Fábrica de Arte Cubano
Fábrica de Arte Cubano, known locally as FAC, occupies a converted cooking oil factory on the edge of Vedado and has become Havana's most celebrated cultural space since opening in 2014. The complex spreads across multiple rooms and levels, housing contemporary art galleries, a cinema, live music stages, DJ rooms, a cocktail bar, and a restaurant under one industrial roof. Founded by musician X Alfonso, the venue operates as a non-profit cultural project and has drawn praise from international press including Time magazine's list of the world's greatest places. Each night mixes local Cuban crowds with tourists, artists, diplomats, and students. Programming rotates constantly: an electronic DJ in one room, a jazz trio in another, a film screening upstairs, a painting exhibition in the hall. The space closes for several weeks each year to refresh its exhibits. Lines form early, and capacity fills fast.
What to Expect
A sprawling, maze-like space where you can wander between a live salsa band, a techno DJ, a photography exhibition, and a rooftop bar in the span of an hour. The crowd skews young, creative, and mixed between Cubans and foreigners. Energy peaks around midnight.
Industrial-chic, cultured, and energetic. Feels closer to a Berlin art space than a traditional Havana club.
Eclectic programming including electronic DJs, jazz, timba, rock fusion, Afro-Cuban experimental, and live bands across multiple rooms
Smart casual. Slightly more polished than typical Havana venues. Closed shoes recommended, no beachwear or tank tops for men.
Culturally curious travelers, art lovers, couples, solo visitors who want to meet a mixed creative crowd
Cash in USD strongly preferred. Euros accepted at a slightly worse rate. Cuban cards work for locals. US-issued Visa and Mastercard do not work anywhere in Cuba due to sanctions; European-issued cards sometimes work but are unreliable.
Price Range
Entry 2 USD, beer 3 USD, cocktail 6-8 USD, bottle of rum 25 USD
Entry ~2 USD, beer ~3 USD, cocktail ~6-8 USD
Hours
Thu-Sun 20:00-03:00, closed Mon-Wed
Insider Tip
Arrive before 21:00 to skip the long outdoor queue, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. You receive a card on entry that staff stamp for each drink and food order, you settle the total when leaving, losing it means paying a fine of around 30 USD. Explore all the rooms before settling in one; the programming differs dramatically floor to floor.
Full Review
FAC occupies a repurposed industrial building on Calle 26, and the architecture sets the tone. Exposed concrete, metal staircases, and raw brick frame the art installations and performance spaces. The layout rewards exploration: a central courtyard connects wings dedicated to visual art, film, music, and food. Walking through feels like moving between several venues in one night, which is part of the appeal.
The programming is what separates FAC from everything else in Havana. On any given night you can catch an experimental jazz set, a contemporary dance performance, a documentary screening, and a house DJ, all included in the single entry fee. The curators rotate exhibitions every few weeks, so regulars return for new material. The crowd reflects this range: Cuban art students, European diplomats, visiting musicians, and tourists mix on the dance floors and in the gallery corridors. Conversations happen in Spanish, English, French, and Italian across the same table.
Among Havana venues, FAC is the only place that functions as a genuine cultural institution rather than a music bar or hotel club. The closest international comparison might be Tacheles in pre-gentrification Berlin or Matadero in Madrid. Locals treat it with pride, and you will see Cubans dressed up for the occasion rather than using it as a tourist pit stop.
Go early to avoid the queue, which can stretch around the block after 22:00 on weekends. The tarjeta card system is efficient but unforgiving; keep it in a zipped pocket. Check the monthly calendar posted at the entrance for concerts worth planning around.
The Neighborhood
FAC sits on the western edge of Vedado near the Puente de Hierro bridge across the Almendares river, a short drive from the main hotel zone around La Rampa and Hotel Nacional. The surrounding blocks are residential and quiet; the crowds materialize only at the venue itself.
Getting There
No metro exists in Havana. Take a classic-car taxi or modern Gran Car from Vedado for around 5 USD, or from Habana Vieja for 10-12 USD. Almendrón shared colectivos run along Linea and 23rd Street during the day but are scarce at night. Returning after closing, taxis wait outside the venue.
Address
Calle 26 entre 11 y 13
Where to stay in Havana
Compare hotels near the nightlife districts. Free cancellation on most properties.
Other Venues in Vedado
Jazz Café
Havana's main jazz venue on the top floor of Galerías de Paseo with nightly performances and a dance floor that gets packed after midnight.
El Gato Tuerto
Late-night cabaret bar open since 1960, known for bolero singers and a bohemian crowd. Things don't get going until after 11 PM.
Submarino Amarillo
Beatles-themed bar with live rock and pop music on weekends. Young Cuban crowd, cheap beer, and walls covered in Fab Four memorabilia.
Café Cantante Mi Habana
Underground nightclub beneath the Teatro Nacional with salsa, reggaeton, and timba nights. Draws a mostly Cuban crowd and gets loud on weekends.
Salón Turquino
Rooftop nightclub at the top of Hotel Habana Libre with panoramic city views. Weekend dance parties run until 3 AM.