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Cuba is an eternal summer Cuban writer Oscar Rodriguez Diaz once said. You have to live this mild climate in one of the mythical hotels of Old Havana. Some are currently under renovation, such as the Ambos Mundos, where Ernest Hemingway wrote his novels, "a good place to work," he said, or the Sevilla, with its fabulous view of the Paseo del Prado. Another option is to stay in the Vedado. The Habana Libre dominates this artists' district of its 126 meters high. Fidel Castro had set up his headquarters there in the early days of the Revolution. However, Habana Libre has lost some of its brilliance, unlike the nearby Nacional. Here are ten addresses for a stay in Havana.
To discover
- Partner stay in Cuba | 12 days | Cigar, rum and tradition
Hotel Nacional, mythical
Hotel Nacional, mythical. Press photo
The Chevrolets of the 1950s race out of age Moskvitch on the Malecon, the waterfront below the fabulous Nacional Gardens. This park offers a splendid view of the capital, the best to sip a mojito. The Nacional, with its classic 1930s architecture, its eight floors, is the most famous hotel in Havana. Its 450 rooms have been recently renovated, but the traveler comes here for its history. The Nacional welcomed the greatest and least recommendable. The ghosts of Al Capone and other mobsters haunt its corridors.
The room to book: Gary Cooper's, the 223.
The price: from 130 € per night.
Hotel Nacional, Calle 21 y O, Vedado, Havana, Cuba. Tel: +53 7 836 3564.
Hotel Inglaterra, the historic
Hotel Inglaterra, the historic. Press photo
The oldest on this list, the Inglaterra, built in 1875, is an 83-room hotel, classified as a national monument. On a human scale with its three floors, close to the large theater Alicia Alonso, which houses the Ballet nacional de Cuba The rooms are delicious, without being luxurious. Everyone loves the neoclassical architecture of the Inglaterra and the unspeakable atmosphere of the Spanish colonial era. Havanese and tourists rush there on the terrace to enjoy traditional music orchestras.
The room to book: a room with balcony and view of the boulevard.
The price: from 120 € per night.
Hotel Inglaterra, 416 Paseo de Martí. Havana, Cuba. Tel: +53 7 608 593.
Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana, luxury
Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana, the great luxury. Press photo
This palace of 246 rooms and 50 suites, inaugurated in 2017, is located in the heart of a beautiful building of the nineteenth century. It housed a school ten years ago. The schoolchildren have left and the old Manzana de Gomez, that was its name a few years ago, is by far the most beautiful house in the capital with its five stars. Opulent rooms of 38m², overlooking the Parque Central. And what about this fabulous spill pool on the top floor from which you can dominate the city with a unique panoramic view!
The room to book: Hemingway Junior Suite of 50 m². Count 500 € for 3 people.
The price: from 365 € per night.
Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski, Parque Central. Old Havana, Havana, Cuba. Tel: +53 7 869 9100.
Gran Hotel Bristol, the new kid
Gran Hotel Bristol, the new kid. Press photo
Opened at the end of 2022, this boutique hotel with 162 rooms is a pleasant novelty. The welcome is charming, attentive, both at the doormen, at the reception or at the bar. Rooms are spacious with mesmerizing views of the Capitolio's majestic golden dome, the Cuban copy of the Washington Capitol, a little taller than the original, according to the Havanese. Not to mention stunning views of Old Havana and Centro Habana from the pool.
The room to book: a room with a view of the Capitolio.
The price: from 189 € to 210 € per night, breakfast included.
Gran Hotel Bristol, Calle Teniente Rey, Old Havana, Havana, Cuba Tel: +53 7 823 2671.
Residencia Santa Clara, the favorite
Residencia Santa Clara, the favorite. Press photo
One of our favorites, if not the favorite. La Residencia is a seven-room boutique hotel, spacious and decorated by Cuban artists. Little more, a croquignolet bar with a few tables where you can eat appetizers and enjoy in moderation cubatas or daiquiris. La Residencia is also a place where the staff is of rare attention and always good advice. The hotel is 100 metres from Havana Bay and Plaza Vieja.
The room to book: none in particular, all seven are cracking.
The price: from 120 € per night, breakfast included.
Residencia Santa Clara, Calle Santa Clara 13, e/ Oficios y Ave del Puerto. Old Havana, Havana, Cuba. Tel: +53 7 864 4858.
Iberostar Parque Central, no surprises
Iberostar Parque Central, no surprises. Press photo
Iberostar Parque Central is a classic, in the heart of the historic center of Havana, with a huge green lobby, with several bars and restaurants. The 277 rooms are nice, as is the rooftop pool. The reception is a little informal, less icy than the other Iberostar, the nearby Gran Packard, where the public relations manager scares the customer.
The room to book: a room with a view of the Central Park.
The price: from 150 €.
Parque Central, calle Neptuno between Paseo del Prado y Zulueta, Old Havana, Havana, Cuba. Tel: +53 7 860 6627.
Melia Habana, luxury for business
Melia Habana, luxury for business. Press photo
The Melia Habana is in the heart of the capital's business centre, in the Miramar-Playa embassy district. The 409 rooms at the Melia have been designed for business people. But this five-star hotel also has the largest swimming pool in the city and the sea nearby. The vast lobby and adjoining garden give a unique tropical atmosphere that blends nature and enchantment.
The room to book: a room of 46m² on the floor The Level.
The price: from 175 €.
Melia Habana, Avenida 3ra y calle 84, Miramar, Havana, Cuba. Tel: +53 7 204 8500.
Hotel Raquel, modest charm
Hotel Raquel, modest charm. Press photo
This art nouveau-inspired hotel dates from the early twentieth century. Before being a hotel, this building once housed a fabric import store. The Raquel gathers several memorabilia of Jewish culture in its lobby and a bar, the Lejaim. Rooms are modest, but the Raquel is very close to the iconic San Francisco and Vieja squares and is one of the best located establishments in the capital.
The room to book: a room with a view of the vibrant rue Mercaderes.
The price: 125 € per night with breakfast.
Hotel Raquel, 263 Mercaderes, Old Havana, Havana, Cuba. Tel: +53 7 860 8280.
Hotel Roc Presidente, the must-see
Hotel Roc Presidente, the must. Press photo
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The main character of the city is the sea " wrote Spanish author Manuel Moreno Fraginals. That's good, the Presidente and its 158 rooms, built in the 1920s on Avenue ... des Presidentes, is a hundred meters from the sea. The vast hall and adjoining rooms are decorated with Asian vases and hundreds of pieces of art. The garden and swimming pool reinforce this impression of calm in the city center.
The room to book: on the 10th and last floor overlooking the Avenue des Présidents.
The price: from 200 €.
Hotel Roc Presidente, Calzada #110 y G. El Vedado, Havana, Cuba. Tel: (+53) 7 855 1801.
Hotel Blau Arenal, the beach assured
Hotel Blau Arenal, the beach assured. Press photo
The Cuban capital has no beaches, unless you head to the district of Habana del Este, 20 km from the capital. Here, near Boca Ciega, is the Blau Arenal Hotel and 10 km of sandy beaches. It is also the only quality hotel on the beaches of the East. The Spanish channel deserves its four stars. Le Blau has 253 rooms with king-size beds. The whole remains on a human scale in the heart of a fabulous wildlife reserve with its lagoon and birds of paradise. Little more, the Mexican manager really takes care of his customers.
The room to book: a room with terrace overlooking the gardens.
The price: from 106 € all included.
Hotel Blau Arenal, Laguna Boca Ciega, Cuba. Tel: +53 797 1272.
