17 Havana Bars To Drink In Before The Tourists Arrive

Drink up before the crowds descend.

1. Hotel Nacional

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This legendary 1930 art deco hotel has seen Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, and more walk through its doors, so why not you too? Go for the views, go for the atmosphere, and, most important, go for a mojito from the poolside bar. (I'm not sure if non-guests are allowed at the pool bar but my rule is walk with confidence and you can get in anywhere – it's not failed me yet.)

2. Cafe la Flauta Mágica

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A converted penthouse suite, this bar lies 10 floors up and overlooks the iconic Malecón road. Order a round of daiquiris and drink them by the pool with the Havana skyline as backdrop. You should also indulge in the bar's extensive rum collection – it stocks the full Havana Club range. The Selección de Maestros makes for excellent sipping as you watch the sunset and wait for the night's jazz musicians to arrive.

3. Madrigal

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This El Vedavo bar sits in a building that dates back to 1919 and both inside and out feels like something from Paris's Latin Quarter. Owner Rafael Rosales has over 20 years' experience in Cuban cinema and this is reflected in the dramatic artwork lining the walls. The bar is dimly lit and intense, while outside the art nouveau terrace is a lesson in romance – it's perfect for watching the vintage cars whizz past.

4. Doña Eutimia

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Come here for ice-cold frozen mojitos and some of the best ropa vieja (shredded beef) in Havana. Doña Eutimia was one of the first paladars (private restaurants) to the area, and is now surrounded by copycats – don't let any of the hustlers hanging nearby lure you in. It's tiny, so be prepared to wait if it's full. It's worth it.

5. Floridita

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Here, in one of Ernest Hemingway's favourite haunts – there's a statue of the author sat at the bar – you can forget overworked mixology. Instead you'll find infinite amounts of the best frozen daiquiris you'll ever have being made at the speed of light. Try to work your way through the crowds to grab a seat at the bar for a front-row view of the spectacular pours (up to three bottles of rum, upside down, from up high).

6. Waoo

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At Waoo, one of Havana's newer restaurants, the drinks are as impressive as the food. You can grab a seat at the bar if you want, but the pomelo rum old-fashioneds taste even better paired with plates piled high with shredded beef, marinated pork, and yuca.

7. El Cocinero

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Located in a 100-year-old vegetable oil factory, El Cocinero is spread across multiple floors that are reached by spiral, lighthouse-style stairs going up the now smoke-free chimney. The first floor hosts a chilled-out restaurant that spills out on to a leafy terrace, the second floor has an outdoor patio, and up a further flight you'll find a buzzing rooftop bar with tapas for snacking on while you drink.

8. Fábrica de Arte Cubano

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Housed in the same factory building as El Cocinero is the Art Factory, a sponsored project that aims to put creative control back into the hands of Cuban artists. Here you'll find multiple rooms or "naves" filled with film screenings, live music, and art exhibitions, as well as a young, trendy crowd. All free for you to wander through with a drink in hand until the small hours of the morning.

9. La Guarida

Tony Hisgett / Via Flickr: hisgett

Opened in the '90s by Enrique and Odeisys Nuñez, this paladar is one of the island's most famous, thanks to its appearance in the Cuban film Fresa y Chocolate. Housed in a huge, derelict mansion, the restaurant lies hidden through a warren of corridors and stairs, its cosy intimacy heightened by the faded grandeur outside. Up top you'll also find a modern rooftop bar with panoramic views of Havana.

10. Espacios

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An un-signposted house in Miramar that contains a gloriously chilled-out tapas bar and mini art gallery hanging on the walls. You can watch from a little corner indoors or head out to the patio to mingle with the beautiful, artsy crowd.

11. Bodeguita Del Medio

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Like Floridita, Bodeguita Del Medio is one of Havana's most notorious spots because Mr Hemingway drank copious amounts of rum here. Ignore the downstairs bar – it's rammed with tourists on package holidays willing to pay over the odds for a "Hemingway-approved" cocktail. The real craic is round the back and upstairs, where you'll find a bar and restaurant manned by people who know how to make a knockout mojito. FYI, the food here is superb too – Bodeguita was always a stellar restaurant first and a bar second.

12. Cafe O'Reilly

Francis Mariani / Via Flickr: designwallah

An intimate two-floor restaurant with a rustic feel. Go for food, or try to find a spot on the balcony to do some people-watching – one of my favourite Havana activities.

13. Sloppy Joe's

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Sloppy Joe's may not be the best drink you'll have in Havana, but it's one of the most historic. This is where the eponymous sandwich was first invented. The building was renovated to its former glory and reopened in 2013 after 50 years of being closed. Go for a drink, if just to say you drank in the same space as John Wayne, Spencer Tracy, and Clark Gable.

14. Casa Miglis

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In Cuba, cultural traditions are hugely important – meaning you don't find many twists on the classics (they literally have rum maestros making sure the spirit is being made to exact Cuban specifications). Because when something's this good, why change it? But if you do want to mix things up, you'll find incredible Swedish-Cuban fusion food at Casa Miglis. Perch at the bar or sit down for some toast skagen and Swedish meatballs. Just make sure you stay for a large dose of Cuban music when the restaurant turns into a wild house party at the end of the evening.

15. Bar Monserrate

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Slow fans, dark wood panelling, a live Cuban band, and more than a few locals – Monserrate is the classic Cuban bar that you'll see painted in films and literature. Order a drink and while away a few hours in conversation with your nearest neighbour – there are far worse ways to spend an afternoon.

16. Sia Kara

Instagram: @misshavana

Get here for a daiquiri or two before Havana's rapidly burgeoning tourist scene discovers it. It's hidden just behind the iconic Capitolo building and the views outside are striking, while the hole-in-the-wall feel of the entrance is like something off a movie set.

17. El Polvorin

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A little hidden spot by El Morro castle, with sweeping views over the harbour from the terrace. Step outside of the downtown crush for an atmospheric evening that's lively without being a squeeze.