5 Reasons To Book A Flight To Havana

Buena Vista Images via Getty Images

Ask the uninitiated to conjure up a vision of Havana and they’ll likely picture a montage of iconic imagery: cigar-smoking street musicians, salsa dancers, jewel-coloured 1950s Chevrolets and faded grandiose buildings.

And while any traveller wishing to tick off those spectacles will not be disappointed, modern Havana is so much more than this. Its real attraction is one of visceral beauty and an underlying energy. As award-winning bartender Dan Miles writes in his HuffPost blog on Havana, it’s “a place that’s not flooded with electricity, [but has] just enough to create shadow and mystery”.

This mystery is made possible because, despite luring visitors from around the world to experience its captivating charm, Havana, unlike so many of its global counterparts, has somehow evaded the usual tourist-resort trappings.

Sure, there are world-city attractions – what visitor wouldn’t want to drink a mojito in Ernest Hemingway’s favourite hangout? But the appeal of contemporary Havana is very different. Enticing private restaurants (paladres) have sprung up, serving innovative, fresh cuisine, while new art centres showcasing contemporary works have also appeared, cramming even more culture into Cuba’s capital.

Music has always been a part of city life, but as Havana evolves, so too does its rhythm. The beat the city moves to is one of emerging musicians who are dabbling in everything from reggaeton and hip hop to more contemporary fusions. Armed with the right insider know-how – and a world-class mojito or two in your belly – your heart will soon be beating along with it.

Watch this city guide from the experts at Havana Club to get you in the mood, and check out our tips from Havana insiders.

Drink Aware

5 Reasons To Go To Havana

Food(01 of05)

The Havana dining scene is having something of a Renaissance, and a new generation of eateries is sweeping the capital. Paladares (small, private, often family-run, restaurants) are flourishing – offering travellers the opportunity to sample authentic, home-cooked Cuban cuisine on every street corner.
“Paladares have come a long way from simple family-run operations,” says Our Girl In Havana blogger Tyler Wetherall. “Restaurants such as Le Chansonnier, with its high design interiors and chic French-inspired cuisine, could compete with its Parisian counterparts. Casa Miglis could well be the only Cuban-Swedish fusion restaurant in the world.”
For excellent Cuban cuisine and a beautiful outdoor terrace, we also love RioMar. (credit:Angelo Cavalli via Getty Images)

Drink(02 of05)

You haven’t experienced Havana until you’ve experienced one of its native mojitos. And you haven’t experienced a real mojito until you’ve experienced one in La Bodeguita del Medio.
“The mojito calls to you from its birthplace at La Bodeguita del Medio. Rows of glasses, filled with pungent yerba buena mint and lime, are produced conveyer-belt style for the endless horde who pack this tiny place,” says Dan Miles, “… which, despite being smaller than my bathroom, comes complete with an enthusiastic six-piece band and walls scrawled with the names of past drinkers.”
And as Havana’s most celebrated drinking den, those “past drinkers” include such illustrious names as Ernest Hemingway and Errol Flynn. But the real star of the show has to be its signature mojito, always prepared in the purest tradition, with Havana Club 3 Años.
Havana bartenders take their cocktail mixing seriously: “To mix rum and make cocktails is something that’s interested me since I was young,” says La Bodeguita del Medio bartender Pedro Tejeda. “Havana Club, first and foremost, is the rum of Cuba. It’s the rum of the people of Cuba.”
But it doesn’t start and end with the ingredients: “I soon discovered that being a barman is not just about making cocktails,” adds Pedro. “It’s also the interaction you have with the customer – getting to know them, how they feel, what they like.”
For the best daiquiris, try world-renowned El Floridita. (credit:Tim Bieber via Getty Images)

Art(03 of05)

Cuba comes with its fair share of art history and classic galleries, but, in more recent years, modern and contemporary artists have been making their mark. Venues such as Fábrica de Arte Cubano (Cuban Art Factory), founded by hip hop artist X Alfonso, have appeared, featuring an eclectic mix of work that covers everything from paintings to installations, music events and dance performances. For contemporary local works, try Centro Provincial de Artes Plásticas (on Antonio Guiteras street) or rub shoulders with emerging talent at La Casa de la Ciudad – a multipurpose venue that hosts regular exhibitions by young artists.
Of course, if art galleries aren’t your thing, you can always take in the city’s street art, epitomised by its bold colour. If you look hard enough, you might even spot the occasional Banksy. (credit:Lee Frost via Getty Images)

Music(04 of05)

Now you’ve had a little local lubrication, you’ll be getting into the rhythm of the city.
“In Havana, you can’t remove drinking from music. It’s a city where you move through bubbles of music – all intersecting, overflowing, bleeding into each other; from bars, from restaurants, from the windows of homes … all just adding to the magic,” says Miles.
The music of Havana has come a long way since the days of the Buena Vista Social Club, though, with reggaeton, hip hop, electronic, and fusion beats in abundance. For a night on the town, there are more than enough contemporary bars and clubs to choose from. Hang with the hip young things at Cafe Teatro Bertolt Brecht, an artsy club that boasts some of the best contemporary fusion music, affordable entry and a rare no smoking policy. Another must-visit venue, nightclub Don Cangrejo hosts regular live music events featuring cubaton, reggaeton and more.

Head over to Havana Cultura to discover some of the most exciting music from Cuba's emerging artists and producers. (credit:Jeremy Woodhouse via Getty Images)

Theatre And Dance(05 of05)

Havana is possibly the world capital of dance – and everyone is welcome to get involved. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself steered towards the dancefloor by friendly locals.
And while the city’s known for its salsa, that’s not the only style Havana excels at. After all, you can’t be truly considered a world leader if you’re unwilling to evolve – and Cuba has been more than happy to embrace and develop new styles and groups.
Danza Contemporanea de Cuba is one such troupe who have made an international name for themselves, regularly performing and touring around the world. Drawing inspiration from Afro-Caribbean dance styles, American theatre and even classical ballet, their work is bold, emotive and never lacking in energy.
Cuba’s theatre offerings are also impressive – from dazzling circus spectacles, courtesy of Circuba – to small, independently funded scripts, kids’ shows and comedies, there’s a host on offer across the city’s many venues. If you’re heading over in the summer, you might be lucky enough to catch the Festival Nacional del Humor Aquelarre (National Humour Festival), last year held in Havana’s mammoth Karl Marx Theatre. (credit:Plaza Havana)

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