CIUDAD DE LA HABANA: 5 STAR HOTELS
Melia Habana *****
A collaboration between entrepreneurs in Cuba and the Canary Islands has resulted in the creation of the elegant Melia Habana. It is located in the heart of Havana's growing business community in Miramar. This beach-front hotel boasts top notch service, comprehensive business facilities, and a well-regarded retaurant with both Cuban and International fare. The atmosphere of the hotel is refined but personal. Although the hotel is only minutes by car or taxi to the heart of Havana, the Melia provides a wide range of recreational activities and water sports.
Nacional *****
Perhaps you have heard of Cuba’s flagship hotel, the Nacional, its rich history and grand setting on a bluff overlooking the Havana seaside. Full of turrets, columns and arches, this unique confluence of Spanish colonial design with art deco is utterly unique. Its lush gardens and outdoor lounging areas add special elegance. Opened in 1930, it was built to capture wealthy seasonal tourism, mainly from the United States. It ended up attracting thousands of celebrities from all over the world, the U.S. mafia not excluded. These figures still fill the hotels spaces in the myriad of photos that hang from the walls, the entire hotel being a vast gallery of photos and autographs. It is not uncommon to share the hotel on any given visit with Ministers, Presidents or perhaps one of Hollywood’s finest, and many leave comments in the bulging visitor’s book.
NH Parque Central *****
Unique in Old Havana, this postmodern architectural melange includes elements spanning centuries, combining colonial and modern times with a dashing flair. The best of its category in Old Havana, it has several hundred rooms but still provides intimate spaces for its clients. It’s a feel-good hotel, especially seated in the lobby under the expansive skylight. This is a wonderful place to while away the hours, and is full of tropical woodwork and lush greenery. The rough-hewn tiled floor, daring colors and thick plants make for an unequalled combination, and one may even catch a musical group performing on the stairs. The hotel’s acquisitions include pieces from Cuba’s best contemporary artists like Sosa Bravo, Flora Font and Adigio. The rooftop swimming pool is a dream-come-true, offering a skyline city view and a multitude of museums, galleries and cafés below. There is a separate mezzanine lounge called the Alameda, a perfect spot to read a book or play a game of chess. It has its own bar, is perfect for welcome cocktails and small meetings, and has been used for book signings and seminars.
Santa Isabel *****
To imagine the Santa Isabel hotel, one must return to the 19th century, to the "Villa San Cristóbal de La Habana."
Think about horse-drawn carriages with beautiful señoras in airy dresses, draped in colorful handkerchiefs. There, in one of the magical residences on the Plaza de Armas, is the ancient palace of the Count and Countess of Santovenia, converted into the Santa Isabel hotel in 1867 by U.S. trader Luis Lay.
Walking through its hallways is like immersing oneself in museum-worthy decor, including valuable lamps, vases, sculpture and paintings. The Santa Isabel does not apologize for not having a swimming pool or gymnasium, because the beauty and elegance of its plant-filled interior patio is more therapeutic than several hours on any treadmill.
The rooms are thick with history and well-conserved, offering a robust flashback to days of bustling dresses, agile steps of servants and stories told by travelers from afar.
Melia Cohiba *****
The Meliá Cohiba, an opportunity to interact with elegance and refinement, is in the same league as the highest quality modern hotels. It has spacious areas with important views of the city, and from any of its rooms one can take in a panorama of the sea. Warm evenings are precious to enjoy with the Havanans that flock down to the seaside wall to cool off just steps from the hotel. The Cohiba is a constant locale for important events, with excellent convention spaces and meeting rooms. Recognized in hotel circles for its exquisite food, variety of offers and well-done decoration, it has acquired works from some of Cuba’s best contemporary artists including Flora Fong, López Oliva and Zaida del Río. Esto es una prueba.
Habana Libre Tryp *****
Tall well-shaved porters with elegant scarves, tight cummerbunds and gleaming shoes opened the doors to the Havana Hilton that afternoon on March 19, 1958.
The doors are still open 42 years later, although the hotel is now the Habana Libre, a true integration of quality with history.
Its meeting halls have seen important's world celebrities for years even the King and Queen of Spain have stepped through their doors!
Saratoga *****
Take in this elegant haven of calm. Nestled in a privileged setting in the very historical center, lies one of the most majestic hotels in Old Havana, as eclectic as the city itself. The Hotel Saratoga has breathtaking views of the port and the life flourishing around it, and at the same time provides shelter from the hustle and bustle of the city. This landmark, known since the 1930s for its marked bohemian ambience, has been a haunt of artists and celebrities from all over the world. Rebuilt behind its original façade, the building as it now stands combines the eclectic style of yesteryear with state-ofthe art technology to provide superb services and unmatched comfort to its guests.
Presidente *****
The Presidente recently opened its doors after a huge renovation, and now proudly shines onto the Malecón for all to see. A skyscraper built from 1925 to 1927, it’s got an eclectic style with classical and renaissance lines. In the lobby the beautiful vases, ceiling lamps and fine furniture will win over your heart.
Functionally it is a strategic place for business people, and it’s also fine for families. Its proximity to La Casa de las Americas and several theaters, along with the warmth of its interior spaces and employees’ hospitality, make for a memorable stay.
CIUDAD DE LA HABANA: 4 STAR HOTELS
Raquel ****
Raquel Hotel is located very near the Old Square, just a few meters from the San Francisco Square. The romantic ambience of the building proposed by its art nouveau style and expressive eclectic projections highlight the architecture of the building. Its the biblical name and some of its spaces allegorically evoke the Hebrew culture. Three floors and a terrace compose the hotel. The majestic sculpture of the ground floor along with the marble columns catches the eye. It has an elegant specialized restaurant.
Palacio O'Farril ****
In a very privileged location in the old Havana, a magnificent neoclassic palace is reborn. The hotel is a place of excellence without equal thanks to its rooms, its restaurant, its snack-bar, its inner courtyard with a very old well and a magnificent skylight and its roof-top terrace with a great perspective of the city. The influence from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries on the architecture and decoration of the hotel, causes an exceptional effect of history and modernity in the guests that can enjoy the unique experience of living three centuries at the same time.
Armadores de Santander ****
On a corner on Havana’s Avenida del Puerto stands the majestic Armadores de Santander Hotel, which architectural style and decoration resemble the buildings from that beautiful maritime province in Spain.
Santander's coat of arm decorates the facade of the edifice.
Big lanterns, like those used in ancient vessels, hang from the ceiling in the spacious porch.
Los Frailes ****
The sermons and chanting from the San Francisco de Asís Basilica have overflowed to the nearby Los Frailes Hostal. Recently opened, innkeepers dressed as monks provide chambers for true believers and the less devout on calle Teniente Rey No. 8 entre Oficios y Mercaderes, just a few meters from Old Havana’s Plaza Vieja.
Former residence of the French Creole Pedro Pablo Duquesne, it recreates an ecclesiastic environment with sextants, oil lamps, irises, crucifixes and beautiful murals.
Hostal del Tejadillo ****
These three combined señorial old homes add up to almost a millenium in years and will spellbind any visitor. The heavy wooden door’s magic will beckon you to pull it open, after which you’ll be awed by the black and white tiles, reminiscent of a huge chess board.
The lobby is a living memory of the captivating anterooms in old colonial homes. A throwback to the engrossing salons of colonial mansions, it is the perfect place to sit under the intricate woodwork and feel the dance of gentle air currents leading to the restaurant. One can float onto the patio and hear the whisper of tropical leaves, experiencing a magical change in environment. The fresh pure air fills ones lungs, as if the Cuban countryside had stepped into the middle of the city.
Last but not least are the rooms, spacious and decorated to please even the most stringent tastes. Whether alone, on a romantic tryst, or with the whole family, everyone will end up a believer in the curative powers of ancient Havana mansions.
Valencia ****
A piece of Spain in the middle of Old Havana, El Valencia is an enchanted mansion from yesteryear, and can hold up to the most punctilious examination.
Its delicious paellas, accomplished cocktails and utterly beautiful lodgings provide the rosiest portrait of colonialism in Cuba. They’ve enchanted the poetic soul of Benedetti and Dulce María, inspired the art of Guayasamín and Mendive, and pulled out music from Sergio Vitier and Chucho Valdés, all signed into the guest book. Your stay will be magical if you choose this hostel, just 200 m. from the 18th century Plaza de Armas, home to a myriad of galleries and museums full of the life and color of Cuba.
Comendador ****
Adjacent to the Sotolongo family house (now the Valencia hostel) is the former home of Don Pedro Regalado Pedroso y Pedroso, Prefect of the Carlos III Order. An interior hall links the two 18th century residences, done mainly in breathtaking hues of blues and greens. The walls hold many stories from the days when the lower floor served as an inn, a canteen, a cigarette shop and a little later as offices with living quarters above.
La Casa del Comendador’s rooms are beautifully decorated in customary colonial style with an antique, solemn air. The picturesque earthenware vessels, hammered wood doors, furniture and stone floors make for a memorable experience.
Abstaining from sensationalism, but being fair to the place’s historical secrets, a team of archeologists have unraveled some curious data after realizing excavations in one of its areas. The findings are in the tiny Hall of Archeology, and surely will inspire visitors to snoop around the Pedroso’s family life.
Occidental Miramar ****
Located on Fifth Avenue, in the luxurious area of Miramar, with a beautiful ocean view, in a commercial, diplomatic and residential area. Only 15 minutes away from La Habana international airport, 10 minutes away from the ity’s colonial area, 5 minutes from the beach, 2,5 km to the Exhibition Center Pabexpo and 1 km to the Aquario Nacional de Cuba.
Riviera ****
Much has been said about the Riviera since it was built in the 1950’s, its marvelous rooms and the former Palacio de la Salsa, now the famous Copa Room Cabaret, comparable to the Tropicana.
Nevertheless, astute guests will agree that the main draw is the powerful sea outside, visible through the huge panes in the lobby. That thundering force is echoed in the abundant interior blues, and the sea appears to be everywhere, in the bars, restaurants, rooms, swimming pool and lobby. This quality gives a marked sense of serenity and beauty.
Additionally, the 50’s have been resurrected in all their elegance and magnificence, and the Copa Room cabaret has succeeded in taking back the Cuban nights.
Florida ****
Anyone strolling the streets of old Havana has probably noticed the Florida hotel, either for its beauty or strategic position. A flashback to Cuba’s days as a Spanish protectorate, it dates to 1836. Before it became a hotel it was inhabited by renowned families and Havana’s opulent sugar barons.
Today the Florida has been reborn in all its splendor, with leaping arches, stalwart columns and an undeniable colonial character.
Some of the rooms open onto the replete calle Obispo, full of shops, art galleries and museums. Because of its natural qualities and vital location, it’s one the city’s most sought-after lodgings.
Ambos Mundos ****
The Ambos Mundos was built in 1923 on one of Havana’s oldest streets. Lucky enough to be chosen by the legendary U.S. writer as his Cuban home away from home, he lived there from 1932 until 1939, when he purchased the Vigía farmstead.
He couldn’t have found a more comfortable spot to write For Whom the Bell Tolls, and the lobby still reels with the same understated excitement that must have influenced the great writer.
One feels compelled to visit the meeting hall, spacious and solemn, or the former artist’s room, still preserved and on display.
Palacio San Miguel ****
A stone’s throw from the water, and facing the fortresses that have always guarded the city, the San Miguel hostel is ideal for lovers of harmony, luxury and finely-decorated spaces. This sober, restrained antiquated palace is done in great detail, and profoundly different from other capital lodgings.
Magnificent cast iron stairways, balconies with shining marble banisters, and
rooms adorned with aged photos of those who once lived there.
Antonio San Miguel y Segalá, a prominent Havana trader at the beginning of the 20th century was the palace’s former owner. He now functions as a posthuous host through the wonderful photos he’s left behind, inviting one to stroll through the “Gran Salón del Palacio,” or the lookout terrace, where it’s possible to appreciate the bay’s entrance.
This hostel is good for those with automobiles because of its open access, free of Old Havana’s tiny streets.
Park View ****
Inaugurated in 1928, reopens its doors again, enriching the historical surrounding.
Park View Hotel was one of the first hotels built with American capital and one of the highest comfort in Havana in the first decades of the 20th century.
Located in a privileged position where old and modern Havana get together.
Nearby places of interest: Prado Promenade, National Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of the Revolution, San Salvador de La Punta Fortress, Church of the Holy Guardian Angel, Central Park, restaurant El Floridita, National Capitol, Asturian Center, Galician Center-Lorca Theater.
Nearest airport: Havanas José Martí International Airport, 20 km/12,42 miles.