El Vedado is the cosmopolitan neighborhood par excellence, which contrasts sharply with the colonial, and very old, atmosphere of Old Havana.
Its urban layout, very close to the sea, receives all its special light and atmosphere. In the streets of Vedado you can still find sumptuous villas from the beginning of the 20th century, in ruins, transformed into multi-family plots, or in perfect condition and sometimes even in the hands of their original owners, magnificent houses mixed with the rationalist architecture of the 50s and the so austere revolutionary period.
Calle 23, one of the main arteries of Vedado, ends in an area called La Rampa, which in turn ends exactly at the sea, a typical place of teeming meetings, from where you can enjoy a splendid view of a large part of the Malecón up to the Castillo del Morro at the entrance to the bay.
In addition to 23rd Street, it is worth highlighting Paseo Avenue, at the end of which is Plaza de la Revolución, the political center of the country; Avenida de los Presidentes, with its numerous monuments; the very first Calle Línea, an express connection to the surrounding neighborhoods, and of course the Malecón.
The diversity of cultural centers, restaurants and hotels gives this neighborhood of Havana a certain magic that captivates both its residents and visitors.
The restaurants and bars of Vedado offer a varied gastronomy, from the most exclusive and gourmet service, sometimes inaccessible to most Cubans, to the simplest and most attractive cafes like the Amore ice cream parlor, or the most popular establishments imaginable, like the perrera de 23 for a boiled hotdog.
You can also spend your entire salary on an international menu to impress your new neighbor, than continue on the seafront with a pizza in hand, to share, and thus fall in love with the coming and going of the waves, with a rum and a piece of peanut nougat.
One of the historical attractions of Vedado is the custom of waiting in the endless line at the Coppelia ice cream parlor, right in front of the Yara cinema, the old Warner hall and next to the Habana Libre hotel, the old Hilton, whose façade shows us an impressive masterpiece by the prestigious Cuban painter Amelia Peláez.
Also notable are the presentations of the many theaters, including the Hubert de Blanck Theater, the Mella Theater, the Bertold Brecht, La Casona, El Trianon, and the National Theater, the largest complex of its kind in Cuba.
The Vedado neighborhood also has prestigious museums such as the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Museum of Dance, the Napoleonic Museum, the only collection of the famous conqueror that exists outside of France, as well as important galleries and cultural centers such as La Casa de las Américas, Casa de la UNEAC (National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba) and the Casa de la cultura de Plaza, all traditional venues for countless annual cultural events.
The Cristóbal Colon Cemetery is also a sample of incalculable aesthetic and cultural value in Cuba, where along its streets and avenues, like the Vedado itself, you can see a number of true works of art, sculptures and mausoleums, all great monuments that recall the riches of yesteryear and are part of the historical cultural heritage of the city.
For the evenings, there are multiple latest generation options, a consequence of the resurgence and rise of independent economic activity, such as EFE bar, Pazillo, Sarao club, Hoy como Ayer and Up&Down, as well as the already classic nightlife establishments such as Jazz Café, La Zorra y el Cuervo, El Gato Tuerto, El Cocodrilo, El Café Cantante, El Habana Café, the Turquino nightclub at the Habana Libre hotel, El Pico Blanco, El Salón Rojo del Capri and the pleasant stay on the terrace of the Hotel Nacional, where you can also enjoy spectacular views of the Malecón.
This emblematic promenade, which begins at the entrance channel of the bay and ends precisely where the Almendares River separates the Vedado neighborhood from its neighbor Miramar; it is in fact the most popular place for Havana residents to take their walks. The Malecón is visited daily by troubadours, vendors of everything, fishermen, children playing at chasing waves, or friends who meet just to admire the sunset near the sea, true moments of intimacy and complicity, lived on the wall with a smile, as if, perched on the great balcony of the eyes of the city, we were looking at the horizon hoping to see the world.
We miss this magical city terribly, we can't wait for the good weather to return.
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