Guantanamera.com

This new two-floor bar and restaurant on the east side of the Kuntai Hotel is the latest in Beijing to cater to Cuban food and music. Downstairs features a small bar that is primarily used as a coffee shop, while upstairs is the bar/restaurant section.

This new two-floor bar and restaurant on the east side of the Kuntai Hotel is the latest in Beijing to cater to Cuban food and music. Downstairs features a small bar that is primarily used as a coffee shop, while upstairs is the bar/restaurant section. The walls are adorned with Latin American flags, Cuban trinkets and photos of typically Cuban scenes. Guantanamera.com offers a dinner and dance experience, with a live band playing Cuban rhythms nightly; customers are invited to grab a partner for a twirl on the hardwood dancefloor or relax with a Cuban cigar by the bar (Romeo y Juliet No. 3 costing 170RMB). 

The food is served all night, making this a good spot for a late night snack. Sandwiches start at 35RMB, while a good portion of Cuban style pork will set you back 55RMB. The drinks selection isn't too impressive, with only three types of mojito, all costing 35RMB. The house signature drink, a combination of grenadine, Bacardi 151, tequila, banana liquer, blue curacao, rum and a dash of orange juice costs 68RMB and proves to be a dangerous yet tasty concoction.

Having only recently opened, Guantanemera.com has yet to find a regular crowd of partygoers willing to dance all night to the band. Don't write them off just yet though -with Latino's closed, Beijing's open-shirted salsa dancers need a place to shake their hips, and Guantanemera.com may just turn out to be the place they're looking for. RG

East gate of the Royal Kuntai Hotel, Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district (tel 5879 7510). Open 10am-late daily.