Habana Village   

This Adams Morgan establishment may be a restaurant on the first floor and a lounge on the third and fourth floors, but Habana Village is best known for what happens on its second floor. With Latin dance lessons offered several nights a week followed by hours of open dancing, this club has become a staple of the salsa set. Novices and pros alike come here to salsa, tango, merengue, samba and everything in between. Wallflowers need not apply as just about everyone gets asked to dance more than a few times here. You may feel as if you've been transported to Havana itself, what with the Cuban memorabilia on the walls, wafting cigar smoke and the oft-times stifling humidity gathering around you as you unconsciously sway your hips to the Latin rhythms. Even in the dead of winter, the fans hardly offer any respite. But it just adds to the atmosphere. If you're looking to cool off with a cold drink, avoid the mojitos. The bar's ambience may live up to its name, but the bartenders do not. If you do come here to drink, stick to beer or straight liquors and by all means head to another floor and free up some room for the dancers. -- JE Coan (Photo by Rosalie A. Lacorazza)