1 El Malecón
Similar to the Las Vegas strip in the United States, El Malecón (which means “breakfront” or “jetty”) is an eight-kilometer seawall that runs along the Atlantic-facing coast of Havana. It is a favorite meeting place for all segments of the city’s society, and it is especially appealing at night. El Malecón was laid out in the early 1900s as an oceanside drive for residents looking for fun, but quickly expanded to include a variety of architectural styles. Currently, it is an authentic open-air “theater” that features real people meeting, greeting, dating and debating. Lined with restaurants and hotels, it is a favored locale for lovers, philosophers, poets, traveling minstrels, and fisherfolk. El Malecón has been given special status by Havana’s City Historian’s Office.
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2 Museo Lezama Lima
The museum is located in the book-filled former home of José Lezama Lima, one of the most influential poets and writers in Latin America. Born in 1910 in the Columbia Military Encampment in Marianao, Lima lived through one of the most turbulent times in the nation’s history, the fight against the Machado dictatorship. He left Cuba only twice in his lifetime, but his novels, poetry and essays drew on ideas from all the world’s cultures and time periods. Lima died in 1978 and was buried in Havana at Colon Cemetery. He is credited for influencing many Cuban and Puerto Rican writers of his generation and today.
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3 La Zorra y El Cuervo
Arguably the best known jazz club in Havana, La Zorra y El Cuervo (The Vixen and Crow), this venue offers an intimate space where top jazz musicians perform nightly. There are long lines of music fans waiting to enter through the club’s signature red British phone booth to go down into a small, dark basement to hear the world-class freestyle jazz that is the best in the world. The club has hosted musicians like George Benson and Chucho Valdés.
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4 Plaza de Armas
Havana was established formerly in 1519 on the north side of what would be called the Plaza de la Iglesia, which was named for a church that existed there until 1741 when the explosion of the HMS Invincible in the city harbor destroyed it. The square was renamed Plaza de Armas, or Parade Ground, and it became the administrative center of Havana. Military parades were held there during colonial times and retained its political and administrative role until the mid 1950s. The buildings surrounding the square represent four centuries of architecture. In the center of the square is a statue of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, who began Cuba’s wars of independence and is called “Father of the Homeland.” The statue was made by Cuban artist Sergio López.
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5 Dance Club 1830
Cubans love to dance, but visitors should not be intimidated by their top-level talents. Instead, visitors should go to this club where they can become initiated into the finer points of salsa and timba. The club is located in a Havana mansion surrounded by a spectacular outdoor garden that faces the sea. It is crowded with dancers on weekends, and the music is loud enough to carry far down the street. A mix of locals and tourists, there are Friday Night House Parties, and various nights feature various types of dances that regulars are happy to teach to newcomers.
