Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Historic hotel

Opened in 1930 & Havana's most famous hotel. In its time it has been frequented by many famous film stars, politicians & celebrities. The twin towered Art Deco hotel is set in a magnificent position overlooking the Malecon.

The hotel has a number of bars & restaurants. From the elite Comedor de Aguiar restaurant to the Cafeteria el Rincon del Cine. This is a film themed diner with a giant TV screen, I ate here a couple of times & found the food ok. The best place for a drink is the Terrace bar in the hotel grounds, sat here drinking mojitos watching the sun set over the Malecon was amazing.
The breakfast room is a self service buffet, there was a wide selection of hot & cold food.

The hotel has the usual business & leisure facilities. It also has several shops & a bank.

Even though some of the furnishings were a little dated, my room & the hotel seemed to be kept clean. The staff were friendly & helpful.

Unique Quality: The hotel is situated away from old Havana & many of the cities attractions, I walked from the hotel along the Malecon one day to old Havana & it took about 40 minutes. There are plenty of taxis & other types of transportation on offer outside the hotel if you don't fancy walking.

There are less expensive hotels in Havana & many nearer to the old town too. This hotel just has a sense of history about it. When you stand in the elegant spacious lobby or sit in the gardens enjoying a drink & looking out over the Malecon, it just seems like the best place in Havana to be.

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average

Hotel Nacional de Cuba Photo: Hotel Nacional de Cuba

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A little bit of 1930's class

Hotel Nacional, built in 1930, is certainly one of the classiest and most prestigious hotels in Havana. We stayed there during our last night in Cuba, and it was just as much like visiting a historical monument as a 5-star hotel; the massive lobby, bejeweled chandeliers and eclectic art deco architecture gives the whole place a very glamorous feel. The rooms are simple and classy, and we were fortunate enough to get a 14th floor oceanview room which really upped the romance.

Service is passable but be ready for long queues at check-in especially if you don't speak Spanish, as only certain staff members are bilingual. The hotel is stacked with amenities, and the restaurants were very good. The location is excellent, and is within walking distance to Malecon, Coppelia, and tons of shopping and restaurants.

For a double room, the price was 180.00 CUC for 2 people, plus 50.00 CUC if you need early check-in. Overall, you get what you pay for; a classy, historic and memorable Havana experience.

Unique Quality: The lobby is gorgeous, and the lower level houses several stores including souvenir shops and one of the best places in Havana to buy cigars. The hotel is stacked with amenities including 2 pools, a fitness area, a foreign exchange, smoking room, Internet cafe and spa. There are 3 restaurants in the hotel also; a 24-hour cafe, formal dining and a buffet, as well as a cabaret-style nightclub and 3 bars.

• Opinion of Price: most expensive
• Related to: Architecture, Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Historical Travel

Hotel Nacional de Cuba Photo: Hotel Nacional in all its glory!

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Habana's Pride!!

This hotel is gorgeous! Its been here a long time and attracted the likes of Bugsy Siegal and other mafia bosses during its time. The hotel lobby as always packed with people, mostly locals. Its quite a hangout joint for local well to do Cubans with some great restaurants and bars.

Unique Quality: Superb 5 star facilities.

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average

Hotel Nacional de Cuba Photo: Hotel Nacional de Cuba

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Best hotel in Havana

Hotel Nacional

Hotel Nacional de Cuba means bit more than 5 star hotel, with its historical monument status and famous visitors, including Castro on regular basis. We loved its bars and restaurants, cigar shops and ballroom halls, sipping your coffee and a glass of Cuban rum on a sunny morning felt just lovely:) u could even hang around the gardens and sit on the grass just staring at Vedado, Malecon or the sea.
In December the hotel celebrated 75 years anniversary and had organized a Buena Vista Social Club concert which was just amazing - see more details on Things to do tips.

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
• Related to: Arts and Culture, Historical Travel, Luxury Travel

Hotel Nacional de Cuba

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A bit of History

My sister was visiting Cuba for the first time, I thought what better gift than staying where many have stayed .. with such beautiful views of the city of havana and also the malecon..

Unique Quality: The building is over 70 years old and the rooms are very comfortable. The service is so so but in cuba that is the usual rather than the exception. Bars galore and also good restaurants. Very centrally located in Vedado.
Nice to think of all those who have stayed there before.. from 1930s to recently...

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average

Hotel Nacional de Cuba Photo: patio to relax

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Simply the best hotel in Havana

Its a 5 star hotel built by the Mob back in the 30's. Its had a good number of famous people stay there and I'm glad we spent the extra cash to stay there.

It was just excellent, its not modern but its got everything you expect in a 5 star hotel with real feeling, its a classic and well run.

The photo is the view from our hotel window

Unique Quality: its got all you'd expect from a 5 start hotel, pool, good food, even a cabaret.

But visit the website, you'll see what I mean and the hotel will not let you down.

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
• Related to: Romantic Travel and Honeymoons

Hotel Nacional de Cuba Photo: view from the hotel room window

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NACIONAL DE CUBA havana

The Hotel Nacional de Cuba is arguably the most distinguished hotel in Cuba. Dating back to the 1930?s,
this hotel is above average for havana and is a good insight into how havana must have been in its hayday.
food is very mediocre but this is cuba!
stylish old hotel which boasts the who's who of former famous guests.
bit ragged round the edges now but this adds to much of its charm..good location with great sea views if your lucky enough to get a front room.
rooms were big and the bathrooms huge....generally clean with decent amenities.
staff could have been more attentive but this place is humid!!
i liked this hotel for its history and fading granduer.
good mojito's to be had here and the building still has some shell damage from their fracas with the usa.....at the front of the hotel they still have the original battlement defences that you can enter.
the nacional still stands proud and well worth a visit.

Unique Quality: visit the gunnery implacement in the ground & see the picture of the american attack on cuba........

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Related to: Architecture, Music, Festivals

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A grand hotel with a great view of the Malecon

Unique Quality: Situated by the oceanside and the Malecon, Hotel Nacional is a luxurious landmark in Vedado. In its heyday before the revolution, the hotel was the only five-star hotel in the Caribbean. Famous politicians, celebrities and mobsters have stayed here.

The beautiful garden is the site of the Santa Clara battery, part of Havana's defence system, dated back two centuries ago. Some of the ditches, as well as a couple of naval guns, are preserved. There is a little museum dedicated to the military history in the garden.

The outdoor garden is full of life! Parrots with no cage sits at one corner, while chicken and peacocks run around freely. The is also a huge cage of lovebirds. There are plenty of comfy sofas lining by the patio around the back of the hotel. It is a perfect place for a break, even though there is no air conditioning! A bar is close by and the waiter walks by often.

I don't have much info about the hotel, as I was here only for about an hour. But it certainly looked like a great place to stay.

• Opinion of Price: N/A

Hotel Nacional de Cuba Photo: Beautiful back garden of Hotel Nacional

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