Nightlife Page 4

Naciona Cabaret

It is set next to Inglaterra Hotel, in front of the Central Park. The National Cabaret has recovered its fame completely. It is in vogue now. The tasteless decoration and highly dissimilar public, -most women, do not spoil the place. The Parisién Cabaret is another cabaret. It is in the Nacional Hotel.

• Address: San Rafael e/ Paseo del Prado y Consulado, La Habana Vieja. Tel: (7) 632361
• Open:

Oasis

Lots of salsa and Cuban rhythms are played at this relaxed and very Cuban club. Some people have dinner at Basora, the Arab-Cuban restaurant upstairs, before coming down to Oasis to dance. There is a live show at 11pm.

• Address: Paseo de Marti (Prado) #256, entre Onimas y Trocadero
• Open: 9pm-3am daily

Opus Bar

It lies on the last floor of Amadeo Roldan Theater. People may have a pleasant conversation in a quiet night. Many people go to the place, specially known faces from the movies and theater. Modern decoration. Huge windows with stunning views.

• Address: Calzada esq. D, Teatro Amadeo Roldán, Vedado
• Open:

O'Reilly Café

Don't go here expecting Guinness and a good old Irish fry, as tragically they are both unknown substances in Havana. Split between two floors joined by a cast-iron spiral staircase, Café O'Reilly is a relaxing place to stop in the middle of an Old Town tour. Sit on the balcony sipping a cocktail or a beer and listen to the caged birds sing over the bustle below. Food is basic – sandwiches, chicken and pizza – but well priced.

CanalCubano: It´s the only coffee that the centric and narrow O´Reilly street that count on. A below part, aired and graceful, goes trough a winding staircase to the upper hall, almost always more animated and with several balconies to the outside.

• Address: Calle O'Reilly #203, entre Cuba y San Ignacio (no phone)
• Open: 24hrs daily

Café del Oriente

This is one of most charming establishments in the city of Havana. Through its windows, it is possible to see the tables, with lovely linen table-cloths and wonderful dishes. There are performances of pianists and classical singers. The place has also a terrace with splendid furniture located in the very square Plaza de San Francisco.

• Address: Oficios #112 esq. Amargura, La Habana Vieja

Pabellón Cuba

Apparently this 1960s creation used to be quite attractive, with its many waterfalls, lotus flowers and pools of tropical fish. Nowadays the Pabellón looks more like a decaying monster. Located on the corner of La Rampa, it is one of the UJC's (Union of Young Communists) main cultural venues. All sorts of events take place here, including live concerts during the cultural festivals. Salsa, rap, rock and reggae gigs all feature; there's also a disco. Check outside billboards or call for further information.

• Address: Calle N #266, squina a 23
• Open: 9am-5pm daily

Palacio de Artesanía

We consider the bar which is a part of this beautiful historical building an ideal place to have a drink after some shopping in its middle-stories.

Footprint:
3 CUC consumo mínimo. This beautiful courtyard setting makes for a mellow, jinetero-free Sunday spot, to hear live music from 2130-0200. Son Catedral are a frequent attraction running the gamut of Cuban musical genres. There is a friendly intimate vibe with plenty of audience engagement.

• Address: Cuba 64 e/ Peña Pobre y Cuarteles, La Habana Vieja Atrás

Palermo (El)

This place is a favourite with Afro-Cuban youth due to the rap and other black music genres that dominate here. It's run-down, but recommended for a totally different kind of night out in Havana. Shows start at midnight.

Footprint:
Amid the Centro rubble, just off the main tourist drags, Palermo delivers the requisite cabaret show, nightly from 24:00. Popular with young Cubans, groupies flock to the weekend showcase feature of Odelquis Revé y su changüi, Cuba's answer to Barry White, then groove to the youth club-style salsa disco.

• Address: Calle San Miguel #252, esquina a Amistad (619745)
• Open: 10pm-4am daily entree 2 cuc
  

Parisien

• Address: Hotel Nacional
• Open: Friday till Wednesday 9pm / 2:30am

Café Partagás

La Casa del Habano of the Partagás factory have, apart from a comfortable smokers-room, this nice bar where to have something after buying cigars, or simply visiting the place. It has also wonderful coffee and a right selection of spirits.

• Address: Casa Habano de la Fábrica Partagás

Patio (El)

Located in front of the cathedral, this café-restaurant occupies one of the most beautiful spots in Havana and features live son music from 10am to midnight daily. Sadly, the roof-garden bar is now closed to the public, although it can be hired out for special events. Choose between the quiet, air-conditioned interior, an exquisite inner courtyard or the busier outer patio, for a relaxed view of the Cathedral

• Address: Plaza de la Catedral San Ignacio e/ O´Reilly y Empedrado, Habana Vieja
• Open: noon- midnight daily

Patio de Maria

Director Mar'a Gattorno turned this former casa de la cultura into a thriving and totally unpretentious community centre for Havana's counter-cultural and specifically roquero youth. During one of Cuba's bleakest periods, the early 1990s, the Patio performed a major social function by giving these youngsters a space to express themselves, and over the years has also been very involved in AIDS prevention educational work. As the time of going to press, the Patio was in the process of restoration but is still offering an important, if reduced, programme of activities. Look out for notices around Coppelia, the university and other social hubs. Note that the venue is officially called the Casa de Cultura Roberto Branly, but is more commonly known by its address.

• Address: Calle 37, entre Paseo y 2
• Open: usually 7.30am-11pm daily

Patio Sevillano

This Bar is part of the Hotel Sevilla, located in a typical Sevillian-style inner yard. It is a quiet and refreshing place ideal to have a drink any time of the day.

• Address: Hotel Sevilla. Trocadero # 55, La Habana Vieja

Pe-a de Yoya (La)

Sadly, the almost-legendary Yoya died, but after 20 years of success her pe-a is still going strong. Every Friday night a loyal group of filin musicians and fans meet at the home of Yoya's sister Lucy to play and listen to old and new tunes in an intimate and very welcoming atmosphere. Highly recommended if you like romantic ballads and guitar music.

• Address: San Lázaro #667 apt 9, entre Padre Varela (Belascoa'n) y Gervasio (second entrance on the right of Casa de la Trova)
• Open: 10pm-1am Fri only

El Pedregal

The coffee bar of this huge place is very nice. The space is perfectly structured and offers some terraces to the different levels and almost private with some comfortable osier armchairs. Pies and sandwiches in good prices. The restaurant is more expensive.

• Address: 23 esq. 198, La Lisa. Tel: (7)337832

Bar Restaurante Pekín

Open in 2002, this establishment of the firm Palmares offers the best and cheapest dishes of the Chinese Quarter, although many people go there simply to have a drink. It has a charming bar and the waiters are very helpful.

• Address: Calle Zanja esquina a Manrique. La Habana

El Peñon

Situated on the road Havana-Matanzas-Varadero, this is our favorate place for a stop. The decoration of its bar is tremendously trashy but you can order refreshing juices, beers or a strong café. In a wooden hut they prepare very tasty sandwiches. Music is not missing.

• Address: Vía Blanca (Ctra. Habana-Matanzas) km 52. La Habana

Piano Mar

This bar, part of the huge and originally decorated lobby (very lounge!)of the Riviera Hotel represents an ideal space for a business meeting or a good conversation with some friends at any time of the day. It has wonderful views to the Malecón and the ocean.

• Address: Hotel Habana Riviera. Paseo esq. Malecón, Vedado

Pico Blanco (El)

Known as the 'Rincón del filin' (filin corner), this is very much the place for live filin and bolero music. Performances start at 11pm and go on till at least 1am, after which the place turns into a disco. Located on the top floor of the Hotel St John's, this club has an amazing view of the bay and the city. It's the perfect place for a tranquil evening.

Spectacular rooftop setting, predictable variety show of Cuban slap dash comedy followed by an unrestrained salsa disco. 6 CUC buys you the rights to an open bar for the evening. It's worth shelling out the weekend US$5 admission for a finer appreciation of sultry filín and bolero, if you are that way inclined.

• Address: Hotel St John's, Calle O #206, entre 23 y 25
• Tel: 333740
• Open: 10pm-4am daily

Piscina Gigante

This open-air disco is amazing to us. During weekends more than a thousand people a day are joining the place, most of them Cubans who love to dance and to enjoy themselves. The ambience is very popular and prices are affordable. The place has also a small video-bar, something very intimate. The few tourists who happen to end up here are impressed. "La Noche Habanera", a piece of real Cuba, is starting to spread out.

• Address: Alamar, Habana del Este. La Habana.
• Open:

Piel Canela Piano Bar

This late-night bar features live bolero music and a comedy show from 10 to 11.30pm. The clientele is mainly Cuban.

• Address: La Maison, Calle 16, esquina a 7ma
• Open: 10pm-4am daily

Plaza, Casa de la Cultura

This casa, named after the official municipality in which it's located, has a fantastic outside stage and patio with a lovely mural by artists Ariel D'az and Fiona Murphy dedicated to different art forms. Havana's famous jazz festival takes place here, as do many other concerts and smaller-scale gigs. Live son, bolero and jazz usually feature on Saturday nights at around 9pm.

• Address: Calzada #909, entre 6 y 8
• Open: 9am-10pm Mon-Sat; closed Sun

El Polvorín de los XII Apóstoles

An old house with a terrace that has a privileged view of the bay entrance. Very animated at night. It could be better if they can change the plastic chairs by others of a better material.

• Address: Gran Parque Histórico Morro-Cabaña, Habana del Este