Outline portrait of Che Guevara on a building with Cuban flags and palm trees in Cuba

Get That Cuban Vibe | Our Top 5 Music Venues in Cuba

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Planning a trip to the Caribbean island of Cuba? Why not check out our top 5 music venues and soak up that real Cuban spirit.
Cuba is a Caribbean island on the brink of a new era. It’s a brilliant mix of colonial cities, sultry salsa music, big cigars, vintage Cadillacs and ivory beaches and now is a great time to visit.

Salsa dancing with the sexy hip swinging locals at one of the islands many fantastic Casas de la Musica is an opportunity not to be missed! In Cuba music blasts out from every corner and you will regularly see 5 year olds naturally perfecting their moves. Here, in no particular order, are our top 5 recommendations for the best musical places:

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Man in a hat playing guitar in an arched doorway of a bright yellow building with turquoise windows in Cuba

1. Casa de la Musica – Havana

Charges high entrance fees but has big name acts in a smart theatre style venue.

2. Casa de la Musica – Trinidad

Dance the night away with locals and tourists alike on the steps of this truly atmospheric location near the main plaza.

Four musicians playing string instruments outdoors in front of a large church with twin bell towers in Cuba
Hand striking a conga drum during a music performance in Trinidad, Cuba

3. Casa de la Trova – Baracoa

This tiny venue with little wooden chairs to remind you of your school days has live acoustic musicians every night playing large cellos and bass with drums and fantastic vocalists. In the furthest location from Havana this place sees few tourists so the locals are really keen to teach you how to dance salsa.

4. Café Paris & Cafe Florida – Havana

The musicians who play here are real crowd pleasers and you won’t be able to resist getting up for a bit of dance. Conveniently located on the Obispo linking Centro to Habana Vieja.

Man in a red shirt singing and playing a stringed instrument next to a smiling woman in a lively bar in Cuba
Smiling older Black man in a straw hat holding a violin in Cuba

5. Calle 69 – Varadero

Not the most likely location but it’s a great place to watch the beautiful people dancing outside the venue on the street with such accuracy and fast form.

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