![]() ![]() Wherever you go, though, there’s something worth looking at: whether a beautifully preserved church or a bucket-and-pulley system for exchanging items between upper and lower floors. Some blocks look straight out of a photoshoot, others like a half-completed construction site. The contrast between spaces dominated by Cubans, and those reserved for visitors, is particularly noticeable here, where everything is so close together. As both the oldest and the most walkable part of the city, it’s also a popular place to stay for many visitors. (Never forget that pirates are real.) Though the walls were knocked down in 1863 to make way for the city’s expansion, the difference between more modern neighborhoods like Vedado-full of broad, shaded avenues and stately mansions on roomy plots-and Old Havana is striking. The ancient heart of the Caribbean’s largest city, Old Havana’s (or Habana Vieja’s) original street plan was squeezed on one side by its harbor and on the other by heavily fortified walls. If you’re lucky, you’ll glimpse a 2000-passenger cruise ship gliding through Havana’s narrow bay entrance.Old Havana’s streets are narrower than a broad alleyway and almost as old as Columbus. Or you could take the old Otis elevator up to the rooftop terrace of 'Hemingway-was-here' Hotel Ambos Mundos to sip on a daiquiri. Shabby chic bars like La Guarida’s stylish hub, or the high-end Hotel Gran Manzana by Kempinski offer up some of the most stunning views of the city skyline.įor a more pocket-friendly option, head over to Bar Encuentros, a chic speakeasy on top of a Vedado mansion. On a warm Havana night, cocktail in hand and a rooftop view of the city is all you need. Miramar and El Vedado stay up long after the Old Havana quarter shuts down, so if you’re a true night owl, opt to move to the western part of the city by the witching hour. In recent years, local bars and restaurants feature trios, quartets and septets that blend perfectly with an easy-going ambiente (cool ambience). From the grand atmosphere at Teatro Karl Marx to a lazy seaside stroll on the Malecón, the music will always find you. ![]() It won’t be hard to find the heartbeat of the Cuban people. ![]() The Havana nightlife scene is filled with salsa dancing, cocktails and delicious tapas © Diana Rita Cabrera / Lonely Planet Hitting the right note ![]()
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