View source for Havana Central at The West End

{{wp-also2|West End Bar}}

'''Havana Central at The West End''' was a bar on [[Broadway (avenue)|Broadway]] between 113th and 114th St. It closed<ref>http://columbiaspectator.com/2014/05/07/havana-central-closing-may-28</ref> in May 2014 and was replaced by a somewhat-expensive beer hall, [[Bernheim and Schwartz]], later that fall<ref>http://columbiaspectator.com/arts-and-entertainment/2014/09/24/bernheim-and-schwartzs-food-beer-deliver-price</ref>.

It used to be a legendary student hang-out called '''The West End''', whose clients included the likes of [[Beat Generation]] writers [[Allen Ginsberg]] and [[Jack Kerouac]], as well as later Columbians like [[Barack Obama]] and [[Lauryn Hill]]. Ginsberg called it "a university replica of a [[Greenwich Village]] dive". Diana Trilling, [[Lionel Trilling]]'s wife, called it "that dim waystation of undergraduate debauchery on [[Morningside Heights]]"<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=-nt1xVR4SrAC&lpg=PA7&ots=r_eXPXbf4T&dq=columbia%20%22lived%20in%20livingston%22&pg=PA14#v=onepage&q&f=false The Beat Generation in NY, p. 14]</ref>. 2006 Bwog noted the "transformation from quasi-literary drunk freshman hotspot into Cuban pleasure palace"<ref>http://bwog.com/2006/04/05/new-name-cuban-accent/</ref>.

Then, in spring [[2006]], it was bought by the Havana Central chain and converted into a Cuban restaurant/bar over the summer. Many people were sad to see The West End close because it was a long time hangout popular for alumni visiting the area. Additionally, underagers are now not allowed to freely wander in and drink.  This can now be done at [[The Abbey]] or [[the Heights]].

People have mixed opinions about the new Cuban restaurant. The food isn't great, but it's edible and reasonably priced. The Cuban sandwich at [[Cafe con Leche]] is preferable. The atmosphere is vibrant on nights when the live music is playing.  

Wednesday nights is Senior Night from 10 to close with cheap drink specials for Columbia students. There's also a Beat Night, with poetry readings, at some point in the year, to honor the restaurant's former clientele.

== Map ==
<googlemap lat="40.806598" lon="-73.965272" type="map" zoom="16" width="500" height="300" controls="small">
40.806598, -73.965272, [[Havana Central]] (Cuban)
</googlemap>

==References==
<references>
http://columbiaspectator.com/2014/05/07/havana-central-closing-may-28
http://columbiaspectator.com/arts-and-entertainment/2014/06/23/heartland-brewery-offshoot-will-replace-havana-central
</references>

== External links ==
* [http://menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=42101&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0 Menu]
* [http://bwog.com/2006/04/05/new-name-cuban-accent/ The Bwog: New Name, Cuban Accent]

[[Category:Latin American restaurants]]
[[Category:Closed bars]]
[[Category:Morningside Heights]]