Arriving at the Nacional de Cuba Hotel.
March 15, 2009
There's nothing quite like watching the Caribbean Sea wash across the Malecon from your room at the Hotel Nacional. The Nacional is one of the most classical and emblematic hotels in Havana. Luxury, elegance and distinction with first class services, it remains intact after six decades of undisputed leadership amongst Cuba hotels.
For those who like living large and lush in the Old World style, this is Havana's numero uno address.
In the 1940s and 50s, Havana was a tourist playground, and this hotel received a stream of famous guests, including Nat King Cole, Marlon Brando and other entertainers, writers & celebrities.
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The Grand Old Lady of Havana
Once we had checked-in at this hotel, I looked around and wondered if we had made a mistake. Everything about the place is OH SO OLD !!
We selected the Nacional de Cuba, mainly because of the history of the place, and history it has in abundance.
Billed as the country's flagship hotel, the Nacional is a stand-out in more ways than one. First, it enjoys a great location, commanding a hilltop overlooking the Malecon, with sweeping vistas over the Atlantic towards Habana Vieja (old Havana), and west over the Vedado district. A dramatic confluence of Spanish colonial and art deco, the eight-story edifice opened as a hotel in 1930 and has been luring moneyed travellers, including celebrities (and, in former years, the Mafia) for almost eight decades. The hotel's interior comprises a vast gallery of photographs recalling celebrities, who've stayed here, and modern day guests can reasonably expect to share their stay with flouncing model divas and Hollywood stars.
The hotel is approached via a long palm-lined driveway remarkable for the parade of Mercedes taxis awaiting fares. The gardens wrap around the hotel, offering a breezy promenade along paths that wind past strutting peacocks and centenary cannon pointing out to sea. A small porte-cochere entrance opens to a soaring lobby featuring Moorish tile work, dark-stained beams and wrought-iron chandeliers. It is often thronged with tour groups, gawkers and guests, but has lounge chairs in recessed alcoves.
The Comedor de Aguiar restaurant is a repository for antique vases, glistening chandeliers and fine artwork. A dress code applies at this supremely elegant eatery, where the international cuisine can best be described as ‘of inconsistent quality’, while seriously denting the wallet. A cheaper, less lavish option is La Veranda, serving all-you-can-eat smorgasbord meals. In addition, a rather chilly basement cafe serves snacks and plays up the hotel's movie associations. Several bars also serve food, and guests can opt for either poolside dining for a set fee, or a delicious weekly barbecue on the rear lawn. The overpriced, tasteless dinner option at the hotel cabaret is best avoided.
Open 24 hours, the Rincon del Cine cafe-bar features a photo collage of movie greats and shows Cuban film clips. Other options, such as the cigar lounge and the Aire Mar Bar, with its rather sickly decor, are overly air-conditioned. In the Galeria bar, guests sit in large rattan seats beneath monastic-style Spanish-style arches that open onto the rear gardens—a perfect venue for savouring a robust Cohiba and strong mojitos served by staff in immaculate white uniforms.
The rooms, although large, are a let-down. The hotel was last renovated more than a decade ago for a reputed $64 million, and although many rooms have since been refurbished on a rotating basis, a more thorough refurbishment to is long overdue. The predominantly pink-and-red color scheme is drab, and many of the fabrics are long past their prime, including carpets. Cleanliness is also an issue. While some guests might thrill to sleep in a room once occupied by Frank Sinatra (225) or Johnny Weismuller (229), all rooms retain original, frumpy dark mahogany furnishings from the 1930s. They come with air conditioning, phones, satellite TVs, radios, safes, minibars and hair dryers, but some lack dressers with drawers. Baths are of varying sizes, many being small. Bidets are a standard fixture. Plumbing is generally efficient, and rarely is availability of hot water an issue. While many of the staff are willing, helpful and friendly, others appear indifferent, even when eager to elicit tips.
But all things considered…….we absolutely loved this hotel !!
We selected the Nacional de Cuba, mainly because of the history of the place, and history it has in abundance.
Billed as the country's flagship hotel, the Nacional is a stand-out in more ways than one. First, it enjoys a great location, commanding a hilltop overlooking the Malecon, with sweeping vistas over the Atlantic towards Habana Vieja (old Havana), and west over the Vedado district. A dramatic confluence of Spanish colonial and art deco, the eight-story edifice opened as a hotel in 1930 and has been luring moneyed travellers, including celebrities (and, in former years, the Mafia) for almost eight decades. The hotel's interior comprises a vast gallery of photographs recalling celebrities, who've stayed here, and modern day guests can reasonably expect to share their stay with flouncing model divas and Hollywood stars.
The hotel is approached via a long palm-lined driveway remarkable for the parade of Mercedes taxis awaiting fares. The gardens wrap around the hotel, offering a breezy promenade along paths that wind past strutting peacocks and centenary cannon pointing out to sea. A small porte-cochere entrance opens to a soaring lobby featuring Moorish tile work, dark-stained beams and wrought-iron chandeliers. It is often thronged with tour groups, gawkers and guests, but has lounge chairs in recessed alcoves.
The Comedor de Aguiar restaurant is a repository for antique vases, glistening chandeliers and fine artwork. A dress code applies at this supremely elegant eatery, where the international cuisine can best be described as ‘of inconsistent quality’, while seriously denting the wallet. A cheaper, less lavish option is La Veranda, serving all-you-can-eat smorgasbord meals. In addition, a rather chilly basement cafe serves snacks and plays up the hotel's movie associations. Several bars also serve food, and guests can opt for either poolside dining for a set fee, or a delicious weekly barbecue on the rear lawn. The overpriced, tasteless dinner option at the hotel cabaret is best avoided.
Open 24 hours, the Rincon del Cine cafe-bar features a photo collage of movie greats and shows Cuban film clips. Other options, such as the cigar lounge and the Aire Mar Bar, with its rather sickly decor, are overly air-conditioned. In the Galeria bar, guests sit in large rattan seats beneath monastic-style Spanish-style arches that open onto the rear gardens—a perfect venue for savouring a robust Cohiba and strong mojitos served by staff in immaculate white uniforms.
The rooms, although large, are a let-down. The hotel was last renovated more than a decade ago for a reputed $64 million, and although many rooms have since been refurbished on a rotating basis, a more thorough refurbishment to is long overdue. The predominantly pink-and-red color scheme is drab, and many of the fabrics are long past their prime, including carpets. Cleanliness is also an issue. While some guests might thrill to sleep in a room once occupied by Frank Sinatra (225) or Johnny Weismuller (229), all rooms retain original, frumpy dark mahogany furnishings from the 1930s. They come with air conditioning, phones, satellite TVs, radios, safes, minibars and hair dryers, but some lack dressers with drawers. Baths are of varying sizes, many being small. Bidets are a standard fixture. Plumbing is generally efficient, and rarely is availability of hot water an issue. While many of the staff are willing, helpful and friendly, others appear indifferent, even when eager to elicit tips.
But all things considered…….we absolutely loved this hotel !!
Wonderful old lifts.
Grand Entrance.
Our favourite bar !
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