Luis Buñuel, the Spanish film director who won an Oscar for his surrealist film “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie,” used to say that a bar is a place “of solitude, for reflection. Above all else, it must be quiet, dark, very comfortable – and, contrary to modern mores – no music of any kind, no matter how faint.” This bar located in the iconic FOCSA building, the tallest building in Cuba in the heart of Vedado, has the atmosphere Buñuel described, with the exception of the music. An old lady sits elegantly at an older grand piano and plays a few boleros every now and then. Otherwise, it’s all there: the dark, empty, large bar, the dim lighting and the elegant barman who is as dry as his martinis. They create a classic atmosphere. The wide selection of rums and cocktails available is priced very fairly. This is an unusual bar in Cuba. It is relatively quiet and the sunlight hardly comes in. Definitely a cool place worth a visit. If you want something different, just a door away is the elevator to La Torre, where you can enjoy a drink with spectacular views of Havana on the 35th floor of the FOCSA building.
Address: Edificio FOCSA, Calle 17 , Vedado, Havana, Cuba
Tel: (+53)7832 – 4998
Opening hours: 7 PM till midnight
Price: Affordable