Nacional Hotel, Havana

Sitting on a high bluff overlooking the Malecón, this is Havana's signature hotel, and it's loaded with atmosphere. Two massive turrets loom overhead as you approach the entrance along its palm-lined driveway. The long, tiled lobby, with its high ceilings and heavy painted beams, is the heart and hub of this joint, and it's almost always bustling. The rooms themselves are large and well-appointed, although somewhat drab and showing their age. Some of the standard rooms have quite small bathrooms and no dressers with drawers. The suites and deluxe rooms are generally quite nice, however. Over half the rooms have ocean views, although only a rare few have private balconies. The hotel has a vast lawn area on its high bluff that opens out toward the sea. This is a great place to grab a table for a sunset drink overlooking the Malecón, with giant cannons protecting you on either side

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In a building which dates back from 1930, the Nacional mixes its art deco details with a glorious past. It is located on a promontory, just over the Malecon, with beautiful sights of the sea and also of La Habana. Great celebrities have stayed here. It is worth to have a mojito at the garden bar. There was only a thing I didn like: there were free turkeys all around the garden... and they got very close to us! Perhaps they feel like a mojito too... The Nacional also has a good cabaret, with a show which is similar to Tropicana, although cheaper.
En un edificio de los anhos 30, el Nacional combina sus detalles art deco con un glorioso pasado. Esta situado en un promontorio, justo sobre el Malecon y con hermosas vistas del mar y tambien de La Habana. Grandes celebridades se han alojado aqui. Vale la pena tomarse un mojito en el bar del jardin. Solo hubo una cosa que no me gusto: habia pavos sueltos por el jardin... y se acercaron mucho a nosotros! Quizas a ellos tambien les apetecia un mojito... El Nacional tiene tambien un buen cabaret, con un espectaculo parecido al del Tropicana, pero mas barato.

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The Hotel Nacional is a stunningly beautiful hotel. It is actually a national monument. It opened for business in 1930 and over the years has been frequented by both dignitaries and Mafia gangsters. It is still considered "the" place to stay in Havana.

We didn't stay at Nacional (we preferred Sevilla, a hotel in Old Havana), but went there for an afternoon drink. There are a lot of art deco details which are worth a mention. We liked very much the old elevators. Many well known personalities of last century used them.

No nos quedamos en el Nacional (preferimos el Sevilla, en La Habana Vieja), pero si que fuimos alli para tomarnos algo por la tarde. Hay un monton de detalles art deco dignos de mencion. Nos gustaron muchos los ascensores, han conservado los antiguos. Muchas personalidades celebres del siglo pasado los usaron.

Most hotel reviews go on about how this is one of the few true five-star hotels in Cuba, indeed up until the 1950's about the only one in the Carribean as a whole.

They also go on about the gardens and swimming pools as an oasis within the city.

They might also point out that the Lobby has been elegantly restored using high-quality materials.

What they fail to point out is that the wedding- cake look would look more at home in Las Vegas.

That is not surprising as the hotel was built with Mafia Money back in the 1920's. The lobby is of course so large and sumptuous because it was originally a gaming floor filled with punters losing to the house or feeding slot machines with the all-pervasive dollar.

Easily the best hotel in Havana, and worth an afternoons relaxation around the pool if the heat is oppressive. They seem to welcome non-residents without any problem.

Hotel Nacional and the skyline of Habana
A previous and still top class hotel visited by many famous americans like Al Capone - Frank Sinatra A Casino and Bordello in the earlies - a scenary of past glory and many remembrance this time !!
The view and atmosphere is superb

Yes folks - i know - "Poor and Rich" in Habana and definately in this Hotel, former Play station of many famous people.But i had the chance to meet the people - i had the chance to enjoy a perfect view on the bay of Habana
I went to center Habana aswell an dealed with the poor locals - so do not blame me Cuba junks - this is Cuba - different faces,different feelings.

A visit to this famous Hotel is a must - tasting the atmosphere of the golden years
This hotel was builded in 1930 and house of gambling/Casino - and penneypoker players near the swimmingpool. Famous guests like Al Capone - Sinatra and many others visited this place of sinn.
The owner and maffia member Meyer Lansky
left Cuba in 1959 - together with Batista ! The revolution started.
Today this place is still wortwhile to visit - the view on the Malecon perfect ! The spots to have a drink - just relaxing was my last adventure in Habana - a Capital i still like the most

The Nacional is Havana's most famous hotel (also one of the most expensive ones) . As unfortunately it was out of in the accommodation category on this site (next time). It's worth to look around the lobby and enjoy a cocktail in the bar outside with a seaview.
The website given below provides a good idea of the Nacional's splendour (though it's not the Caribbean you can watch from the hotel, but the Gulf of Mexico)

No trip to Havana is complete without having a drink at the Hotel Nacional in the Vedado district. Walk through the hotel lobby and onto the backside of the hotel. In the evening there is an outside bar which serves the best mojitos in Cuba.
What is a mojito you say? It's a drink made with cuban rum, lemon juice, fresh sugar cane juice, soda,mint leaf, and ice. Expect to pay $3.50 U.S. for this drink at the hotel.