On Saturday, Miguel Díaz-Canel and his wife, Lis Cuesta Peraza, paid a visit to the "Félix Elmusa" Workers' Social Club located in the Náutico district of Playa, Havana.
This visit was portrayed by the Cuban Presidency as a "working tour" and used as an opportunity to showcase the reopening of the facility as a supposed collective achievement despite the ongoing crisis.
Commonly referred to as El Náutico, the facility resumed operations at the beginning of July following a four-month renovation spearheaded by the Cuban Aviation Corporation (CACSA).
The president and his wife toured various sections, including the diving area, an art gallery, a gym, a game room, a pizzeria, a café, a swimming pool, a bakery-confectionery, a baseball field, and a children's room.
The most notable aspect of the renovation isn't the amenities themselves. To ensure autonomous operation amid a collapsing national electrical grid, the center installed solar panels, inverters, and batteries.
As Díaz-Canel enjoyed his time at El Náutico, many other workers' social clubs across the country remain in shambles.
The Havana Yacht Club, now known as the "Julio Antonio Mella" Workers' Social Club, is completely shut down and in a state of total abandonment, as documented in June 2026. Similarly, the Casino Español de La Habana and the Marcelo Salado Social Club in Jaimanitas share the same fate. "La Concha" was consumed by fire in December 2024 after decades of neglect. The regime's selective restoration is glaringly apparent.
In the summer of 2025, Díaz-Canel inaugurated the refurbished Club de las FAR, the former Miramar Yacht Club, which remains accessible exclusively to military personnel.
By 2026, El Náutico underwent its own rehabilitation, a workers' social club for aviation, transportation, and communications employees. While the general public can access the beach area, other sections and services are reserved for members only.
Meanwhile, the majority of Cuba's recreational assets continue to deteriorate without intervention.
Lis Cuesta's presence at the event adds another layer of contrast. Although she holds no official state position, she frequently appears at select events, particularly those related to sociocultural activities and certain mass participation policies.
Díaz-Canel's closing remarks during his visit to El Náutico seem to mock the millions of Cubans suffering without electricity, water, and recreational spaces: "This is an experience that can be replicated."
The center's manager, Maytée Crespo Alonso, was more candid: "The challenge is to sustain it."
Understanding the State of Workers' Social Clubs in Cuba
What is the current condition of workers' social clubs in Cuba?
Most workers' social clubs in Cuba are in a state of disrepair, with many completely abandoned, as seen in the cases of the Havana Yacht Club and others.
Why is El Náutico significant in the context of Cuba's social clubs?
El Náutico stands out because it recently underwent a renovation, allowing it to serve as a showcase for the government, despite the majority of similar facilities being neglected.