12 Best Bars in Central Cuba, Cuba

At the eastern end of El Boulevard sits Santa Clara's most popular live-music venue; shows start nightly at 10 pm.

Local musicians perform nightly at this friendly music club, where you'll hear a few hits that the region's best-known musician made famous. Do not confuse this place with the Disco Club Benny Moré, which, as its name suggests, is essentially a disco.

Pop into Canchánchara, a lively bar in an 18th-century building. There's frequently a live band playing in the shady patio, and there are always plenty of soft drinks, cold beer, and such Cuban cocktails as the mojito and the local specialty canchánchara (rum, lime juice, and honey)

The two blocks east of the Plaza Mayor, Trinidad's Casa de la Trova has live music in the afternoon and after 10 pm.

It's impossible to pin down what one of Cuba's most famous nightspots exactly is. Sometimes gay and always Bohemian, the Mejunje offers a mix of poetry readings, drag shows, interpretive dance, live theater, and karaoke on rainless nights.

The place has no roof, so plan accordingly.

Dance the night away deep inside a cave at what must be Cuba’s most unusual nightspot. Locals call the place La Cueva (“the cave”). Although it is cool (as in "trendy"), it gets very warm and humid here with the throngs of people. About an hour is all most visitors can take.

Despite bearing Benny Moré's name, you're unlikely to hear any of his music here. (For that, you need to visit the Café Cantante Benny Moré.) This spot is a disco, and really little more, but a good place to dance to the hottest Latin tunes.

This historic bar, across from the Parque Agramonte's northeast corner, is a convenient stop for a little liquid refreshment. Dating from 1909, this proletarian watering hole has a wild interior paint job, ceramic work by local artists, stone floors, and a simple wooden bar.

The historic bar overlooking Parque Martí usually has live music in the afternoon and evening, with killer mojitos to boot.

The bar on the roof of the venerable Hotel Unión has live jazz on Tuesday and Thursday and traditional Cuban music Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; shows start at 9:30 pm.

The discotheque at the Club Santa Lucía is the town's most popular dance club.

The rooftop bar at the architecturally amazing Palacio de Valle is a great spot for a sunset drink and often has live music.