Louis' List: Latin Club - Hoy Como Ayer

WSVN -- No question, hands down, South Florida has the hottest nightlife in the country. Sorry Vegas, but if there's one thing I get asked time and time again, it's, "Where is there a good Latin club with great music and great dancing?"

Well, truth is, as experienced as I thought myself on the club scene, I didn't know, but I do now. Not just that, I found the best.

This is Hoy Como Ayer, today like yesterday, a tiny little cabaret in the heart of Little Havana, mixing the sounds and traditions of old Cuba with the music of today's Latin stars.

So, on this night, I'm hitting it with a group of friends who know and love Latin music.

That's my buddy Luis, who first told me that this place was definitely one I just had to check out.

One step inside and it's a nostalgic trip back in time. Classic black and white photos of Latin superstars hang on the walls. The crowd, a hip, eclectic mix of young, old, Latinos and non-Latinos, who jam the tiny club packed with cafe tables and chairs. It's dark and very sexy.

Louis : "I came here expecting like a salsa club, and it's so much more than a salsa club. I can't even explain it. What is it?"

Luis: "Ahhh, it's like a Cuba CBGB's, yeah. It's better than a CBGB's. It's CBGB's and smaller and smaller. If you don't get here soon you can't get in."

On this Friday night, singer songwriter Amaury Gutierrez has packed them in. He's a new breed of Cuban artist, mixing traditional Latin beats with rock and a sound all his own.

It's the live music that keeps this place packed week after week. The vibe so authentic, so cool, it's attracted some of the biggest names in showbiz. Nicole Kidman, Lenny Kravitz, even J-Lo have all partied here.

Luis: "Gloria, U2, Sting, after they get done playing, they come here, and they want to play with those guys."

And look who we found, salsa superstar Luis Enrique.

Luis Enrique: "This is like the perfect environment to come and have a good time and also feel like you have the artist right there."

We sang, we danced. It was better than Cats, and a night in Little Havana I'll never forget!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Hoy Como Ayer
2212 SW 8th St.
Miami, FL 33135
(305) 541-2631
www.hoycomoayer.net/