Swiss hotel chain Kempinski runs this self-proclaimed 5½-star hotel in the heart of Old Havana. Covering the entire block, the luxurious property features 246 large rooms and suites on five floors with views over the old city and Parque Central. Facilities include a cigar lounge, a spa and fitness center, a rooftop swimming pool and a panoramic, guests-only bar-restaurant.
The original European-style building dates to 1894 and existed as a multifarious property, hosting offices and a shopping arcade until the 1980s. Today the entire ground floor is bedecked in retail colors, with names such as Mango, L’Occitane en Provence, Lacoste, Mont Blanc and other international brands that have few devotees in Cuba. The hotel decor is sophisticated and modern, with green, light blues and violets enlivening the predominant white and light grays.