All of the events, socials, and salsa parties is one of the best things about New York’s Latin dance scene. But if you only have a few days to explore the city, figuring out where to dance can feel a little overwhelming.
That’s why I rounded up all my favorite Latin dance parties and what I consider to be the best places to dance salsa in New York City below!
If you’re planning a dance trip to New York, be sure to check out my tips here as well.
** Be aware that salsa events in New York City often change at the last minute. It’s always a good idea to check the event’s FB event for the most updated information before you head over! I’ve linked all the FB event pages in the list below.
Social dancing with my dance partner, Hunter Houde, at Salsamania Saturdays, one of New York City’s best salsa socials.
Mondays
Latin Mondays
- Event: Latin Mondays at Taj Lounge
- Hosted by: Talia Castro-Pozo & LatinParty.com
- Location: Taj Lounge (Flatiron neighborhood in Manhattan)
- 48 West 21st St Between 5-6th Aves
- New York, New York
- Day & Time: Every Monday night | 7pm – 2am
- Cost: $8 before 8pm (there’s a salsa class at 7pm) / $13 after 8pm / $15 special events
- Coat Check?: Yes ($3) & it’s mandatory
- Dance Classes: Yes, salsa class with Taila at 7pm
- Dance Styles: Mainly salsa with a few bachata songs throughout the evening
- Bar: Yes
- Food: Yes
About the Event
Latin Mondays at Taj is a great weeknight event for beginner and advanced dancers! The lounge space itself is large and spacious with ample room to dance and a good floor. When the main dance space in front of the stage get crowded (usually 11pm – 12:30am), move over to the area in front of the bar for more room.
Taj Lounge also has a second story balcony that overlooks the dance floor and stage – it’s a great place to hang out when you need a quick break! More beginner dancers (or friends who have never taken a salsa class before!) will also enjoy how private the upstairs balcony feels.
Latin Mondays usually has a live band and a couple of shows, plus Taj Lounge does a good job with food, so if you’re hungry go ahead and order some snacks.
Located in Manhattan’s Flatiron district, Taj Lounge is very close to Stepping Out Studios and Adelante Studios which makes it easy to take a class or private lesson before you head over to social dance. There are also a ton of great bars and restaurants in this area, which you can hit up before social dancing too!
Photos, videos, and more info on the FB event here.
Tuesdays
Salsa On2sdays
- Event: Salsa On2sdays at The Copacabana in Times Square
- Hosted by: Alejandro Bouza (LatinParty.com)
- Location: The Copacabana Night Club (Times Square in Manhattan)
- 268 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036
- 268 West 47th Street
- Day & Time: Every Tuesday night | 9pm – 2am
- Cost: $5 Ladies, $10 Men
- Coat Check?: Yes ($3) & it’s mandatory
- Dance Classes: No
- Dance Styles: Mainly salsa with a few bachata songs throughout the evening
- Bar: Yes
- Food: Yes
About the Event
Salsa On2sdays is another great weeknight event! Located at the Copacabana in Times Square, this is an especially great salsa social for out of town visitors who want to catch a Broadway show or marvel at the lights and general mayhem of New York’s Theater district before a night of salsa dancing. It’s also by far the least expensive salsa social in New York City (ladies get in for just $5!).
The live bands are good, there’s lots of space to dance, and the enclosed rooftop area will make you feel New York city-chic.
The Copacabana itself is an iconic NYC nightclub and worth a visit even if you aren’t interested in social dancing. The club, which first opened in 1940, is where entertainers, such as Danny Thomas and Pat Cooper performed. The Supremes debuted here too!
Photos, videos, and more info on the FB event here.
Wednesdays
Baila Wednesdays
- Event: Baila Wednesdays at Solas Night Club in the East Village
- Hosted by: Luis Felicies (DJ Babaloo)
- Location: Solas Night Club (East Village)
- 232 E 9th Street
- New York, NY 10003
- Day & Time: Every Wednesday night | 7pm – 1:30am (Social dancing kicks off at 9pm)
- Cost: $15 for the classes and social dancing / $9 for social dancing only (starts at 9pm)
- Coat Check?: There’s no formal coat check, but there is a coat rack where you can hang up your jacket and leave your bags. Walk in and turn to the left. It’s before the restrooms.
- Dance Classes: Yes (at 7pm and 8pm every week)
- Dance Styles: Mainly salsa with a few bachata songs throughout the evening
- Bar: Yes
- Food: No
About the Event
Located in the heart of Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood makes this social easy to hit up after dinner and drinks with friends near-by. It’s also a great event to bring non-dance friends to––the crowd is friendly, and there’s a separate bar room where you can grab a drink and hang out if you need a break from the music and dancing, and the music is always on point.
While the venue itself isn’t huge, the space of the room caters well to social dancing; it’s long and wide with a well-kept wooden floor and full-length windows on one wall that open up to the street on a warm night. More advanced dancers generally hang out by the open windows and near the couches that surround it.
Photos, videos, and more info in the FB group here.
Fridays
Candela Fridays
- Event: Candela Fridays NYC
- Hosted by: Alex Gonzales (@djalexelmaestro)
- Location: You Should Be Dancing Dance Studio
- 412 8th Avenue, 4th Floor
- New York, New York 10001
- Day & Time: Every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Friday of the month | 8:30pm – 3am
- Cost: $15, includes the dance classes before the event
- Coat Check?: Yes ($3) & it’s mandatory
- Dance Classes: Yes, at 830pm (bachata) & 9:30pm (salsa) – various instructors. Check the FB event for details
- Dance Styles: There is a salsa room (where most dancers will be) and a separate bachata room
- Bar: Yes
- Food: No
About the Event
With two pre-social classes and social dancing until 3am, Candela Fridays is one of the best deals in town! Hosted at a dance studio in Manhattan’s Midtown neighborhood that’s turned into a bar/club venue for the evening, the event is centrally located and accessible regardless of where you’re staying (or living) in New York City.
Because the event is on a Friday night, it tends to attract an “after-work” crowd (usually in suits over by the bar) as well as hard-core dancers. Social dancing in New York for the first time can be a little intimidating, so if you’re nervous at all about social dancing, Candela Fridays is a great weekend event to start off with!
Photos, videos, and more info on the FB event here.
Saturdays
Salsamania Saturdays
- Event: Salsamania Saturdays
- Hosted by: Alex Gonzales (@djalexelmaestro)
- Location: Arthur Murray Dance Studio
- 286 5th Avenue, 3rd Floor
- New York, NY 10001
- Day & Time: Every 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month (some 5th Saturdays) | 8:00pm – 4am
- Cost: $15, includes the dance classes before the event. Classes start at 8pm.
- Coat Check?: Yes ($3) & it’s mandatory
- Dance Styles: There is a salsa room and a separate bachata room
- Bar: Yes
- Food: No
About the Event
NYC’s biggest salsa event! Like Candela Fridays, this salsa party takes place at Dancesport and turned into a bar/nightclub for the evening. There are always two classes before the social (starting at 8pm) and Alex does a great job of bringing in different local and out-of-town instructors.
There’s ample room to dance and a separate bar area with tables and chairs where you can hang out and catch up with friends. If Salsamania is happening, this is where all the New York dancers will be that night.
Photos, videos, and more info on the FB event here.
Sundays
La Vieja Guardia (LVG)
- Event: La Vieja Guardia (LVG)
- Hosted by: Joel Dominguez & Maria Palmieri (They also run MySalsaOnline)
- Location: Stepping Out Studios (Flatiron neighborhood in Manhattan)
- 37 West 26th Street – 9th Floor
New York, New York
- 37 West 26th Street – 9th Floor
- Day & Time: Every 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month | 6pm – 10pm
- Cost: $13 before 7pm, $15 after that
- Dance Classes: No
- Dance Styles: Salsa only
- Bar: No
- Food: No
About the Event
LVG is perhaps the most hardcore salsa social in New York City. There’s no bar, no performances, no hangout space – it’s purely salsa dancing!
Expect to find a tight-knit, core group of social dancers who only go out dancing at this event. Enjoy DJ La Conga’s music (often considered the best DJ in NYC!), and make sure to find and dance with the hosts, Joel and Maria. They are both incredibly smooth dancers — dancing with them will feel like you’re floating on air! If you want to keep dancing, head to Las Chicas Locas (below) after LVG ends.
Photos, videos, and more info on the FB event here.
Las Chicas Locas (LCL)
- Event: Las Chicas Locas (LCL)
- Hosted by: Alejandro Bouza (LatinParty.com)
- Location: The Copacabana
- 268 West 47th Street
-
New York, NY 10036
- Day & Time: Every Sunday | 7pm – 2am
- Cost: $13 (unless there’s a special event), admission includes any dance classes, dance challenges are separate
- Dance Classes: There’s usually a bachata or salsa class at 9pm, the social also hosts “Dance Challenges” every once in a while, where you learn a choreography segment in three hours and then perform it later that night (no partner required)
- Dance Styles: There is a salsa room and a separate bachata room, one a month there is also a separate kizomba room
- Bar: Yes
- Food: No
About the Event
If a team is doing an Invasion Night or LCL is hosting an anniversary party, expect there to be a lot of people who come out to dance and support their friends. The Dance Challenges are a lot of fun, surprisingly very low-pressure, and definitely worth the money!
For a full list of salsa, bachata, and kizomba socials in New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx, visit, www.mambosalsanyc.com.
What’s your favorite place to dance salsa in New York City? I’d love to know in the comments below!