
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D
Café Fresa y Chocolate
No ice cream here, just movie memorabilia. This is the HQ of the Cuban Film Institute and a nexus for coffee-quaffing students and art-house movie addicts. You can debate the merits of Almodóvar over Scorcese on the pleasant patio.
reviewed
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E
Bar La Marina
This pleasant outdoor courtyard with a ‘ceiling’ made out of twisted vines is as an agreeable Old Town nook as any. You can grab a bite to eat, feast on popcorn or just sup quietly on a mojito while the resident band strums along.
reviewed
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F
Salón Chévere
One of Havana’s most popular discos, this alfresco place in a lush park setting hosts a good mix of locals and tourists.
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G
Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos
Rocking cultural and musical events in elegant mansion (1926); restaurant, bar and cigar shop also here.
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H
Estadio Pedro Marrero
You can see soccer matches on weekends at 3pm at this 15,000-seat stadium.
reviewed
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