Opened in 1931 the Tropicana has played host to Beny Moré, Nat King Cole, Jack Nicholson and 'Lucky' Luciano—and many,many more. This is a Vegas style extravaganza with seating for1, 400 people and 200 performers going through the full rangeof popular Cuban dance. As you'd expect, the dancers arebeautiful and the costumes, choreography and routines areexcellent, but the food is poor, the show lasts forever and it isseething with tourists. A recent revamp seems to have changedeverything and nothing, with the basic formula remaining as ithas been for years.

Tropicana
72 y 41, Marianao

The Parisien is located within the Hotel Nacional and benefitsfrom the same rich history. The show is on a much smaller scalethan the Tropicana with much fewer dancers, which makes itmore intimate and cosy. The dancers are as beautiful as ever,and the costumes, choreography and routines excellent. Make aswift exit shortly after midnight before the comedian begins hisroutine and the disco gets going

Hotel Meliá Cohíba, VedadoThis is where Vincent Vega would get his ten-dollar shake inHavana and although you cannot actually sit inside the Chevy,Pontiac and Buick which grace the interior they do add a 1950'schic to the place. As you might expect from a spot attached tothe Meliá Cohíba this is a top end place with great service,mainly frequented by tourists. When the big Cuban bands suchas Van Van and Charanga Habanera play here it is the place tobe and queues form early.

Mellow, sophisticated and freezing due to extreme air conditioningthe Jazz Café is not only an excellent place to hear some of Cuba'stop jazz musicians including Chucho Valdes but the open plandesign also provides for a good bar atmosphere if you want to chat.

JAZZ CLUB La Zorra y el Cuervo
23 y O, Vedado

Named after a well-known Spanish fable (the Fox and the Crow)you reach this basement place through a British red telephonebox which sits above the entrance. Well known Cuban andinternational groups generally start their sets from 10.30pm withthe intimate setting providing an intense atmosphere.

The one—eyed cat reopened a few years ago after being closedthrough most of the 1990's. Good post modern deco and agenerally pretty full house make this an excellent place to catchbolero. This is where people in the know pop into on a regularbasis. Less good if you prefer not to smoke.

There are two “Houses" of music now in Havana. As a generalrule, Miramar has a slightly posher clientele and the matineesattract a more dedicated crowd to dance as opposed to drinkand watch. If you like salsa and want to dance there is no placeto compare and you will find yourself returning again andagain. When the big bands play covers go up dramatically butthe frantic energy and packed venues make it worthwhile andan experience to remember.

Definitely a place for posh spice. This disco has the best view inHavana sitting atop the Habana Libre with glass all around and aretractable roof. The decor is definitely disco, the drinks expensive and the atmosphere a little less than authentic but with beautiful scenery in any event; definitely worth a visit at least once.

Both of these spots are located in the National Theatre complexbeside the Plaza de Revolucion. While you can dance at bothplaces, you should really start downstairs at Café Cantante andmake your way upstairs later to Delirio, which is one of the fewplaces open till very late (5am). Café Cantante is a basementvenue with minimal decoration, but it attracts top salsa groupswhich make it worth visiting.

This is a great place to drink beer which is lucky given that this Austrian joint venture micro-brewery does not serve any other alcoholic drinks. It is located in the wonderfully renovated Plaza Vieja, which provides ample ambience to accompanythe beer. Food is available and while being entirelyun exceptional, grilled bbq chicken or pork after 5 pints tastespretty good.

Once beautifully described as about as Parisian asMiddlesbrough, Café Paris remains one of the relatively fewplaces in Old Havana where tourists will mingle with locals aswell as fellow tourists. What gives this place its appeal is that itappears authentically Cuban and true or not a smallish packedbar with a brilliant band is getting a lot righr.

Look out for the Friday night party. This is the place to be fortrendy Cuban Havana youth. The location varies week to weekand has included during the past year the Castillo de Morro, theCopa Room at the Riviera, the bar above the Karl Marx theatreand numerous other locations around Havana.