7 Best places to stay in Havana

Come for the glamour of yesteryear. Built on a bluff overlooking the ocean road in the entertainment district of el Vedado, Presidents, movie stars, models and mafia have all stayed at the iconic Hotel Nacional.

It’s worth booking the executive floor, as the rooms are smarter, breakfasts better and the dining room less like a school canteen. You don’t stay at the Nacional for contemporary style, or for the best service, instead it’s about soaking up the old-fashioned grandeur, Spanish style architecture, mojitos on the terrace, and the sense of history. The famous daily tour of the hotel is unmissable for the lowdown on who has stayed and where.

This one’s best suited to history lovers, and those wanting a full-service hotel.

This beautifully revived colonial mansion, on a leafy street in the heart of artsy el Vedado, features smart rooms filled with mid-century furniture and Cuban contemporary art.

It’s big draws though are the alfresco patio, 24-hour bar, and new La Bodega restaurant serving up authentic regional Cuban cuisine.

But amid the light, style and gorgeous Spanish tiles it’s the owners and hosts who characterise La Reserva with a warm and friendly spirit. Tap into their concierge black book – your ticket to insider Havana experiences.

La Reserva is for those who love quiet luxury and want to tap into Havana’s contemporary art and culture scene.

A winning combination of European style and Cuban flair is the hallmark of smart stay Paseo 206. Crafted from the shell of a 1930s villa, the Italian-Cuban owners have built on the refined bones of wood panelling and Carrara marble tiles and furnished the handsome house with European furniture, and creature comforts. Hospitality is its hallmark; the service is immaculate.

Book one of their immersive experiences offered to guests – learning to cook with Paseo’s chef or head out into the streets with a local photographer for a different perspective.

The villa is in the heart of the leafy suburb of el Vedado, close to top restaurants, bars and museums. Paseo 206 is perfect for those who like style, comfort and a clued-in concierge.

The only five-star hotel right on the city’s ocean road, SO/ takes a spirited approach to design. Spanish fashion designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada helped create a beautiful imprint in rooms that nod to dance: ballet, salsa and son.  The ‘ballet’ rooms are gorgeous in blush pink; nab a seaview room with floor to ceiling windows and it might be difficult to tear yourself away from the view.

The rooftop bar and infinity pool are major draws, as SO/ La Habana is the only five star on the ocean road with sweeping views of the entire harbour, right round to the entertainment district.

For those who like comfort, mod cons and everything on their doorstep, this new hotel couldn’t be better located.

A hub of Cuban design and creativity perfectly pitched on Havana’s ocean road, Malecon 663 is a fusion of voguish Habanero style mixed with retro flavours from yesteryear.

The vibe is lively, with a downstairs lobby bar and café and a fabulous rooftop terrace and bar with musicians and DJs playing every night.

Art is everywhere throughout the hotel, from chairs upholstered with photographic images to a vertical garden of plastic poppies. 

Staying here you’ll meet Havana’s artists and creatives who come to hang and chat. You’ll also be clued into the latest under-the-radar events, gallery openings and coolest places to eat.

This design-focused townhouse-turned-B&B, in the heart of fashionable Old Havana, has nine elegantly-furnished rooms – many lit by coloured stained glass.

Arranged over three floors in a beautifully restored building, think it features vibrant Spanish floor tiles, and revived European furniture finds. 

The roof terrace, where you can eat breakfast, offers panoramic rooftop views that include the art deco Bacardí building and local 19th-century church.

It’s a great choice for those wanting to tap into the city’s cultural zeitgeist and have the best of Old Havana’s attractions on their doorstep.

Havana’s first five-star hotel is still its best: oozing class, and in a perfect position on the edge of the historic old city. Rooms are light and bright and comfortably cooled by air con; the rooftop infinity pool is a balm with its extraordinary views of the baroque facades of grand buildings; and the breakfast spread is the most sumptuous in the city.

It’s a one-minute stroll to the heart of the old town; the Ladies in Red Kempinski concierge reserves top restaurants for dinner; and tutti-frutti coloured classic American cars wait outside to whisk you off to other parts of town.

The Kempinski is perfect for those who like luxury and want to be at the heart of things.