Spice up your life (or love life) and take on salsa dancing in the Valley. Not only does salsa allow you to meet new people and impress your friends with your new moves on the dance floor, but it’s also a fun and amazing workout! Taking on the exotic Latin settings from such countries as Spain and Cuba, find our picks for versatile salsa nights at these worldly restaurants in Arizona.
Pepin’s Spanish Salsa Nights
Experience Spain at Scottsdale’s Pepin Spanish Restaurant in Old Town. Located in the happening Scottsdale Mall, Pepin has definitely succeeded in creating an authentic Spanish ambiance with it’s artwork, statues, cuisine and, of course, dancing! Pepin features a stage area and dance floor for their prized flamenco and salsa dancing. If you’re a little shy, come Friday and Saturday nights at 7:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. for their performances and enjoy a great meal while you’re at it. It’s not until the wee-hours that the eatery becomes a high-energy salsa dance club. Every Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., guests are invited to join the staff as they hit the dance floor and sway to some great Latin tunes. Beginner salsa dancers can take lessons at Pepin on Sundays from 8 to 9:30 p.m.
7363 E Scottsdale Mall, Scottsdale
Havana Tuesdays at Asia de Cuba
It’s Cuban night at Asia de Cuba’s Havana Tuesdays at the Mondrian Scottsdale in Old Town. Asia de Cuba is an Arizona Foothills MUST-TRY and combines elements of Asian and Cuban cuisine served sharing-style in a high energy, sophisticated, yet relaxed environment. And every Tuesday from 7 to 11 p.m., this upscale fusion restaurant and bar will feature seven piece Latin band “Rakata Project” that will make guests want to do what Cubans do best – Dance! The night is purely authentic with waiters and waitresses dressed in Cuban fashions with colorful roses, Guayabera shirts and fedora hats. The best part is, professional salsa dancers perform and invite you to join them on the dance floor.
7353 E Indian School Rd, Scottsdale, www.mondrianscottsdale.com.
Noche de Salsa at Olive Branch Mediterranean Restaurant
One of the Valley’s favorite Mediterranean Restaurants, Olive Branch on Mill Avenue in Tempe, isn’t hot just for it’s food. Every Friday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., “Club OB” comes alive with high-energy salsa partnering. Participants who come at 9 p.m. sharp can get warmed up with a salsa dance lesson from one of their talented instructors. This upbeat hotspot features the finest salsa DJs and Hookah all night long.
3231 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, www.olivebranchmed.com.
Salsa Dance Lessons
Scottsdale’s premier dance instructing center, Dance Time Studio, has more than 40 years of experience in dance instruction and starting last January, DTS puts on an exciting salsa night every Friday night! From 8 to 8:45 p.m. experience Cuban Style Salsa classes (beginner and intermediate levels) or from 8:45 to 9:30 p.m. try Puerto Rican Style Salsa – all taught by exceptional dancer Bridgette Maria.
10339 N. Scottsdale Rd., www.dancetimeaz.com.
I have taken salsa lessons, not only is it an amazing workout it’s a lot of fun.
I would love to do salsa–maybe I should do that on Cinco de Mayo instead of sucking down tequila and guacamole.
mia – no need to substitute the tequila and guac…. just burn the excess weight off on may 6 with salsa!
I get bored doing the same old stuff on the weekends, this would definitely spice things up!
Oh my this is fantastic! I have been wanting to learn. I will have to check out that Dance Time Studio. Thank you.
Oh, I’m going to try this! I’m going to bring my boyfriend, Keith.
I hate to be a downer, but Salsa drives me nuts for some reason. I just hate sweaty guys leadig me aroudn the dance floor. and they always think they are so hot. but they are just gross. my girlfriends love it and are always dragging to these nasty salsa clubs – i would rather be home alone than dragged around the dance floor by these greasy dudes.
I’m not a huge fan of salsa music but I do love dancing and Salsa is one dance I’ve never even tried. I think it would be fun to at least give it a shot!
Pepin’s Spanish Salsa Nights – this place is falling apart:
– The air conditioner does not work
– The bathrooms are broken and dirty
– The people are rude
– The food is not served fresh and the team is not professional
– I have complaned several times and the owner said he can’t do anything about it.
– I was told to be quiet and if I don’t like it too bad
– I say stay away from this place – its a health hazard — no one should be treat this way!!!
This place has Salsa music on Saturdays and have many violations. When you look at the place you can see it’s falling apart.
The bar is dirty and the people are rude.
Latinos go there to have fun instead we are treated like dirt.
Pepins is a dirty place – STAY AWAY