Hotel Ambos Mundos

"Hemingway was here," could replace the entrance sign on the hotel's Spanish Colonial facade. The writer lived on-site for seven years in the early 20th century. To this day, the hotel’s decor, overall vibe, and popularity continue to be influenced by his presence. Photos of the author, the original Otis cage elevator, and a freshwater turtle fountain all add interesting touches to the large lobby and adjacent lounge. The space is often packed with guests and non-guests relaxing with a Cuban cigar or coffee while enjoying the live piano music wafting onto the pedestrian mall outside. The rooftop restaurant arguably offers the best, most sweeping views of Old Havana and the waterfront beyond Castillo de La Real Fuerza. While children are welcome, there’s a certain historic charm -- romance even -- that attracts more couples than families or business travelers.

The hotel's location along the bustling Obispo pedestrian mall places it within walking distance of Old Havana’s most tourist-friendly stops. Numerous restaurants, shops, galleries, and attractions are within a five-minute walk in any direction. Plaza de Armas, Castillo de la Real Fuerza, and the waterfront Malecón boardwalk are each less than three minutes away on foot. José Martí International Airport is 40 minutes away by car. Coordinating ground transportation through the hotel is often the best, most efficient way to get around. Outside of the pedestrian mall, taxis are ubiquitous throughout the city. However, the lack of meters means that fares are often at the whim of the driver and tourists are frequently charged more than (sometimes twice as much as) locals.

Rooms offer a tasteful blend of original historical elements and modern accents. Louvered wooden doors, intricate floor tiling, and cathedral ceilings bookend spaces adorned with contemporary bedding, headboards, and seating. Standard Rooms are small and functional. Some are windowless, while others offer only limited alley views. The three bright Junior Suites upgrade to substantially more square footage plus balconies. Every room category features air-conditioning, stocked minibars, and flat-screen TVs with Cuban programming. As with most Cuban hotels, in-room Wi-Fi is not available. The modestly sized bathrooms are adorned with floor-to-ceiling tile and feature shower/tub combinations, wall-mounted hairdryers, and generic bath amenities.

The hotel is relatively small with only a few amenities, but all are beautiful and historical. The Restaurante Plaza de Armas occupies the entire rooftop terrace with a mix of indoor and alfresco dining. The sweeping views of Old Havana and the waterfront are among the best in the city. It’s a well-known stop for non-guests who come in off the street to grab a coffee while taking in the views. Free hot breakfast is served daily. Lunch and dinner are both a la carte with mostly Cuban-inspired fare. In the lobby, the check-in area flows seamlessly into Cafe Ambos Mundos -- a piano bar with comfortable lounge-style seating and bistro tables with full bar service. It’s a popular spot for guests and other tourists who come for the Hemingway-related photo ops.Room 511 -- a space that Ernest Hemingway called home in the 1930s -- is today a miniature, one-room museum dedicated to the author and his exploits in Cuba. It still looks much as it did when he was alive with most of the memorabilia under glass. Daily tours are available for a fee.Like most hotels in Old Havana, there is no parking adjacent the hotel. The lobby offers Wi-Fi via prepaid NAUTA cards (available for purchase at the front desk).