Casa del Tango

CA3
Style of place: Cultural institute
Ambience
Popularity
Entertainment
Service
Calle Neptuno No.309, entre Águila y Avenida de Italia (Galiano)
(+53)7863 - 0097
Open 10am-8pm, Performances 5-7pm Mon
  • Owners Wilki and Adelaida have turned their home into one of the more distinctive and eccentric venues in Havana, offering dance classes in tango and salsa, along with a floor show and dancing later on. The main room is a shrine to the dance, packed with old posters, sheet music and other memorabilia.

    Everyone agrees that tango arrived in Havana in 1920 when Argentinean tenor José Muñoz, member of an opera and zarzuela company, sang three tangos to save the day when the show seemed doomed to failure. Perhaps because it was influenced by the Cuban habanera, tango has been a favorite in the Island, reinforced by old movies still shown on TV of famous Argentine movie stars and singers Carlos Gardel and Libertad Lamarque, radio shows dedicated to this genre, and to the perseverance of a number of Cuban musicians and singers, including Berta Pernas, Santiago Marrero, pianist Rey Díaz Calvet and young trovadora Liuba María Hevia.

    The Casa del Tango, which developed spontaneously and has no link to any Cuban state institution, has for decades preserved recordings, posters, documents, photographs, sheet music, and other memorabilia, all related to this music genre. Every Monday, from 5 to 7 pm, tango devotees attired in woolly scarves and felt hats in pure Buenos Aires style of the 30s and 40s?defy the torrid Cuban climate and attend the shows at this legendary music venue.

    
  • El Floridita

    El Floridita  LH 5

    While the Floridita has its detractors, it is probably worth stopping in for a daiquiri just because it is there. It has certainly been around the block since it first opened its doors over 200 years …

    Casa de la Música de Miramar

    Casa de la Música de Miramar  LH 4

    The Miramar house of music has been a mainstay for the very best salsa bands for many years now. It is an absolute must if you have any interest in salsa. It is housed in a beautiful old Havana mansio …

    Il Divino

    Il Divino  LH 5

    Il Divino gets our vote as the absolutely best place to eat in Havana with the family at the weekend. 6 stars out of 5. Simply brilliant, superlatives trip off the tongue. The place is huge with plent …

    Espacios

    Espacios  LH 5

    Espacios opened towards the end of 2012 and has firmly established itself on the party circuit in Miramar for your funky young twenty-somethings (and older wannabees!) This place consists of an ample …

    Jazz Café

    Jazz Café  LH 4+

    Located on the top floor of a new shopping center opposite the Melia Cohiba hotel the Jazz Café. Mellow, sophisticated and freezing due to extreme air conditioning, the Jazz Café is not only an excell …

    Basílica Menor de San Francisco de Asís

    Basílica Menor de San Francisco de Asís  LH 4

    This imposing and beautiful basilica with fine acoustics hosts some of the most important classical music concerts in Havana. Set in the square of the same name, the church is the home of the Grammy-n …

    Don Cangrejo

    Don Cangrejo  LH 5

    Don Cangrejo has over the past couple of years become the Friday night party venue of choice/last resort. The Friday night party crowd originally was the beautiful young Cuban crowd who were always lo …

    Havana Libre Hotel – Salon Turquino

    Havana Libre Hotel – Salon Turquino  LH 4

    Definitely a place for posh spice. This is certainly the best view in Havana to watch a cabaret show (there is often a popular band and disco following the show). The room is on the 26th floor of the …

    Centro Cultural El Gran Palenque

    Centro Cultural El Gran Palenque  LH 4

    El Gran Palenque is home to the world-renowned dance troupe Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba. Opened in 1997, it has its origins in the Patio de la Rumba, founded in 1982 by folklorist Rogelio Mar …

    La Bodeguita del Medio

    La Bodeguita del Medio  LH 4+

    Back 1942, this well-known restaurant was a small grocery store. Its owner, Ángel Martínez, began to sell food as the number of customers increased. One day, journalist Leandro Garcia, a regular costu …

    « 3 of 8 pages »