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Today, Havana’s culture is no longer frozen in the 1950s; there is an exciting explosion of innovative art, music and dance. Progressive change is happening so fast you can almost feel it in the air, and visitors are fortunate to arrive in the midst of the city’s metamorphosis. You will have a front row seat as the city rises from its revolutionary past to its future as an international cosmopolitan city making an increasingly important cultural contribution to the world.
Visitors to Havana can look forward to immersing themselves in the chic Cuban culture, taking a ride in a ‘pretty in pink’ vintage car, dancing a little salsa to one of the many Buena Vista-style bands playing in almost every corner of the city, or catching a show at the Tropicana. Havana’s already hot cultural scene is now firing on all cylinders, buzzing with new potential, new sounds and a new entrepreneurial spirit.
Fabrica de la Arte Cubana (FAC)
Head over to the Vedado District to experience Havana’s most popular arts venue, Fabrica de la Arte Cubana, converted from a cooking oil factory by Cuban musician, X Alfonso, the space now houses a restaurant, art galleries, nightclub and a theatre. This is where culture happens in today’s Havana and it is popular with both Cubans and visitors. The building is a hive of activity with an exciting mix of art programming including live music events, fashion, theatre, jazz and art exhibitions.
Museum of the Revolution
Housed in the former presidential palace, the museum is well worth a visit for its architectural beauty, stunning Tiffany interiors and exhibitions. To understand the new Havana, it is important to have an overview of the country’s complex history, and this museum is the perfect place to explore Cuba’s past, from colonial times to the Cuban Revolution. You can even see the yacht in which Castro sailed from Mexico to Cuba to begin his overthrow of the Cuban government.
Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski Havana
Can a hotel be a cultural hotspot? In Cuba, yes. Kempinski Hotels has taken a historic Havana landmark, the Manzana De Gomez shopping centre, from near ruin to create Cuba’s first truly five-star luxury hotel.
During the Manzana’s five-year renovation project, a 350-year-old city wall was discovered, part of the ‘Murallas’ (the Walls). Built to protect the old town from pirates, this important piece of Havana’s history is now on display in an exhibition on Level Minus One.
Located near many of the city’s top galleries and museums, the Gran Hotel Kempinski has paid homage the importance of Cuban arts and culture by commissioning 150 works of art from Cuban artists including photographer Claudia Corrales. The granddaughter of Fidel Castro’s official photographer, she has made her own mark on Cuba’s art scene with her work shown in exhibitions in Cuba and internationally. Corrales has created a series of architectural photos of Havana for the new hotel.
Clandestina
Hipster meets Havana? Clandestina is the new chic spot in Old Havana, the small boutique showcases with wry Cuban humor, items that are 99% Cuban design. You will probably spot many of Clandestina’s recycled t-shirts with catchy Cuban slogans on the streets of Havana.
Founded in 2015 by designer Idania Del Rio, Clandestine has built its success on offering clients Brand Cuba. Run by designers and artists, the collective produces original work sourced from ‘whatever we can find, made wherever we have to make it, and brought to you however we can’. You really can’t get more Cuban than that.
Piscolabis
Old and new, a café and a bazaar, beautiful Cuban crafts combined with the Cuban way of life. Piscolabis is about making beautiful things out of whatever comes their way. Recycle, reuse and renew, make a living and make art. Viva la Cuba.
Habanos Festival
In Cuba, the cigar is a cultural icon as well as a much needed cash generator for the country. To honour the importance of cigar making, Havana hosts the popular Habanos Festival for cigar aficionados, at the end of February. During the weeklong event, participants can learn about the history and the art of making cigars in Cuba, visit factories, plantations and enjoy wine and cigar pairings. This year the festival celebrated its twentieth anniversary.
