Upon first arrival a hint of intrigue compounds the air, as the pounding rhythms and dancing bodies waft the intoxicating aromas of aged rum and fine cigars. Those of you unlucky enough to have never traveled to Cuba are missing out on a vibrant culture and nightlife incomparable to anything else in the world; until now. The recent discovery of La Descarga,  brought me back years ago, to the congenial spirit of Old Town Havana, expertly displayed in this Los Angeles rum bar/ cigar lounge. Perhaps the best feature- you wont be risking a $7500 fine to experience it.

From the moment you set foot inside the door, La Descarga is anything but ordinary. Lets begin with the entrance itself- after crossing a massive unmarked door, you are greeted by a woman at a desk in a nearly empty room, causing you to wonder if you are even in the right place. That is until she opens the massive armoire at her elbow, clears the coats to the side, and leads you to a set of small winding steps. Steps that make their way down to a packed dance floor and an enormous bar. All  punctuated by a series of burlesque dancers moving in harmony with the salsa and mambo beats echoing all around, courtesy of the live band on stage.

Equally as notable are the minor details that encompass the bar. The furniture and decor is so spot on that it had me questioning if it had been lifted from Havana itself (or from the US in the 1950s, as most Cuban architecture represents)- everything from the chairs and tables to the cigar patio, and even the antique doors themselves.

Upon passing the first bar, a small corridoor leads to a glassed room with luxurious furniture and a billow of smoke contained within. This would be the cigar lounge. Although there is a notable collection of cigars available for purchase, many of the patrons appeared to prefer to bring their own and reserve a table to stretch out and enjoy a puff.

Given that this is a rum bar, lets discuss the rum. As an aficionado and aspiring connoisseur of rum, I was blown away by the enormity of their selection. Browsing over a menu of nearly 100 types of imported spirits, rums of varied age and origin, I was offered samples of my own choosing to try.  I did, however, decide to stick with a glass of my personal favorite, an 18 year reserve Flor De Cana; an aged Nicaraguan dark rum. (Unfortunately they are unable to offer Cuban rums and cigars due to legality issues – a shame for the native Havana Club is equally as delicious) The only flaw as I saw it was the failure to make a decent mojito, for after all that is the signature drink of Cuba, but this vast selection more than made up for it. If looking for a great cocktail, try the Cuba Libre (dark rum and coke with a twist of lime).

The crowd was equally as entertaining as the atmosphere, and a span of twenty minutes offered encounters with people from every region of the world; hailing from Argentina, the Phillipines, Columbia, Zimbabwe, the UK, and even one local from Havana (who attempted to give me salsa lessons). While the dance area, a small space behind the bar, does grow crowded, the cheery atmosphere is more than forgiving and people expand it to wherever available.

La Descarga attempts to promote this image of 1950′s Cuba, and as such the dress code is fairly strict. They require a nice shirt and closed shoes, while a suit for men and a fancy dress for women is preferred. While reservations are recommended, it is not absolutely necessary, as we were admitted with minimal wait, even though our reservations had not been recorded.

La Descarga is located at 1159 Western Ave, Hollywood, CA. 90029

(Image via: ThirstyInLA)