Casa de la Musica Galiano
Casa de la Música Galiano, a must for salsa dancers in the heart of Havana
Opened during the 2002 Cubadisco Festival, there was great anticipation to see the second Casa de la Música (House of Music would be a literal translation) in Havana. Casa de la Música de Centro Habana or Galiano (after the street it is sited on) is really the place to go if you want to see the very best Cuban salsa bands for your holidays in Havana.
The Casa de la Música de Galiano is located on calle Galiano e/ Concordia y Neptuno. Centro Habana. Former Jigue cinema, it is housed in the same Art Deco building as Teatro América. On the ground floor it includes a huge and spectacular ballroom, with three bars where you can perch if you get tired from dancing and still see the band. On the first floor there is another smaller room with a bar. Its location in the center of Havana and its convenient hours make it a must for dancers and lovers of Cuban music.
This is the real place to go if you want to see the very best Cuban salsa bands. The Galiano venue quickly gained a reputation as the best venue for salsa after its opening in 2002. There is more space here than in the slightly posher Casa de la Música de Miramar.
Just a couple of blocks away are the Deauville Hotel and Malecón, the seawall and promenade bordering Havana’s shoreline. There are also plenty of cafés nearby. Like its elder sister Casa de la Música de Miramar, Casa de la Música de Galiano has a very well stocked music shop, with CDs, DVDs and even instruments, from bongos to guitars.
The Casa de la Musica Habana is big enough to accommodate 600 people. While all kinds of genres of Cuban music can be enjoyed here, the main act is perhaps Cuba’s most popular salsa bands, Los Van Van. The House is open from Tuesday to Sunday, with matinees from 4pm to 7pm and the regular night hours from 10pm to 3am. Admission prices range from 10CUC to 25CUC, depending on the band performing that night. Matinees are cheaper (5CUC), but if you really want to make the best of your Havana holidays and dance with the big name bands like Van Van or Charanga Habanera, you must go in the evening.
