3rd Avenue and 84th street, Havana, Cuba | (888) 635-3814
Four pools and three kiddy pools with plenty of loungers
Waterfront location with a small beach
Bungalows and Standard Rooms with safes and mini-fridges
Three restaurants, multiple bars, and room service
Bungalow lounge with ping-pong and pool tables
Three meeting rooms including one that fits 250 people
On-site cigar shop making its own cigars
Nightly live music and weekly dance performances
Wi-Fi for a fee in the lobby and Bungalow lounge
Dated rooms with wear and tear
Away from Old Havana and its attractions
Beach is small and rocky
Smell of smoke in some rooms (including nonsmoking ones)
Issues with peeling paint and other maintenance (common for Cuban properties)
The mid-range Hotel Comodoro has a lively and twinkling past
as a former casino during Havana’s mid-century boom, but today that sparkle
falls a bit flat. It’s especially absent in the Comodoro’s 124 Standard Rooms
and 159 Bungalows, which suffer from dated furnishings, smoky smells, and
maintenance issues. But the lobby and the pool still have a touch of glamour,
and the latter is surprisingly tranquil. There’s also a small rocky beach. But
guests will have to take a taxi or drive to reach Old Havana’s cultural
highlights. Travelers looking for a mid-range hotel with a more central location could try the Hotel Telegrafo, though it lacks a pool.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A hotel with a swinging '50s past, but some wear and tear today
El Comodoro is a hotel that’s doing battle with the
elements and with time. The sea air and salt water has caused rust and peeling
to the facade, an issue that the hotel is fighting with ongoing repairs. But
the location also means outstanding sea views from the rooms, the restaurant,
and the lobby -- the hotel’s most attractive indoor space. It’s here visitors
can find evidence of the hotel’s glamorous past. The Comodoro was once a
thriving casino; its dock would welcome high-rollers that would sail in from
Florida and other Caribbean spots. A little of this glitter remains,
particularly in the tiered mid-century chandelier at the entrance, the
gold-crest logo above the front desk, and the 1950s ads in the lobby bar of
coiffed models drinking Crystal (Cuban’s national beer).The pools offer another highlight. Crisscrossed by terra-cotta-colored
footbridges and undulating around the rooms, these freeform pools give a tranquil and refreshing spot to sunbathe or read a book. The kiddy pools
are also refreshingly calm, but unfortunately one overlooks a shuttered
discotheque (not affiliated with the hotel) that’s a bit of an eyesore.Other public areas are less inviting, like the buffetrestaurant that displays a shallow water feature housing a few sad-looking fish,
the elevators with floors showing layers of worn linoleum, or the overly dark
bungalow lounge, which stood empty despite its ping-pong and pool tables. And
rooms also lack any hint of sparkle.Due to its location near the embassies and the trade center,
the Comodoro tends to draw business travelers, but families also come here to
make use of the bungalows.
Location
In Miramar, by the city's trade center but far from Old Havana
Hotel Comodoro is away from the cultural highlights of Old
Havana. Set in the neighborhood of Miramar, the hotel is surrounded by embassies, and it's near the city's trade
center (a nine-minute walk or three-minute drive away), which accounts for its business traveler clientele. The hotel is right
on the water, but while it has a small beach, it’s not sandy. Major city sights
are a short drive away. The Malecón, Havana’s waterfront promenade and the
city’s prime people-watching spot, is a 10-minute drive away. La Floridita,
Hemingway’s famed daiquiri bar, is a 16-minute drive. And the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts) is a 13-minute drive. Havana's José Martí International Airport is 26 minutes away by car.
Rooms
Simple rooms in beachy colors, but maintenance issues exist
El Comodoro's rooms come in two categories: Standard Rooms or Bungalows, which are stacked in two stories with one unit on the bottom and the other on top capped with a terra-cotta roof. With white tile floors and yellow walls illuminated by weak lighting, the bungalows
are simple and no-frills. Beachy bamboo and wicker couches and armchairs give
seating. A glass
dining table for four provides a proper spot for meals. All bungalows have small
kitchenettes with two-burner stovetops, sinks, mini-fridges (stocked with
drinks on request), and dishware and cookware supplied on request. But one
notable absence is a coffeemaker or kettle. Standard Rooms have soft tropical colors like pinky-orange or
seafoam green on the stucco walls. Dated, ‘80s-style artwork adorns the spaces, and
furnishings include chipped wicker living room sets, bentwood chairs, and dated
bedspreads. All standard rooms have terraces or balconies, though these are
rusty and have peeling paint; they’re furnished with a white plastic lounger
and side table, and have
incredible sea views. All rooms have air-conditioning, safes, mini-fridges, and
TVs. TVs are either tube or older model flat-screens, which have cable
channels. Bathrooms in both room categories are done in pink tile, and they're stocked
with individual toiletries and hairdryers. The shower/tub combos have marks
from minerals in the water, and ceilings and tan vanities often have water
stains. Despite the fact that some rooms are nonsmoking, they can still smell
of stale tobacco. Maintenance issues
also crop up (a common issue across Cuban properties), and on our visit, some guests were complaining about a lack of
running water in their room.
Features
Multiple pools, rocky beach, three restaurants, and massive meeting space
El Comodoro's main draw is its pool and small beach. Technically the freeform pool is split into seven bodies of water, four general pools and three for kids. Footbridges connect the sundeck, which is ringed with loungers and sun umbrellas. There’s a small rocky beach with ample loungers for sunbathing. Although it’s not suitable for sandcastles, it gives guests a little spot for a saltwater dip. Loungers and canopied daybeds are also outside facing the ocean, and there’s a central patio that offers alfresco seating with seaside views.The Comodoro has three restaurants, one buffet and two a la carte serving Italian and Cuban fare respectively. A free buffet breakfast is included in the room rate, and it’s often accompanied by live accordion music, a festive touch. There are also multiple bars including a lobby bar, poolside snack bar (open 24 hours), and a grill bar by the beach. Room service is 24 hours. Entertainment comes in the form of jazz music in the lobby in the evenings and two or three live bands that visit the restaurants nightly. Once a week the hotel holds a spectacle with musicians and dancers doing salsa. Business travelers can make use of the three meeting rooms; the largest one is poolside and can fit 250 people. Wi-Fi is available in the lobby and the bungalow lobby. Guests purchase hourly Wi-Fi cards from the front desk, a system that’s commonly used throughout Cuba. (On our visit, cards were 4 Cuc each.) For families, cribs are available on request. Guests staying in the bungalows can also make use of the lounge there with ping-pong and pool tables. There’s also a giant chess set for super-sized games. Active travelers can make use of the hotel’s gym, which also holds a sauna; massage services are available. The on-site cigar shop makes their own cigars along with selling the usual top-shelf brands like Romeo y Juliet or Cohiba.
