The best nightclubs in Havana are legendary. Some have been around since the 1930s — a few longer than that — and they are still utterly cool.

Read on to learn where to go for the best music, dance and vibe in Havana today and where to experience the best Cuban nightlife.

La Fabrica de Arte Cubana (FAC) or, Cuban Art Factory

The Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) is an experience. It is a large industrial type venue created in a refurbished cooking oil factory.

So is the FAC a nightclub? It is a unique venue. A happy and unique mixture of art gallery, theater, cinema, dance, live music from jazz to symphonies, all sorts of live performances, DJ music, restaurants, cute little bars with snacks, shops and…take a breath…so much more.

Definitely one of the best nightclubs in Havana.

This is a place to wander with a drink in hand. Sway on the dancefloor, peruse the quirky art galleries for great photo ops.

Located in the more upscale Vedado neighborhood, the FAC is a very popular Havana nightspot. As of this writing it is only open from Thursday to Sunday.

It opens at 8PM and there is always a line to get in so arrive at least half an hour early.

Insider tip: Don’t eat at the restaurant because it will take you years to get served. Either eat before your arrive or have a snack at one of the many little bars and wander around.

Cabaret Tropicana

This is it, guys. The mother of all Havana nightclubs and cabaret shows. A cultural institution since 1939, Cabaret Tropicana is still packing them in.

As one tourist recently stated, “Is it cheesy? Yes! Is it fun? Hell, yes! Is it impressive? Yes! Should you go? Yes! So go, if you have the time. It’s worth it for the truly unique experience.

Generally there are three types of tickets ranging from US$75 to US$100.00 per person. These are for general admission for the show only, and the show with dinner included. Frequenly there are tickets for special occasions like New Years Eve.

Le Parisienne

You’ll find Cabaret Parisien in the legendary Hotel Nacional. It is a classy, upscale Havana nightclub worthy of the hotel in which it’s located.

Cabaret Parisien is a flashy floorshow with all the sequins, fish-net stockings, voluminous gowns and impossibly busy headresses you’d expect from a Vegas production. But all with a very Cuban vibe.

The show lasts about 90 minutes and leaves you amazed at the energy and endurance of the performers.

Tickets range from US$75 per person for dinner and the show, to US$45 for just the show.

Insider tip: Prices fluctuate so make sure to check first.

But let’s talk about the Hotel Nacional, where Cabaret Parisien is located.

Opened in 1930, the hotel sits on a hilltop with a comanmding views of Havana Harbour, the city and the ocean. The architectural design is a delightful and elegant blend of Greek revival and Spanish eclectic.

The hotel was declared a National Monument and was inscribed in the World Memory Register.

But it is with its history that the hotel really shines. Over the years The Nacional has welcomed a long list of the world’s whos-whos.

A small list of celebrities include: Winston Churchill, Jimmy Carter, Agustin Lara, John Wayne, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Yuri Gagarin, Marlene Dietrich, Ernest Hemingwy, Marlon Brando and Jesse Ventura among others.

The “History Room” on the first floor has an exhibit displaying parts of the hotel’s history. Wander the area and imagine yourself in the 1950s in the company of Gary Cooper and Rita Hayworth living the Havana nightlife.

The back garden has delightful areas for drinks and a snack. The tables are surrounded by a flock of peacocks.

Legendarios del Guajirito Buena Vista Social Club

Looking for a showcase of authentic Cuban music in a lovely venue with attentive service, tasty food at a surprisingly resonable price? Look no further than the Legendarios del Guajirito Buena Vista Social Club.

Located in Habana Vieja, this venue pulls no punches when it comes to top-notch talent. The performance is a combination of classic Cuban ballads, pulsating beats and instrumentals.

Unlike other similar venues where the food seems to be an afterthought, the dinner at Los Legendarios is excellent consisting of meat, seafood as well as vegetarian options. The side dishes as well are ample and delicious. And the desserts! Don’t get me started.

Dinner includes 4 cocktails, potent and refreshing. If you have only one choice of a nightclub on a sultry Havana night, this is the one. You can’t go wrong in one of the best Havana nightclubs around. Come here to experience Cuban nightlife at its best.

The association with the Buena Vista Social club is that the venue plays much of the iconic group’s music.

Sociedad Cultural Rosalia de Castro

Another venue that bills itself as a Buena Vista Social Club affiliation. The Centro Cultural Rosalia de Castro, named after an important Galician literaly figure is located in the area around the capitol.

Nestled in an open air venue, the club features classic Cuban songs performed by very talented performers. The singers walk among the patrons sometimes singing directly to the guests.

Ticket prices for the 90 minute show vary depending on the season so check before you go. You can go or dinner and a show or just the show. Three or four drinks are usually included in the price. This is a fun environment.

As evidenced by the reviews, food here can be hit or miss. But, personally I had a lovely evening.

Cabaret El Turquino

The Hilton Hotel chain only managed to build one hotel before the revolution of 1959. The Cabaret El Turquino sits atop the 25th floor of the former Hilton which is now Hotel Habana Libre. It is one of the classic Havana nightclubs.

Insier tip: It’s suggeested to go on a weekend night as other nights can be a bit empty.

The view of Havana at night is spectacular. The music is varied but certainly Cuban.

As with most of these clubs, the price varies depending on demand and seasonality so check before going.

They have dancing, singing performances and even fashion shows. The food is perfunctory, the service indifferent. The drinks…nothing to write home about.

The music, however, is as exceptional as it is in all of Cuba.

At midnight they open the roof top and you see the Havana night sky in all its splendor. This is the big draw and totally worth it.

The venue itself is lovely. A great place to have a truly uique experience. This is what Havana nightclubs must have been like in bygone days.

La Casa de La Musica or The House of Music

Every major city in Cuba has a venue called La Casa de La Música. Havana, being the capital city, has two, one in Centro Habana just west of the colonial tourist section of Old Havana and the other in the eastern neighborhood of Miramar.

Admission was about the equivalent of $15USD, quite steep but they do have live music. The best Cuban bands play here. This is a world of hip-hop, salsa and reggaeton. There is, of course, dancing.

Insider Tip: The food is mediocre at best so don’t eat there. Eat elsewhere in one of Havana’s good restaurants, then come here.

Drinks are reasonably priced. Mainly a lively, young, local Havana crowd.

La Zorra y El Cuervo (The Vixen and the Crow)

La Zorra y el Cuervo is right on 23rd Street in the Vedado neighborhood. This has got to be one of the best jazz clubs around. It is the real thing. The very definition of one of the classic Havana nightclubs

No touristy “where-are-you-from” fluff, just pure jazz, the perfect place to chill.

You enter through a London phone booth. Admission as of this writing is US$10.00 which includes two cocktails. This is for true jazz lovers. The best jazz Cuba has to offer is right here where you can absorb Cuban nightlife.

Insider tip: Get there early to make sure you get a good spot near the stage.

El Floridita

This legendary bar is the oldest in Cuba and, some say, the oldest continuously operating bar in Latin America founded in 1817.

Situated at the beginning of Old Havana right by pedestrianized Calle Obispo, El Floridita is a must-visit.

El Floridita is primarily famous for two things; it is where the universally know daiquiri cocktail was first perfected. I say perfected because it was invented in the eastern Cuban mining town of Daiquiri.

The owner of the bar fine-tuned the ingredients into what we know today.

The other claim to fame is this is one of the two bars Ernest Hemingway frequented while he lived in Havana. There is a statue of Hemingway at the bar. The place is always packed, day or night.

La Bodeguita del Medio

Another Hemingway haunt, La Bodeguita del Medio always has a crowd in front of it. Legend has it Hemingway had mojitos here then walked to El Floridita to contiue drinking.

His signature is said to be on the wall where he wrote “Mi mojito en La Bodeguita y mi daiquiri en El Floridita” (my mojito in the Bodeguita and my daiquiri in El Floridita).

There is no dancing here. The food is mediocre and their signature offering, the mojito, is “meh.” But you have to at least see the place if you’re a Hemingway-in-Cuba aficionado.

Do what all the tourists do and write your name on the wall. Why not?!

El Malecon

El Malecon is not a Havana nightclub, but it might as well be. It is the Havana seawall that hugs the city on the northern side often referred to as Havana’s living room.

Many nights, especially on weekends, locals gather to enjoy the sea breeze and escape the frequently stifling Havana night. Music and bit of rum combine to create an impromptu dance party.

The most fun spot on El Malecon is 23rd Street in the Vedado neighborhood. One of the best places to go to experience Cuban nightlife.

Join the locals! Grab a snack from one of the many vendors, enjoy the evening and dance the night away.

Coco Blue y la Zorra Peluda

This place is so cool for so many reasons.

Tucked away on a quiet side street in the Vedado neighborhood, Coco Blue y La Zorra Peluda is part restaurant — there is an open kitchen station — and part full bar.

The place showcases local performers giving them a chance to shine on a local stage. The talent is amazing.

Toward the back of the area is a museum curated by one of the owners, Jose Emilio Fuentes Fonseca, himself an accomplished artist. His works, primarily in metal, grace the front lawn of the venue.

This is an ideal location to mix with locals, grab a meal, kick back with a cold beer and enjoy talent sure to be a big name in the near future. Don’t miss this one for a deep dive into Cuban nightlife.

Yarini

Yarini is many things. It is first and foremost an open-air roof top nightclub named after an early 20th century Havana “Robin Hood” who was shot on the street where the club is located.

They have a fabulous bar, lite snacks and an ample seating area.

The stage is strategically positioned for all to have an excellent view. The aucustics, especially for an open air venue, are excellent.

All of these features unite to make Yarini one of the hottest nightclubs in Havana.

Sometimes the best Havana nightclubs are the off-the-beaten-track spots found down a sidestreet. Experiencing these might be the best way to truly absorb Cuban nightlife.

Ley Seca

The name Ley Seca translates into “Prohibition.” The place is anything but. Liquor flows freely in this new venue where you have to know someone to get in. Or at least pretend to.

The crowd is almost exclusively local and young. The music is pulsating reggaeton rather than classic, traditional Cuban or salsa. Snacks are available at tables or bar.