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Casa de la Música Egrem, Calle 20 3388 esquina 35, T 2040447. Matinées, Tue-Sun 1600-2000, Sun 1600-2000. US$5 (40 pesos for locals). CD shop 2200-2430. One of the top venues to listen to the cream of Havana musical talent. High admission costs for the evening sessions unfortunately rule out the locals and an authentic vibe. Wednesday nights are very popular and often headlines a long and steamy set of danceable salsa tunes delivered by the ebullient and medallion-clad Adalbeto Alvarez y Su Son. NG La Banda with their streetwise earthy lyrics, often play on Friday, drawing an older, tour group crowd. Music kicks off at 2330. Friday admission is US$10-US$15 depending on who plays. Mojitos US$4. Bargain afternoon matinées are a generally more Cuban affair with locals packed like sardines onto the small dance floor. Macumba, Calle 222 esquina 37, La Coronela, in La Giraldilla tourist complex in the western suburbs, T 330568. 2100-0500. US$10 Sun-Thu, US$15 Fri-Sat, or inclusive dinner and show with bottle of rum and 4 cokes is US$35. Rated as a top Havana nightspot, this open-air disco has two large dance floors for salsa, merengue and R&B and features a small floor show. It is very popular with Cubans and foreigners, so expect queues. Tuesday features Latin jazz and salsa with performances from local favourites Dan Den and NG La Banda. Thursday is carnival night. Salón Boleros en Dos Gardenias, Av 7 esquina 26, T 2042353. 2230-0300. US$10. If golden age, soulful bolero is to your liking then this is a top night. The all-star line up includes renowned bolero heavyweights Alfredo Martínez and Lino Borges. With a mellow, intimate, old time setting it is popular with tourists and Miramar movers and shakers. There are two live performances each night. Definitely the place to dress the part. For pre-show dining, there are decent and reasonably priced restaurants. Salón Rosado de Beny Moré, El Tropical, Av 41 y 46, T 290985. Tue-Sun. US$5 min depending on the line up. Seriously raunchy, this massively popular dance venue features some of the best salsa in town, courtesy of a top quality line-up, including the likes of Los Van Van. Unfortunately a local (peso)/tourist (dollar) segregation policy is applied. Pandemonium ensues when big name bands take a break from international touring and play here to impassioned habaneros, usually priced out of such spectacles by top dollar prices. It's advisable to cab it door to door, and not hang around too long at pile-out time. This is a sketchy location, and recent scuffles have led to an increased police presence. There are cabaret shows during the week and afternoon matinées on Sundays.
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