Just off of Calle Obispo, Café de Paris is a charming bar where there are often excellent musicians playing jazz. It’s a great spot for drinks after dinner and sits within easy walking distance to many of the top hotels.

One of the oldest cafés in Havana, Café Taberna was founded in 1772 and it is still a great spot for music. Members of the Buena Vista Social Club play here most days and you may spot dancers salsa-ing inside or even on the sidewalks outside—sometimes passersby cannot help but move to the music. The décor is charming with an old wooden bar, tiled floors and potted palms.

Opened in 1983 to promote and study contemporary visual arts in third world countries, the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam borrows its name from one of the most influential Cuban painters. The small gallery boasts some 1,000 works from all over the world, as well as many by Lam himself. There are a number of rotating exhibits in addition to the permanent collection.

Located in a restored townhouse in an 18^th-century plaza, Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales is a gallery space devoted to showcasing young and emerging Cuban artists. Established in 1989, its four galleries and information center promote the visual arts of the country with an emphasis on experimental art. The exhibits, which often reflect the unique Cuban identity at home and overseas, change frequently. Admission is free.

Fototeca de Cuba exhibits the largest and most diverse body of Cuban photography, housing a permanent collection ranging from contemporary Cuban photographs to 19^th-century newspaper images. The library also offers workshops, conferences and classes on photography designed to promote Cuban photographers abroad and feature international photographs within the country.

Ballet is an integral part of local culture, with the Cuban National Ballet counted among the most prestigious dance companies in the world. Indagare members can contact our Bookings Team to arrange tickets to a performance.

In 1961, Fidel Castro said, “Cuba will count as having the most beautiful academy of arts in the world,” and the National Arts Schools were certainly a testament to the talent of the country. Founded by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, the institutions were designed to be the place where the young and talented would come to develop their crafts and flourish in the arts. It was recognized as a national monument in Cuba in 2010 and restoration efforts are underway on some of the abandoned buildings but currently halted by economic constrictions. However, it remains a wonderful place to visit some artist studios, possibly buy a work and wander around and observe some of the most significant and transformative architecture of the post-Revolution period.

Havana’s fine arts museum exhibits an impressive body of work from artists dating as far back as colonial times. The stunning museum takes up an entire block, and is divided into two sections: the Palace of Fine Arts, dedicated to Cuban works, and the Palace of the Asturian Center, which displays international pieces.

Begin in Plaza de la Catedral, one of Havana’s main squares, dominated by the worn yet impressive cathedral. Its Baroque exterior is matched in beauty by its interior, which is worth investigating if it is open. Wander the elegant plaza and view some of the grandest mansions in Cuba, including the Casa de Lombillo, which once served as post office, and the Museo de Arte Colonial, which has a wide array of colonial objects and beautiful stained-glass windows. Make a left onto San Ignacio, and then another left onto O’Reilly until you reach the grand Palacio de los Capitanes Generales. Pre-Revolution, this served as the official residence for Cuban government officials, but in 1968 it was converted into the city museum. Designed in Cuban Baroque style, the museum houses exhibits that trace Cuba’s history through art, military objects and furniture. The courtyard is a tranquil and verdant place to enjoy the beautiful architecture and intricate façade of the museum. Across from the Palace is the Plaza de Armas, the oldest square in Havana, dating back to 1520. The square is surrounded by large palms and is home to a used books and antiques market, where you can find treasures from Cuba’s rich past. In the center is a marble statue of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, who launched Cuba’s revolution for independence in the late 19^th century. A short walk will bring you to Convento de San Francisco de Asis, originally the home of the Franciscan community in the 16^th century. The church, in the early Baroque style, is now one of Havana’s most revered concert halls. The top of the tower, connected to the basilica, has magnificent views of the city. There is also a museum onsite, Museo de Artes Religioso, which exhibits a selection of renowned paintings, relics and furniture.