Cabaret Parisién
Hotel Nacional, Calle O, esquina 21, Vedado
Performances 10pm-12. 30pm
Admission: 10-15 CUC
70 CUC with dinner
Open 9pm-2am
Tel. +53 (7) 873 4701
The Parisién is located within the Hotel Nacional and benefits from the same rich history. The show is on a much smaller scale than the Tropicana with much fewer dancers, which makes it more intimate and cosy. The dancers are as beautiful as ever, and the costumes, choreography and routines excellent. Make a swift exit shortly after midnight before the comedian begins his routine and the disco gets going.
Cabaret Tropicana
Calle 72 # 4504, entre 41 y 43, Marianao
Performances 10pm
Admission: 70-90 CUC
incl. bottle of rum and snacks
Open 8. 30pm-1am
Tel. +53 (7) 267 1717/0110
Opened in 1931 the Tropicana has played host to Benny Moré, Nat King Cole, Jack Nicholson and 'Lucky' Luciano-and many, many more. This is a Vegas-style extravaganza with seating for 1,400 people and 10 performers going through the full range of popular Cuban dance. As you'd expect the dancers are beautiful and the costumes, choreography and routines are excellent, but the food is poor, the show lasts forever and it is seething with tourists. A recent revamp seems to have changed everything and nothing with the basic formula remaining as it has been for years.
Cabaret Turquino
Habana Libre Hotel, Calle L, entre 23 y 25, Vedado.
Admission: 10 CUC
Open 10pm-4am
Tel. +53 (7) 838 4011
Definitely a place for posh spice. This is certainly the best view in Havana to watch a cabaret show (there is often a popular band and disco following the show). The room is on the 26th floor of the Habana Libre and has glass all around and a retractable 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.
Copa Room
Hotel Riviera, Paseo, entre Malecón y 1ra, Vedado.
Admission: 20 CUC
20 CUC (incl bottle of rum)
25 CUC (bottle and dinner
Open 8:30pm-3:00am
Tel. +53 (7) 836 4051
The Copa Room was formerly known as the Palacio de la Salsa and is inside the Hotel Riviera which was built by Meyer Lansky just before the Revolution. The show currently playing is not the best and the décor is a little run down. Some of Havana's best groups do still play there at weekends and it can get busy.
Habana Café
Hotel Meliá Cohíba, Avenida Paseo, e./ 3ra
Admission: 10-15 CUC
Open 8pm-2. 30am
Tel. +53 (7) 833 3636
This is where Vincent Vega would get his ten-dollar shake in Havana and although you cannot actually sit inside the Chevy, Pontiac and Buick which grace the interior they do add a 1950's chic to the place. As you might expect from a spot attached to the Meliá Cohíba this is a top end place with great service, mainly frequented by tourists. When the big Cuban bands such as Van Van and Charanga Habanera play here it is the place to be and queues form early. There are two cabaret shows which play, of which the best is Rakatan which plays several times a week and which has a more contemporary spin to the Tropicana style.
Las Vegas
Calle Infanta # 204, esquina 25
Admission: 3 CUC
Matinées 4-8pm
0.50 CUP matinée
Open 10pm-3am
Tel. +53 (7) 836 7939
Las Vegas has gone through various incarnations and was featured in Time magazine a couple of years ago as a centre for hip hop. It currently has a varied program which includes a conventional cabaret show, Habana Mía, Thursday to Sunday; the dance troupe, Sabor Caribe, Monday to Wednesday; and good bolero singers at other times.
Salón Rojo
Hotel Capri, Calle 21, entre N y O, Vedado
Performances 11. 15pm.
Admission: 10 CUC
incl. 5 CUC of consumption)
10 CUC on Saturday
Open 10pm-4am
Tel. +53 (7) 833 3747
It is a little hard to see nowdays that the Hotel Capri used to be a luxury hotel and a key centre for gambling. It is in major need of a refurbishment. The Salón Rojo was re-opened in 2003 and now has a variety of events including comedy, disco and a variety of Cuban bands which generally play from 1-2am.
| Havana Guide, Havana's cabarets |
| by CubaAbsolutely Team |
| |
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