Hotel Riviera Copa Room
Meyer Lansky built the Hotel Riviera in 1957 as the largest casino-hotel outside Las Vegas, and the Copa Room was its showpiece. Ginger Rogers performed on opening night. Today the Copa Room carries that glamour into the present with live salsa shows, traditional Cuban music concerts, and a disco that runs into the early hours. The room itself, with its curved 1950s lines, is worth the entry before a single note is played.
What to Expect
A large cabaret-style room with curved seating, a proper stage, professional lighting, and live performances by Cuban orchestras and dance ensembles. Dinner packages are available.
Theatrical, historical, and surprisingly vibrant. The room itself tells half the story.
Cuban salsa, traditional orchestral music, son, cabaret-style dance performances.
Smart to formal. This is not a jeans-and-sneakers venue.
A taste of old Havana glamour with genuinely good live music attached.
Cash and hotel cards (MLC preferred).
Price Range
1000-3000 CUP entry
Hours
Shows typically begin at 9 PM or 10 PM. Disco runs until 3 AM or later. Check current schedule at the hotel.
Insider Tip
The shows are tighter and more polished on weekends. The hotel bar in the lobby is excellent for pre-show mojitos. Dress well since this is one of Havana's more storied venues.
Full Review
The Copa Room sits inside the Hotel Riviera, the casino-hotel that Meyer Lansky built in 1957 as his Caribbean showpiece. Ginger Rogers performed on opening night. The room itself carries that mid-century glamour in its curved lines, stage proportions, and the unmistakable feeling of a space designed for spectacle. Today it hosts live salsa shows, traditional Cuban music concerts, and a disco that runs into the early hours.
The shows are professional: Cuban orchestras, dance ensembles, and cabaret-style performances that use the room's theatrical proportions well. Weekend productions tend to be tighter and more polished. The hotel bar in the lobby serves as the pre-show gathering point, pouring mojitos while guests settle into the evening's pace. The disco that follows the show shifts the energy from seated observation to active dancing.
The Copa Room is one of Havana's most historically significant entertainment venues. Fabrica de Arte Cubano is more contemporary, Salon Turquino has the rooftop, but the Copa Room has the Lansky legacy and the mid-century architecture. For anyone interested in Havana's pre-revolution entertainment history, this room is essential.
Dress well; this is one of Havana's more formal venues. The lobby bar mojitos before the show are part of the ritual. Weekend shows deliver the best production quality. Check the current schedule at the hotel reception, since programming changes regularly.
The Neighborhood
The Hotel Riviera sits on the Malecon in Vedado, a monument to Havana's 1950s casino era. The Copa Room connects today's visitors directly to the city's pre-revolution entertainment history, in a building that Lansky designed to rival Las Vegas.
Getting There
On the Malecon in Vedado. A 15-minute walk from Hotel Nacional or a short taxi ride from central Vedado. Old American taxis are the most atmospheric transport option.
Where to stay in Havana
Compare hotels near the nightlife districts. Free cancellation on most properties.
Other Venues in Malecon
Bar 1830
Open-air waterfront venue at the western end of the Malecón with a garden dance floor and regular salsa nights. One of Havana's most atmospheric spots after dark.
El Litoral
Cocktail bar and restaurant sitting directly on the Malecón seawall. Popular for sunset drinks with an ocean backdrop and reasonable prices.
Hotel Deauville Rooftop
Basic rooftop bar atop the Hotel Deauville on the Malecón with panoramic views of the strait and the seawall below. Drinks at local CUP prices.