The lifting of travel restrictions on Cuba in the past few years has opened the door to new opportunities. For the first time in over half a century, Americans can now freely travel to the island nation, and many are thrilled to see how many sites and opportunities the country offers.
One of Cuba’s proudest traditions is the fine art of salsa dancing.
Cuba is full of places to learn and perform, or even just watch this amazing dance. How do you know which ones are the best though, especially if you’re a beginner?
Well, you’re in luck, because we’ve compiled a list of some of the best salsa clubs in the country.
1. La Casa de la Musica
One interesting thing about La Casa de la Musica, or the house of music for those who prefer English, is that there is apparently more than one of them. There are actually two just in the city of Havana.
The original is in the Miramar district, while the other is in Central Havana. Some people will swear by one or the other, but both are great places to dance and hear live salsa music.
Both can be expensive, and there doesn’t appear to be a set-in-stone schedule for shows, but it’s still not bad for music and dancing. The one in Central Havana is not as upscale, but it’s more local in flavor, whereas the one in Miramar is nicer, but it has a reputation for being more of a tourist destination.
There also may be prostitutes at the Miramar. If they try to bother you, tell them you’re not interested. They’ll generally leave you alone.
2. Cafe Cantante
This is another venue that many will recommend for great salsa and dancing. In fact, the country itself endorses it, because it is part of the National Theater of Cuba. It’s billed as a fairly casual place located in the basement of the National Theater. Like most clubs on this list, you’ll need to go at night.
Some advice is to go on Monday and Tuesday nights. There’s also salsa music on Fridays, but it only lasts until 8. You should also note that it’s more expensive for tourists. Even so, the price is only about $10.
One thing to note is that the Cafe Cantante has a reputation for being a gay bar/club. It’s not exclusively for the LGBTQ community, but it’s definitely one of the friendliest to them, as well as anyone who enjoys great food and drinks, great music and plenty of room to dance.
There’s also a drag show called the Divino if you visit on Saturday. Some would also argue that Saturdays are geared towards the LGBTQ audience, but you can get in throughout the weekend.
3. El Turquino
This is definitely more of a tourist destination than it is for locals. It also tends to be pretty expensive, which makes sense seeing as it is part of the Hilton hotel chain, the only one in Cuba. The entrance fee alone can be up to $20, and the drinks are another $3-$5 apiece, depending on what you get.
If you have the money, though, it’s a pretty great atmosphere. This club sits on the 25th floor of the hotel (La Habana Libre) and offers an amazing view of the capital city. Occasionally, you can even see the night sky above you.
If you’re looking for salsa music, visit this club on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday.
4. Diablo Tun Tun
If you’re looking for a more local flavor, head to this hotspot, which has become quite popular among Cubans. Not only is it popular, it’s also fairly affordable, with cover charges ranging from $2-$10, depending on the day. Plus, the drinks tend to be a lot more affordable.
If possible, go on Thursday, when the price is at its lowest and the club attracts more locals. In an ironic twist, the Diablo Tun Tun is located in the same building as the Casa de la Musica, just above it, in fact.
This is where a bit of the trouble comes from. If you want to get into this club, you’ll have to look for the side entrance.
Keep in mind, you might want to get there early because the place becomes very crowded very quickly.
5. La Cecilia
La Cecilia differs from the other hotspots on this list because it is located outdoors. This is probably the most popular music scene in Havana. Well-known local bands perform there often and the crowd has been known to number in the thousands.
For such an active place, La Cecilia is surprisingly affordable. Getting in will only cost about $10 at most. One of the big downsides, though, is that it’s only open on the weekends.
Unfortunately, being an outdoor attraction means that it’s subject to the weather. On rainy nights, it’s likely to be closed. If your heart is set on seeing this hotspot, you may want to plan your vacation during the dry season.
The Best Cuban Salsa Clubs
Cuba is full of great places to explore, whether you’re looking for history, food, or culture. If culture is on your list of reasons, you have to look into salsa dancing. Cuba is home to several great salsa clubs, and we’ve mentioned only a few here. We encourage you to do more research into the subject if you are interested.
If you want to know more about the various things to do in Havana, please visit our site. Perhaps you’re bringing children to Cuba. If that’s the case, then we can tell you about some family-friendly attractions.
Perhaps you’re a fan of Hemingway and want to follow in his footsteps. Cuba offers the opportunity to visit some of the author’s favorite spots.