Havana Beach Club is the party anchor of the Dhërmi shore — a long-running, lively beach bar on the white pebbles where DJ sets, watersports and a social crowd run from midday into the night. It's the club most people mean when they talk about a "beach club" day in Dhërmi, and it splits opinion: great setting and service, but loud and not cheap. Here's what to expect, what you'll pay in lek, and whether it's your kind of afternoon.
TL;DR: Havana Beach Club
| Detail | The short answer |
|---|---|
| Where | On the Dhërmi shore, Albanian Riviera |
| Vibe | Lively, music-led, party crowd — not a quiet beach |
| Two sunbeds + umbrella | ~2,000–3,000 lek (€20–30), cash in lek |
| Drinks | Cocktails ~600–1,200 lek (€6–12); beers ~300–600 lek |
| Best for | Daytime buzz, DJ sets, sociable groups |
| Skip if | You want silence and a book |
| Getting there | Down to Dhërmi Beach off the SH8; park behind the shore |
Prices are a peak-season guide and rise in July and August — check on arrival.
What Havana is actually like
Havana leans loud and social. Music plays through the day, the beach bar is busy, and the crowd skews toward groups and couples who want a scene rather than a nap. Reviews reliably praise two things — the setting and the service — and reliably grumble about two others: the volume and the drink prices. One widely-repeated gripe puts a couple of beers at around 1,000–1,200 lek (€10–12), steep by Albanian standards even if normal for a Riviera beach club.
So set your expectations accordingly. If you picture a beach club as a place to swim, drink and be around energy, Havana delivers. If you picture a quiet cove, this isn't it — head to Gjipe or a calmer stretch of the best beaches near Dhërmi instead.
Prices: sunbeds, drinks and a full day
Havana sits in Dhërmi's premium band — this is the most expensive part of the Riviera for sunbeds, and the club prices to match.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Two sunbeds + umbrella | ~2,000–3,000 lek (€20–30) | Front-row costs more |
| Beer | ~300–600 lek (€3–6) | ~1,000–1,200 lek for two, per reviews |
| Cocktail | ~600–1,200 lek (€6–12) | Higher on busy days |
| Lunch for two | ~2,500–4,500 lek (€25–45) | Seafood and beach-bar plates |
| Full day for two | ~5,000–8,000 lek (€50–80) | Beds, drinks and a meal |
Bring cash in lek. Larger clubs like Havana often take cards, but it's unwise to rely on it — Dhërmi's ATMs are few and empty out in peak season, so draw money in a bigger town first. See practical info for where to find cash on the coast.
What the reviews really say
Havana is a polarising place, and it's worth knowing why before you commit a day to it. The positives are consistent: a beautiful beach and water, a well-arranged bar, and staff that regulars single out as friendly and quick. The negatives are just as consistent — the music is loud from early, and the drink prices sting relative to the rest of Albania. A minority of reviews report service slipping on the busiest days, which is the usual peak-summer story at any packed Riviera club.
The honest read: Havana delivers exactly what it promises — a lively, well-run, view-blessed party beach — and disappoints people who arrived hoping for a calm, cheap swim. Match your expectations to that and you'll have a great day; ignore it and you'll write one of the grumpy reviews yourself. If a quiet cove is what you're really after, Gjipe or a stroll to a calmer end of the best beaches near Dhërmi is the fix.
The music and the night
The draw after the swim is the DJ sets and live music, which build as the afternoon turns to evening. It's the closest the Dhërmi shore gets to an Ibiza-lite day-into-night party without leaving the sand. For the more upscale, dress-up version — international guest DJs and VIP tables — the crowd drives to Folie Marine at Jale; for a barefoot, cheaper alternative there's Mumbas at Drymades. We line all of them up in the best beach clubs in Dhërmi guide.
The food and the water
Havana isn't only a bar — there's a kitchen behind the loungers doing beach-club staples: grilled seafood, salads, pasta and the day's fish, plus the usual run of cocktails and long drinks. It's fine, view-priced food rather than a destination in its own right; if the meal matters more than the music, the quieter seafood tables along the shore do it better (see the best seafood in Dhërmi). What Havana adds over a plain taverna is the watersports off the beach — jet skis, rides and rentals in peak season — and the fact that lunch, a swim and the afternoon party all happen without you leaving your sunbed. The white pebbles and clear turquoise water in front are genuinely excellent, which is a big part of why the club has lasted — bring water shoes, since the beach is pebble rather than sand, and the swimming is worth the pause between drinks.
Who it's for — and who should skip it
- Go if: you want a lively, sociable beach-club day with music, watersports and a decent kitchen, and you don't mind paying Riviera prices.
- Skip if: you're after a calm, cheap swim day, you have very young kids in the late afternoon, or loud music by the sunbed ruins it for you.
Families are fine earlier in the day, before the volume climbs; couples and groups get the most out of the sundown stretch. Either way it pairs naturally with a slower evening — a seafood table on the sand at one of the Dhërmi beach bars or up in the village.
Havana vs the other Dhërmi clubs
Havana isn't your only option on this stretch — it's the lively, mid-priced party anchor, and where it sits against the neighbours helps you decide:
| Club | Where | Vibe | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Havana | Dhërmi shore | Lively, DJ, party | Mid–high |
| Folie Marine | Jale (nearby) | Upscale, guest DJs, VIP | Highest |
| Mumbas | Drymades | Boho day → club | Budget–mid |
| Aloni | Dhërmi Beach | Polished club-restaurant | High |
If Havana's volume and drink prices put you off, Mumbas at Drymades is the cheaper, more barefoot alternative, while Folie Marine at Jale is the dress-up, big-DJ night. The full run-down is in our best beach clubs in Dhërmi guide, and for the beach itself see the best beaches near Dhërmi.
How to get there and when to go
Havana is on Dhërmi Beach, reached by the paved road that drops from the village off the SH8 coast road, with parking behind the shore. Without a car, it's a short taxi or a walk along the beach from central Dhërmi — see Dhërmi without a car for the transport options.
Go on a calm, sunny day in July or August for the full scene, or a weekday in June or September if you want the setting with a fraction of the crowd. For the month-by-month picture, see the best time to visit Dhërmi.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Havana Beach Club cost?
Expect around 2,000–3,000 lek (€20–30) for two sunbeds and an umbrella, plus drinks — cocktails run 600–1,200 lek (€6–12) and reviewers report about 1,000–1,200 lek for two beers. A full day for two with lunch and drinks lands near 5,000–8,000 lek (€50–80), cash in lek.
Is Havana Beach Club worth it?
If you want a lively, music-led beach day with good service and a great setting, yes. Reviews are mixed mainly on volume and drink prices, so skip it if you're after a quiet, cheap swim — a calmer cove will suit you far better.
Where is Havana Beach Club in Dhërmi?
It's on the Dhërmi shore, reached by the road that drops from Dhërmi village off the SH8 coast road, with parking behind the beach. It's a short taxi or beach walk from the centre of Dhërmi.
Does Havana Beach Club play music all day?
Yes — music runs through the day and builds into DJ sets and live sets in the evening. It's a party-leaning club rather than a quiet beach, which is the most common point in reviews, so plan around it if you prefer calm.
Does Havana Beach Club take cards?
As one of the larger clubs it usually accepts cards, but don't count on it — carry enough lek for sunbeds, drinks and lunch. Dhërmi has very few ATMs and they often run dry in summer, so withdraw cash in a bigger town before you come.
