Café Cantante Mi Habana
What’s unusual about this venue is that it’s located in the basement of a theater not just any theater, but the National Theater of Cuba. It’s a remarkable building that stands out among the others that ring the Plaza de le Revolucion, due to its functionality, size and modernity, despite the fact that it was designed and built more than 50 years ago, although its completion and opening were gradual, and took from 1960-1979. It was designed by the architect Julio Conesa.
The Café Cantante Mi Habana is without a doubt one of the hottest nightspots in the capital, for many reasons: first, it’s frequented by both Cubans and tourists alike, who share in the fun until closing time. Additionally, the place has an excellent and varied artistic lineup, ranging from popular youth groups to dance music, ballad singers, rock, and troubadours. Some early evening shows can be anything such as hip hop, rock, pop and traditional Afro-Cuban music.
But the best shows don’t begin till much later, when Café Cantante really comes to life: Salsa!
Salsa groups keep the beat thumping until 3 in the morning, to the delight of dancers and non-dancers alike, all in a relaxed environment. But consider yourself warned: when a popular group comes to play, arrive early, or make reservations, since Café Cantante Mi Habana ends up bursting at the seams. As one Spanish tourist was recently overheard, “right now, not even a safety pin would fit in here”.
I don’t want to fool you: since the club is located in a basement, the ceiling is low, maybe too low, and there are barely any decorations. But as I said, its main attraction is the tremendous quality of its lineup: those amazing artists create a unique atmosphere and will leave you entertained for several hours, especially if you’re a fan of salsa, the music for which this place is best known.
The Café Cantante Mi Habana has a restaurant, bar and cafeteria, and the most popular items are the snacks and cocktails.
