Santiago de Cuba
The most discovered 'undiscovered' spot in Santiago still retains its smoke-filled, foot-stomping, front-room feel. Hidden in the genteel Tivolí district,…
Must-see entertainment in Caribbean
-
Port-au-Prince & Around
On Thursday nights, from about 11pm, crowds gather here to dance until the small hours to the Vodou rock and roots music of RAM – the hotel band. A potent…
Havana
Aside from its funky murals and psychedelic art shops, the main reason to come to this alleyway, Havana's high temple of Afro-Cuban culture, is the…
Trinidad
One of Trinidad's (and Cuba's) classic venues, this casa is an alfresco affair that congregates on the sweeping staircase beside the Iglesia Parroquial…
Gran Teatro de la Habana Alicia Alonso
Havana
Havana's fabulously renovated 'great' theater is open again and offering up the best in Cuban dance and music. Its specialty is ballet (it's the…
-
Santo Domingo
Tucked away in the deep southeastern corner of the Zona Colonial, this hidden treasure is the country's first '4D' movie theater. The first three…
-
Matanzas
Restoration of this 1876 building abutting Hotel Velazco was completed in 2014 and every inch, flourish and cornicing of its former glory is well worth a…
-
Holguín
There's at least one National Union of Cuban Writers and Artists per province in Cuba, but if you visit only one, make it here. Situated in the lovingly…
-
Holguín
Holguín's premier theater is an art deco treat from 1939 on Parque Calixto García. It hosts both the Teatro Lírico Rodrigo Prats and the Ballet Nacional…
-
Varadero
A roquero’s (Cuban rock fan's) delight on the edge of Parque Josone, honoring the previously banned Beatles in a bar that evokes the decidedly un-Cuban…
-
Camagüey
If a show's on, go! Second only to Havana in its ballet credentials, the Camagüey Ballet Company, founded in 1971 by Fernando Alonso (ex-husband of number…
-
Casa de la Trova Victorino Rodríguez
Baracoa
Cuba's smallest, zaniest, wildest and most atmospheric casa de la trova (trova house) rocks nightly to the Vodou-like rhythms of changüí-son. One night…
-
Santiago de Cuba
When Santiago gets too hot, noisy and agitated, you need a dose of Iris, one of Cuba's suavest and best jazz clubs, where you can sit in a comfy booth…
-
Holguín
Old guys in Panama hats croon under the rafters, and musicians in guayaberas (Caribbean dress shirts) blast on trumpets, while ancient couples in their…
-
Trinidad
Trinidad's spirited casa retains its earthy essence despite the high package-tourist-to-Cuban ratio. Local musicians to look out for here are Semillas del…
-
Negril
The best spot for live reggae on Seven Mile Beach, Bourbon Beach has hosted such greats as John Holt and Gregory Isaacs; younger talent appears on…
-
Santiago
Santiago’s Águilas baseball team is one of six in the country and the most successful in the league's history. Watching local fans root for the home side…
-
Tobago
Lacking any religious affiliation, Sunday School is the sly title for a street party held in Buccoo every Sunday night. Until around 10pm, partygoers are…
-
Fort-de-France
This superb cultural center runs an interesting program of indie films and documentaries, and hosts theatrical and musical shows in its state-of-the-art…
-
Bermuda
Hamilton's beloved local institution where musicians, poets, rappers and dancers took to the stage suffered enormous fire damage in July 2016. There's a…
Havana
An institution since its 1939 opening, the world-famous Tropicana was among the few bastions of Havana's Las Vegas–style nightlife to survive the…
-
Punta Cana & the Southeast
Estadio Tetelo Vargas on the north side of Hwy 3 in San Pedro de Macorís is home to the baseball team called the Estrellas Orientales (the Eastern Stars)…
-
Santo Domingo
One of the best places to experience Dominican baseball is at the home field of two of the DR’s six professional teams, Licey and Escogido. You can get…
-
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago's shrine to the power of traditional music is still going strong five decades on, continuing to attract big names such as Buena Vista Social Club…
-
Santo Domingo
Every Sunday night, the 16th-century ruins of the Monasterio de San Francisco come to life for a raging dance party. Beloved band Grupo Bonyé plays a mix…
-
Bonaire
Maybe you don't normally go to the movies when you're on vacation. But consider making an exception for this island venue, where the seating is plastic…
-
Casa de la Trova Patricio Ballagas
Camagüey
An ornate entrance hall gives way to an atmospheric patio where old crooners sing and young couples chachachá. One of Cuba's best trova (traditional…
-
Bayamo
Six blocks northeast of the bus station, opposite Plaza de la Patria, lies one of the Oriente's most impressive theaters. Constructed in 1982, the theater…
-
Basílica Menor de San Francisco de Asís
Habana Vieja
Plaza de San Francisco de Asís' glorious church, which dates from 1738, has been reincarnated as a 21st-century museum and concert hall. The old nave…
-
Port of Spain
The Renegades panyard is a little out of the way on the fringe of downtown Port of Spain, so getting there and away can sometimes feel a bit edgy. But…
-
Negril
With a rotating roster of musicians anchored by a rock-solid ‘riddim’ section, the house Hurricane Band shows tourists a thing or two about roots music…
-
Conjunto Folklórico de Oriente
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago’s oldest folklórico group was formed in 1959; they are currently bivouacked at the Teatro Heredia. They perform a huge range of Afro-Cuban dance…
-
Cienfuegos
Best theater in Cuba? The Tomás Terry is certainly a contender. The building is worth a visit in its own right, but you'll really get to appreciate this…
-
Bayamo
One of Cuba's best trova houses, in a lovely colonial building on Maceo. Pictures on the wall display the famous '70s afro of Bayamo-born trova king Pablo…
-
Port of Spain
Led by Len 'Boogsie' Sharp, Phase II inspires loyal devotion from its many fans; the spruced-up panyard hosts practice sessions on Tuesday and Thursday…
-
Aruba
Easily the best casino in Aruba, with more than 260 slots, a bunch of table games (blackjack, craps, roulette, three-card poker) and some sports-betting…
-
Santo Domingo
Housed in a renovated colonial building, this fantastic arts complex features a gallery with rotating exhibits by Dominican artists, an open-air bar, and…
-
Tumba Francesa La Caridad de Oriente
Santiago de Cuba
For pure tumba francesa dancing check out the Tumba Francesa la Caridad de Oriente, one of only three of these French-Haitian groups left in Cuba. They…
-
Holguín Province
A fine cultural center in the main square that hosts live traditional music on a Saturday night and provides taped stuff at other times. The courtyard is…
-
Kingston
The place for cricket in Jamaica. The 30,000-seat arena hosted its first test match in 1929. Come here for international matches, and to watch the Jamaica…
