Page 132 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

130  HA V ANA AREA B Y AREA

Cabaret
The most exotic of venues,
and a long-time Cuban tradition,
cabarets espectáculos are
famous for their extravagantly
– and minimally – dressed
female dancers in sequins and
feathers. The music is first-rate,
ranging from salsa to crooners
performing traditional boleros.
The most famous is the
Tropicana (see p113) featuring
more than 200 performers.
Though expensive, it offers a Dancers at the Tropicana, Havana’s most famous and colourful cabaret
true spectacular with grandiose
choreography, lavish costumes In Vedado, the Hotel Nacional’s Yoruba, dedicated to African-
and legendary dancers. The Bar Vista del Golfo has served derived religions, has a library,
Cabaret Parisien is the most cocktails to the rich and famous exhibits, and lectures.
important of the hotel shows, for decades. Also in Vedado, head One of the most active cen-
while the Cabaret Salón Rojo to the top of La Torre in Edificio tres is UNEAC (Writers and
and Cabaret Copa Room are Fosca to enjoy cocktails and an Artists’ Union), which hosts
among the better small shows. incredible view out over the city. musical and literary events at
El Hurón Azul – the main spot
for Havana’s bohemians.
Bars Cinema
The colourful bar-life of pre- Cuba has a thriving cinema Cultural Tours
revolutionary days is a mere industry. The annual December
memory today. Nonetheless, Festival Internacional del Nuevo Week-long holiday packages
most upscale tourist hotels Cine Latinoamericano, a major are available from Paradiso:
have classy bars (albeit filled international film festival, Promotora de Turismo Cultural
with foreigners). is organized by the Instituto (see Ticket Agencies). The cost
Two bars associated with Cubano del Arte e Industria includes accommodation in a
Hemingway remain among Cinematográfica (ICAIC), “4-star” hotel, lunch and dinner
the city’s most colourful. which presides over the in typical Cuban restaurants,
La Bodeguita del Medio activities of the “seventh art” transport, guides, entrance
(see p69), a cramped bar where in Cuba (see p33) and also runs to museums and theatres,
the author popularized mojitos, the Cine Charles Chaplin. meetings with Cuban artists
features troubadors. Famous Most of the major cinemas and visits to specialist edu-
for its daiquirís, El Floridita are in the Vedado district. The cational centres. The Aché
(see p76) exudes a fin-de-siècle main one is Cine Yara. Cine Habana programme focuses on a
ambience. Other hip drinking Riviera screens mostly Holly- religious and cultural tour of
spots include Madrigal, wood action movies, while Regla and Guanabacoa, while
Havana’s first private bar, the Cine La Rampa shows mainly “Dancing the Cuban Style”
late-night bar at Tocororo (see Cuban and Latin American films. features salsa classes. There are
p272) , Espacios, El Cocinero, Havana’s largest cinema is the also packages tailored around
and Fábrica de Arte Cubano. multi-screen Cine Payret, in La the city’s jazz and ballet festivals.
Habana Vieja; it has midnight
shows at weekends.
Children
Cubans adore children and the
Cultural Centres State takes good care of its
For visitors interested in Cuban young. However, entertain ment
culture, the Casa de las Américas venues for children are few. The
(see p104) has a good library, Acuario Nacional (see p113) puts
well-stocked book shop and on dolphin shows. Donkey rides
a fine art gallery. It organizes are offered at Parque Luz
literary and poetry festivals. Caballero in La Habana Vieja,
High-level cultural events are and at Parque Lenin (see p120)
also held at the Fundación Alejo and Parque Metropoliano de La
Carpentier, dedicated to the Habana. The Teatro Guiñol hosts
work of the great Cuban writer, puppet shows and children’s
and the Fundación Fernando theatre. The Planetario and
Bartender preparing one of the famous Ortíz, specializing in Afro-Cuban shadow puppet theatre El Arca
daiquiris at El Floridita studies. The Asociación Cultural are also popular with families.

128-131_EW_Cuba.indd 130 14/02/17 11:36 am