Primped and posh with a first-rate band, this place invokes the best of classic Cuba.

by Contributor

The Scene
The crackling black-and-white footage projected behind the band opens a window into the Cuba of yesteryear. Performances by La Lupe, Beny More, Celia Cruz and Orquesta Aragon are intercut with beautiful dancing couples, all images of the simpler days that Nostalgia's patrons yearn for. The musicians on the small stage update classic tunes with modern-day flair. Whether it's the house band or special guests like Manolin, "El Medico de la Salsa," live music reigns supreme at this Latin lair. Want a change of pace? Sneak out to the courtyard for everything from Shakira and Mana to Joe Arroyo and Juan Luis Guerra.

The Draw
Cafe Nostalgia moved its mambo from the heart of Havana, U.S.A., to the middle of South Beach a couple of years back, when The Forge's Sharif Malnik joined forces with Nostalgia's Pepe Horta. The new locale lacks the illicit, speakeasy vibe that Little Havana's regulars relished, but the plush booths and banquets, expanded menu and larger dance floor win over patrons both old and new.