Planning a trip
Hearing music in Cuba
FAC is built differently from a concert hall. The old factory became five rooms, and as many as eight events run at the same time between 8pm and 3am. Nave 4 is the jazz room and the place to listen closely; the rooftop is where you step out to breathe. Expect a fashion runway next to a film screening next to a classical chamber quartet. It suits curious night owls rather than anyone after a single quiet recital.
Timing matters more than season. FAC opens Thursday to Sunday only, from 20:00 to 03:00, and is closed Monday to Wednesday. Doors open at 8pm, queues form by 7pm, and doors close when the queue gets too long, usually around 21:30, so arrive early. Sunday draws the most local crowd, while cigar-rolling demonstrations and the rooftop bar open earlier in the evening.
The venue is in the Vedado neighbourhood, at Calle 26 esquina 11, with signs on the corner. A taxi from Old Havana takes 15 minutes, and from any Vedado hotel it is walking distance. FAC is listed as open, but entry depends on the queue, so allow for that.
FAQ
Questions people ask
When is Fábrica de Arte Cubano open?
FAC is open Thursday to Sunday only, from 20:00 to 03:00, and closed Monday to Wednesday. Queues form by 7pm, and the doors shut once the queue grows too long, usually about 21:30, so arrive early.
How do you get to Fábrica de Arte Cubano in Havana?
FAC is in the Vedado neighbourhood at Calle 26 esquina 11. A taxi from Old Havana takes about 15 minutes. From any hotel in Vedado it is within walking distance, and the entrance is signed on the corner.
What kinds of music can you hear at FAC in Havana?
The programme includes jazz, Cuban son, rumba and electronic music across five rooms. Nave 4 is the jazz room, and up to eight events run at once, mixing music with film, fashion and classical chamber performances.