Havana Libre Hotel – Salon Turquino

Style of place: Live music venue

Cover: CUC 10-25

Style of music: Salsa/Timba

Ambience
Popularity
Entertainment
Service

Best for: Looking out at the stars as the roof is retracted in one of Cuba’s glitziest venues.

Worst for: Not very authentic Cuban and quite expensive

Habana Libre Hotel, Calle L, entre 23 y 25

(+53)7838 - 4011

10pm-4am daily

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 Habana Libre and has glass all around and a retractable roof. The decor is definitely disco, the drinks expensive and the atmosphere a little less than authentic but with beautiful scenery in any event; definitely worth a visit at least once.
The Habana Libre was the old Havana Hilton, which was used as the new Revolutionary government’s headquarters for the first three months of 1959. It is a busy place with 572 rooms located on one of Havana’s busiest junctions. While the entire place could perhaps do with something of a face lift and the elevators can be infuriating Sol Melia, which took over in 2000 ensures that high standards of service and food are generally maintained and the view from the excellent (but expensive) restaurant and nightclub (Salon Turquino) on the 26th floor are to die for.