Delirio Habanero Bar
A great post-theatre, -show or -dinner place. Live bolero and son are played in a cosy and intimate setting with an impressive night-time view on to the Plaza de la Revolución.

A not-to-be-missed Havana experience, the supremely tasteful El Delirio has a fantastic setting with great views over the Plaza. The atmosphere is intimate, the crowd unpretentious and the music uplifting. Thursday and Saturday are when the talented Los Tres Habaneros take centre stage, playing to a mixed-aged crowd of impassioned salsa devotees. The 10 CUC consumo mínimo admission is a great deal with delicious cocktails and attentive waiter service. Good value snacks are served, and if you haven't reserved a table it's worth arriving early to stake your claim for the best seats in the house, the squashy red sofas by the windows. If you haven't had your salsa fill by 0200 head downstairs for a final sweaty hour at Café Cantante.

Address: Teatro Nacional, Plaza de la Revolucion, Paseo, esquina a 39, Havana Vedado
Tel: 7 8335713
10 CUC consumo mínimo
Open: noon-4am daily

Del Oriente Café
Also overlooking Plaza de San Francisco, Café del Oriente is a chill-out favourite. For some strange reason jineteros don't seem to descend on this place, so the pleasures of sipping a mojito and watching the plaza go by can be savoured in peace. Quality bands entertain both inside and out. The swish surroundings of the interior are the excuse for relatively expensive food. Service is excellent.
Air-conditioning. Outside tables.

Address: Calle Oficios, esquina a Amargura, Old Havana (Habana Vieja)
Tel: 7 8602917
Open: Bar 24hrs daily. Restaurant noon-midnight daily
Main courses: 12-30 CUC

El Diablo Tun Tun
Reopened in November 2002, this establishment is located in the upper floor of "Casa de la Música" (House of music)in Miramar.A very well achieved mixture between piano-bar and a place for live performances that attracts a wide variety of people - from the quiet-well-bred kind of type to the craziest of "salseros" - but all "night-birds". That´s really amazing! The place is always crowded. We definitely believe, without exaggerating, that those who don´t go to the "Diablo Tun Tun" are not living the Havana nights.

Address: Calle 20 esquina a 35. Havana Miramar. La Habana
Tel: (7) 2040447

La Dichosa
Opened in 2000, on the popular Obispo street, this graceful and aired café is a nice stop in the walks through the Old Havana. They use to put Benny More's songs. The waiters are very pleasant and proffesional.This is one of the best places of this part of the city.

Address: Habana esq. Obispo, Old Havana (Habana Vieja)

Don Giovanni
Nightly from 2300, except Wed. Free. Open-air, live salsa venue popular with Cubans priced out of the dollar clubs and bars and often trying their hand at hustling the drop-by tourists. Free entertainment line-up of jovial music, vigorous dancing and a bloke who has a peculiar talent for being able to spin huge wheely bins. There is a heavy, but not threatening police presence.

Address: Outside Don Giovanni restaurant. Old Havana (Habana Vieja)

Dos Hermanos
As befits its location, this is a port-style bar, with the hookers around the back to prove it. It tends to be empty as it's just off the beaten track, but don't let this dissuade you from giving the Two Brothers a go. There's a good selection of reasonably priced cocktails (2.50CUC) and the cheap food is actually rather good. A better-than-average band provides entertainment – shame their ridiculously loud microphones ruin the show. Visitors hoping for a conversation will be leaving at 10.30pm.

Address: Calle San Pedro #304, esquina a y Sol (no phone) Old Havana (Habana Vieja)
Open: 24hrs daily

Degustador Museo del Chocolate
In the inside of this interesting museum, opened at the end of 2003, some few tables are set up where you can taste a cup of delicious chocolate which is exclusively gained out of the famous Baracoa (Guantánamo) cocoa plant. Its difficult to chose between its specialities: the "Traditional" with vanilla or cinnamon, the "Azteca" with pepper and nutmeg. A lot of those walking around in old Havana are joining this place to enjoy and to recover strength. What an exquisite and advisable habit!

Address: Calle Amargura esquina a Mercaderes. Old Havana (Habana Vieja)

Bar del Edificio Bacardí
Keeping its original Art-Decó stile, this half-hidden coffee shop, located in the mezzanine of the admirable Bacardí building is one of the "connaisseurs" favorite corners in Havana.

Address: Monserrate e/ Neptuno y Empedrado, Old Havana (Habana Vieja)

Casa del Escabeche
A cosy but often packed little bar, which serves very good mojitos, with live son music from noon to 5pm every day.

Address: Calle Obispo #505, esquina a Villegas, Old Havana (Habana Vieja)
Open: 24hrs daily