Culture in Havana

“There is a colonial, an eclectic and a deco Havana and also a modern Havana. According to Eusebio Leal, Havana is ``a state of mind.''

“When you arrive in Havana, you feel that something seduces you, attracts you, traps you, it leaves no one indifferent. Sometimes the city is covered by a veil of decay. But when you break the veil, the splendor of its urban planning and architecture appears and allows you, along a single avenue, to go from the castles of the 16th century to the modernity of Richard Neutra´´. Each person lives it, dreams of it or feels it in their own way: for most artists, Havana was or is, in many ways, an inspiration. (Eduardo Roca Salazar) engraver and painter.

Cultural institutions

  • Museums

    http://habanacultural.ohc.cu/?page_id=103
    *Museum of the City
    Foundation: October 18, 1968
    Collections: History, weapons, documents, plastic arts and decorative arts.
    Hours: Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am. at 6:30 p.m.
    Address: Calle Tacón No.1 e / O'Reilly and Obispo, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (+53) 7863-9862 / 7861-2876
    *National museum of fine arts
    Foundation: April 28, 1913
    Collections: Painting, engraving, sculpture, funerary art and decorative arts. Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 am. at 6:00 p.m.
    Saturday from 10:00 am. at 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 9:00 am. at 1:00 p.m.
    Address: Trocadero Street Between Zulueta and Monserrate, Habana Vieja
    Phone: Cuban Art Building (+53) 7862-0140 / Universal Art Building (+53) 7861-2041
    *House of Africa
    Foundation: 1986
    Collections: Ethnology
    Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
    Address: Obrapia st No. 157 between San Ignacio and Mercaderes, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (+53) 7861-5798
    *House of Asia
    Foundation: 1997
    Collections: Art
    Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Sunday from 9:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
    Address: Mercaderesst No. 111 between ObraPía and Obispo St, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (+53) 7863-9740/ 78011740
    *Casa de la Obrapia
    Foundation: November 16, 1983
    Collections: Decorative Arts
    Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    Address: Obrapia St No. 158 between Mercaderes and San Ignacio, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (+53) 7861-3097
    *House of the Meritorious of the Américas Benito Juárez
    Collections: Art
    Address: Obrapia No. 116 between Mercaderes y Oficio st, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (+53) 7861-8166 / 78011166
    *House of the Arabs and classroom of Islamic Culture
    Foundation: November 16, 1983
    Collections: Art
    Hours: Tuesday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    Address: Oficios No.16 between Obispo y Obrapía st, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (+53) 7861-5868 / 78011868
    *Oswaldo Guayasamín House
    Foundation: January 18, 1992
    Collections: Art
    Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:15 to 5:45 pm; Sundays, from 10:15 to 17:45.
    Address: Obrapia st No. 111 between Oficios y Mercaderes, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (+53) 7861-3843 / 78012843
    *Simon Bolivar House Museum
    Foundation: July 24, 1993
    Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    Sundays, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
    Address: Mercaderes No. 156 between Obra Pía y Lamparilla, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (+53) 7861-3988
    *José Martí Birthplace Museum
    Declaration: National Monument
    Foundation: January 28, 1925
    Collections: History and documents
    Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 9:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
    Sunday from 9:15 am. at 12:45 pm.
    Address: Leonor Pérez No. 314 between Picota and Egido st, Habana Vieja
    Phone:(+53) 7861-3778/ (+53) 7861-5095
    *Museum Armory April 9
    Declaration: National Monument
    Foundation: April 9, 1971
    Collections: Weapons
    Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    Monday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
    Address: Mercaderes No. 157 between ObraPía y Lamparilla st, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (+53) 7861-8080
    *Museum of Colonial Art
    Foundation: July 30, 1969
    Collections: Decorative arts, applied arts, plastic arts and lingerie.
    Hours: Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am. at 6:30 p.m.
    Address: San Ignacio st no. 61 between Empedrado and O'Reilly. Cathedral Square, Habana Vieja
    Phone:(+53) 7862-6440 / 78017440
    *Museum of Navigation (Castillo de la Real Fuerza)
    Foundation: May 5, 1990
    Collections: Cuban artistic ceramics
    Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 9:00 am. at 5:30 p.m.
    Address: O'Reilly No. 2 betweenAve del Puerto y Tacón, Plaza de Armas.
    Phone: (+53) 7861-6130/ 78017490
    *Museum of the Revolution
    Foundation: December 12, 1959
    Collections: History, weapons, documents and numismatics
    Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 am. at 5:00 p.m.
    Address: Calle Refugio No. 1e between Zulueta y Monserrate
    Phone: (+53) 7862-2463 /78015493
    *Chocolate House
    Foundation: November 2003
    Collections: Decorative Arts
    Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 - 20:00
    Address: Amargura st. and mercaderes st.
    Phone:(+53) 7866-4431 /78011431
    *Ron Museum
    Foundation: March 30, 2000
    Collections: History; plastic arts; documents and industrial heritage
    Hours: Monday to Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. at 6:00 p.m.
    Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 am. at 5:00 p.m.
    Address: San Pedro No. 262 between Sol y Santa Clara
    Phone: (+53) 7861-8051
    *National Museum of Natural History
    Foundation: May 16, 1964
    Collections: Natural Sciences
    Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10.30 am. at 5:30 p.m.
    Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am. at 5:00 p.m.
    Address: Obispo Street No. 61 Plaza de Armas
    Phone: (+53) 7863-9361
    *Numismatic Museum
    Foundation: December 11, 1975>
    Collections: Numismatics; documents and history>
    Hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:15 am. at 5:45 p.m.>
    Sunday from 9:15 am. at 12:45 p.m.>
    Address: Obispo Street No. 305 between Aguiar and Havana.>
    Phone: (+53) 7861-5811>
    *Museum of Sacred Art. Convent of San Francisco de Asís
    Calle Oficios between Amargura and Churruca, Old Havana.
    Tel: (+53) 7862 9683
    *National Museum of Decorative Arts
    Address: 17st No. 502 corner to. D st. Vedado, Plaza of the Revolution.
    Phone: (+53) 7832 0924
    *Museum of Natural Sciences Carlos J. Finlay
    Address: Cuba Street No. 460 between Teniente Rey y Amargura, Old Havana.
    Phone: (+53) 7863 4823 / 78634824
    *Napoleonic Museum
    Address: San Miguelst No. 1159corner to Ronda, Plaza de la Revolución.
    Phone: (+53) 7879 1412
    *Cuban Postal Museum
    Address: Ave. Rancho Boyeros Between 19 Mayoand 20Mayo st, Plaza de la Revolución.
    Phone: (+53) 7881 5551
    *Museum of Dance
    Address: Linea Street No. 251 corner to GSt, Vedado Plaza de la Revolución.
    Phone: (+53) 7831 2198
    *Ernest Hemingway Museum
    Address: Vigia Steinhart Street, Finca Vigía, San Francisco de Paula San Miguel del Padrón.
    Phone: (+53) 7831 2198 / 76910809
    *Alejandro de Humboldt House Museum
    Address:Oficios No. 254, esq. a Muralla, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (53) 78639850
    *Museum of the Pharmacy of Havana
    Address: Teniente Rey No.261 e/ Compostela y Habana, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (53) 78667556
    *The Planetarium
    Address: Mercaderes No.311 e/ Brasil y Muralla, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (53) 78018544
    *Religious Art Museum
    Address: Oficios No.201 e/ Churruca y Amargura, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (53) 78012467
    *National Museum of Cuba's Contemporary Ceramics
    Address: Mercaderes e/ Amargura, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (53) 78011130
    *Taquechel Pharmacy Museum
    Address: Obispo No.155 e/ Mercaderes y S.Ignacio, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (53) 78017286
    *Model of the Historic Center
    Address: Mercaderes No.114 e/ Obispo y Obrapía, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (53) 78664425
    *Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba and Museum of the Orishas
    Address: Paseo de Martí No.615 e/ M.Gómez y Dragones, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (53) 78635953
    *Fragua Martiana
    Address: Príncipe No.108 e/Hospital y Espada, Centro Habana
    Phone: (53) 78707338
    *Dark chamber
    Address: Brasil y Mercaderes, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (53) 78664461
    *José Martí Memorial
    Address: Ave. Paseo, Plaza de la Revolución
    Phone: (53) 78592347
    *Compay Segundo House Museum
    Address: 26 # 103 %1st and 3rd. Miramar, Playa
    Phone: (53) 72051605
    *Model of the City of Havana
    Address: 28 St and 3rd # 113. Playa
    Phone: (53) 72027303
    *Memorial of the denouncement
    Address: 5th Ave and 14 St. Playa
    Phone: (53) 72034432
    *Railway museum
    Address: Cristina and Arroyo, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (53) 78734414
    *Morro Cabaña Historical Military Complex
    Address: Ave. Monumental, Habana del Este
    Phone: (53) 78637941
    *Museum-Palace Segundo Cabo
    Address: O´Reilly No 4 corner to Tacón, Plaza de Armas, Habana Vieja
    Phone: (53) 78017176
    *Castle-Museum Santo Domingo de Atarés
    Address: Fábricac st and Ferrer, Habana Vieja
    *Museum of Literacy
    Address: Ave.29 between 102 and Ave.31, Marianao
    Tel: (53) 72608054
    *Castle San Salvador de la Punta
    Address: Ave.del Puerto No.1, Habana Vieja
    Tel: (53) 78603195
    *Camilo Cienfuegos Birthplace
    Address: Pocito st No.228 between San Anastacio and Lawton, 10 de Octubre
    (53) 76983509
    *Abel Santamaria House Museum
    Address: 25th St. No. 164 apto. 603 and 604, between O and P, Plaza de la Revolucion
    (53) 78350891

  • Cultural centers and Houses of Music

    http://habanacultural.ohc.cu/?page_id=103
    *House of Music of Miramar, Avenue 35 corner to 20, Miramar, Playa.
    Phone (s): (+53) 204 0447, (+53) 202 6147
    Since it was opened in the mid-nineties this concert hall has only consolidated as the temple of salsa and Cuban son in the capital. The best bands have passed through its stage and the programming remains irreproachable.
    Hours: 5pm (afternoon functions) / 10pm (evening functions)
    *House of Music Havana,Galiano street between Concordia and Neptuno. Centro Habana
    Phone (s): (+53) 862 4165, (+53) 860 8296
    Like its predecessors, the House of Music of Galiano has a store for the sale of records and musical instruments. It is also a necessary destination for those who come in search of good musical offers, because right there the best exponents of popular music will be waiting for You. When it was inaugurated, during the Cubadisco International Fair in May 2002, there was an expectation to know EGREM's second home in Havana. The result was a complete success. The rehabilitation that was done in what was the Jigüe Cinema, and before, Teatro Cuba and Molino Rojo, in the same building of the Teatro América, jewel of the Cuban Art Decó, was exemplary. It has a spectacular lounge with three bars on the ground floor and the first, a smaller one with a bar. The sound is very good as well as its programming, which favors a great atmosphere every day. The price of the entrance depends on the quality of the artistic proposal, generally very good.
    Hours: Afternoons 5:00 p.m - Night 10:00 p.m.

    *Cultural Center The Yellow Submarine., 17 corner to 6st.Vedado.
    In front of the park where the sculptural work of the artist Villa Soberón representing the musician John Lennon is located is the Yellow Submarine, cultural center of the company Artex.
    It opens its doors from Tuesday to Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m, with free admission. During this time, visitors can enjoy songs and audiovisuals from The Beatles as well as groups that stood out in the 60s and 70s, in the pop-rock genre. From 9:00 p.m and until 2:00 a.m, the entrance will be in national currency and the attending public, can interact with a different live musical group, every night.
    This place rescues the artistic concept of pop art bringing it in a coherent way to the new styles. The bar takes details of the submarine such as hatches, keels, tubular shapes and proportions. The color as a leading element, retakes the saturated and bright chromatic harmonies of Pop, on a dark blue that provides the intimacy characteristic of these places that together with the lyrics of the songs, embodied in the walls, forming an active part of the local graphic , expressed in dynamic style, create an empathy in the visitors of the place, with the work of the Beatles and brings them closer to the original texts of their most famous songs.
    *Cultural center El Diablo Tun Tun, 20st No. 3308, corner to 35, Miramar Municipio Playa
    Phone (s): (+53) 202 6147, (+53) 204 4047
    This piano-bar is part of the complex of the well-known Casa de la Música de Miramar; It is located on the top floor of the building, which is accessed by a steep side staircase. It is an excellent place to drink, listen to groups or soloists live and also to dance. DJs are also present at the venue with their attractive musical and visual offers, which are highly appreciated by the national and international public, who share animations during these sessions. Daily it offers two options: the matinee, in the afternoon schedule, and the nocturnal function, which arrives until 3:00 a.m.
    Frequently there are first class musical groups there, which ensures a good audience, due to the fact that several capital radio stations daily update on the program that this piano bar will have. It is an excellent option for those seeking an atmosphere of party, dance ... to the rhythm of the best exponents of Cuban music. It is not exactly a place of cult to the cocktails, although there the visitor will be able to taste classic cocktails: it bases more its offer in the beers -national and imported- and in the light, white rums, although you will also find vintage, all at very attractive prices.
    Hours: Afternoons 5:00 p.m - Night 11:00 p.m.
    *Café cantante Mi Habana, Paseo and 39st, Vedado. Plaza de La Revolución
    Phone (s):(+53) 878 4275
    The Café CantanteMi Habana is located below the National Theater of Cuba (side entrance), offers good salsa live and dance. It is a very popular place, despite being in a basement with low ceilings. In the evenings It opens from 4 to 7 offering a dance hall with an informal atmosphere.
    Café Cantante Mi Habana becomes an ideal place to enjoy authentic Cuban music.
    *Dos Gardenias,7th Ave. corner to 26st, Miramar.Playa
    Where the nights in Havana find in this place a special magic, in a familiar atmosphere and with personalized treatment. It is the rendezvous center of famous interpreters of this recognized musical manifestation that is our country. The Bolero Room is a tribute to one of the great exponents of Cuban music, Isolina Carrillo, creator of the Bolero that gives its name to the place: Dos Gardenias.
    *Salón Rojo, Street 21 corner to. N, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución.
    Phone: (53 7) 7833 0666
    Party room with presentation of famous groups and audiovisual projects. Matinée on Fridays and Sundays from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm with the PMM Audiovisual Project.
    Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am.