 |
Inside Havana
Dining and lodging options in Cuba's capital remain virtually unchanged, but a few venues still stand out. Here are the best places to stay and eat.
From the Print Edition:
Cuba, January/February 2009
(continued from page 2)
Tocororo
Calle 18, corner of 3 Miramar Tel.: 204-2209 Mon. — Sat., lunch and dinner Expensive; major credit cards
An old haunt for most regular travelers to Havana, Tocororo still delivers good steaks and crisp French fries, although it's always been one of the most expensive places to go for dinner on the island. Nonetheless, a bottle of red, a juicy steak (usually Canadian beef), live bolero music and a cigar can be well worth the premium price.
La Floridita
Obispo No. 557
La Habana Vieja
Tel.: 867-1299
Mon. — Sun., lunch and dinner
Expensive; major credit cards
Food has never been a strong point for this famous tourist destination, which still serves the best Daiquiris on the island. The bar/restaurant claims to have invented the drink. But the rum flambéed shrimp with vegetables and a cold glass of white wine is still one of my favorite dinning experiences on the island. The flaming tableside service is hard to find anywhere in the world these days.
El Bodegita el Medio
Empedrado No. 207
La Habana Vieja
Tel.: 867-1374
Mon. — Sun., lunch and dinner
Moderate; major credit cards
Yes, it is a tourist trap. And the mixed drinks, particularly Mojitos, are nothing special. But the grilled pork, black beans and boiled rice are still cooked to perfection. The place reeks of history and fun. A funky spot in old Havana.
Hotels
Hotel Meliá Cohiba
Calle Paseo, between 1 and 3
Vedado
Tel.: (7) 8333636
Fax: (7) 8333946
www.solmeliacuba.com
Expensive
Modern and big with 500-plus rooms, this hotel has always had a business ambience to it. But there is pleasure, too, at the Meliá Cohiba, with excellent service, good food in its various restaurants and a comfortable pool. The executive floor is worth the extra money for the pampering, dedicated bar with drinks and snacks, and Wi-Fi Internet service. This is the hotel where I stay while in Havana.
Hotel Parque Central
Calle Neptuno, between Prado and Zulueta
La Habana Vieja
Havana
Tel.: (7) 8606627
Fax: (7) 8606630
www.nh-hotels.com
Expensive
This is an excellent hotel for people who want a good mix of the old and the new. It's a minute or two walk from the National Theater and the Capitol building. Rooms are modern, clean and comfortable, and the service is friendly and attentive. I love the rooftop pool and whirlpool. What's better than spending an afternoon in the sun, taking a dip in the pool and gazing at the skyline of Havana?
Hotel Nacional
Calle O, corner of 21
Vedado
Tel.: (7) 8363564
Fax: (7) 8365054
www.hotelnacional.com
Expensive
Nothing ever seems to change at the Nacional. The classy 1930s-style hotel is the most beautiful on the island, with a fabulous location on a knoll overlooking the avenue bordering the sea called the Malecón. The terrace and garden are some of the nicest places to relax with a cigar and a drink in Havana. It's a shame the rooms remain stark and tired and the service inattentive. The food is terrible.
Hotel Santa Isabel
Calle Baratillo No. 9, between Obispo and Narciso Lopez, Plaza de Armas
La Habana Vieja
Tel.: (7) 8608201
Fax: (7) 8608391
E-mail: commercial@habaguanexhsisabel.co.cu
Moderate
The location and Spanish colonial facade of this beautiful small hotel with a couple of dozen rooms make it worth staying in. You are in the heart of Old Havana, and can walk to many sights, restaurants and shops. But the rooms are tired and the service poor.
Hotel Meliá Habana
Calle 3, between 76 and 80
Miramar
Tel.: (7) 2048500
Fax: (7) 2043905
E-mail: jefe.creservas.mha@solmeliacuba.com
Expensive
This is very similar to its sister hotel, the Meliá Cohiba, but the 400-room Habana has a more relaxed atmosphere due to its location in the Havana neighborhood of Miramar overlooking the sea. The pool is more relaxed than the Cohiba. And there are tennis courts as well. A serious cigar shop is located in the basement.
Hotel Saratoga
Paseo del Prado 603, corner of Dragones
La Vieja Habana
Tel.: (7) 8681000
Fax: (7) 8681001
E-mail: commercial@saratoga.co.cu
Moderate
You have to love a hotel that's almost directly across from the Partagas cigar factory, but even though it is in the center of Havana, the Saratoga can be a little quiet. Rooms are clean, light and airy, with large bathrooms. The staff is friendly and helpful. The swimming pool on the roof is a marvelous place to spend an afternoon on a hot day, and the food is good at the bar there. Otherwise, don't eat here.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
RSS