Sandro Castro, grandson of the dictator Fidel Castro, confirmed on Monday the closure of his nightclub Bar EFE, in El Vedado, Havana, during a live broadcast on TikTok alongside the content creator known as «El Guajiro de Tiktok».
The live clip was shared on X by user @JaviXCubaLibre with the comment "Which one do you despise more?", referring to both Sandro and his interlocutor, a Cuban resident in the United States who declares allegiance to the Castro regime.
This content creator was recently involved in controversy after journalist Mario Pentón revealed his identity as Jesús Arturo Blanco León and accused him of participating in discrediting campaigns against journalists and activists critical of the Cuban government.
In a atmosphere of open camaraderie, Blanco León addressed the dictator's grandson and asked him if the rumors circulating in Miami were true, saying that "Sandro Castro owns 15 nightclubs."
After laughing off the supposed rumors, Sandro clarified that he only owns one location, which is currently closed. "I've been closed for two weeks. So that means it's... I don't even have a nightclub anymore, I don't have it, because it exists, but it doesn't operate," he admitted during the broadcast.
Fidel's grandson attributed the closure to the country's situation, making a veiled reference to the electrical crisis and the tightening of U.S. sanctions: "The climatic and energy conditions of your friends [referring to the U.S.]... with what they've imposed on us, it's impossible to work. It’s closed just like the Factory of Art."
The EFE Bar is Sandro Castro's only known business in Havana. In an interview with CNN in March 2026, Sandro himself stated that the establishment cost him $50,000 and denied having privileges due to his surname. U.S. Senator Rick Scott criticized the American network for giving Sandro Castro a platform, accusing the network of softening the image of the Cuban regime.
In December 2024, Sandro celebrated his birthday at Bar EFE with an entrance fee of 1,000 Cuban pesos and a minimum consumption of 15,000 pesos per table, during a nationwide blackout, boasting that his venue "has power" while the rest of the country was in darkness.
The contrast with his past attitude is striking. Now, however, he claims that he tries to help his employees with the little that is available: "Sadly, that little bit that's left on the card, one tries to help the workers with that".
The closure of Bar EFE coincides with the widespread collapse of businesses and cultural spaces in Cuba. The Fábrica de Arte Cubano announced a temporary closure last Sunday, without specifying reasons or a reopening date, just one day before Sandro made his statements.
The context is one of increasing pressure on the Cuban economy. On May 1, 2026, the White House expanded sanctions against the regime, extending the risk of penalties to companies operating in sectors such as energy, defense, mining, and finance.
Hotel chains such as Meliá, Iberostar, Blue Diamond, and Archipelago International have reduced or suspended operations on the island, and shipping companies like CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd have halted container deliveries.
With clear sympathy towards the dictator's grandson, "El Guajiro de Tiktok"—who often refers to his host country as the "United Slaves"—shared his views on the American reality: "Sandrito, this is a country of slavery. This is a country that keeps people enslaved."
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