Calle Mercaderes 202, Havana, Cuba | (618) 248-8274
On a pedestrian mall near restaurants, shops, and Plaza de Armas
Spacious rooms with air-conditioning, minibars, and flat-screen TVs
Suites upgrade to larger layouts, hot tubs, and Juliet balconies
All-day Cuban restaurant also offers room service
A beautiful cigar bar and humidor
Open-air courtyard with seating and greenery
Credit cards accepted
Dated room decor and visible wear
Some in-room hot tubs don’t work and balconies are tiny
Parking is unavailable
No Wi-Fi anywhere on the property (common in Havana)
**Following new *U.S. State Department regulations* issued November 9, 2017, American travelers are prohibited from staying at this hotel. Read the full list of restricted businesses **here. Located on the site of a restored 18th-century mansion, Hotel Conde de Villanueva pays homage to the history of the Cuban cigar through its decor. It's central to many of Old Havana’s restaurants, shops, galleries, and historic attractions. The list of amenities -- including a lovely, but small, restaurant, a cigar bar, and a large, open-air courtyard -- is short, even for a three-pearl hotel. All nine rooms are equally historic and dated in terms of decor but they have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and optional hot tubs (though many don’t work). Credit cards are accepted here. For a bit more money, Hotel Ambos Mundos offers more sophistication and a stunning rooftop restaurant.
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Scene
Renovated mansion with 300 years of cigar-inspired history
Many aspects of the hotel pay homage to the history of the Cuban cigar through paintings and various spaces named after tobacco plantains. Exposed brick archways, raw timber ceilings, and classic mahogany furniture all create an air of regal sophistication. However, some of the decor has crossed the threshold from historic to just plain dated. While everything is reasonably well-maintained, it’s clearly passed its prime. The beautiful, towering, open-air courtyard serves as the main social space with outdoor bistro sets and patio furniture scattered amid lush tropical greenery. The adjacent restaurant is the only other notable common area, although its cave-like interior is romantic, intimate, and reminiscent of a traditional Mediterranean wine cellar. The overall decor, in-room hot tubs, and general romantic disposition make it more suited for couples than families or business travelers.
Location
In the heart of Old Havana, a five-minute walk to Plaza de Armas and the Malecón
The hotel is centrally located in the most popular and tourist-friendly district of Old Havana. Dozens of restaurants, shops, and galleries are within a five-minute walk. The city’s best-known historic attractions -- including Plaza de Armas (the oldest plaza in Havana), Cuba’s Museum of Natural History, and the waterfront Malecón boardwalk -- are likewise just blocks away. For sightseeing beyond the walkable area, taxis are the best, most efficient way to get around. However, without regulated meters, fares can vary widely. Often, the best option is to coordinate transportation through the hotel directly. The nearest major airport -- Jose Marti International (HAV) -- is 35 minutes south by car along reasonably modern motorways.
Rooms
Architecturally interesting rooms with high ceilings and obvious wear
With a monochromatic color scheme, dark mahogany wood furnishings, and tiny windows, most of the nine rooms feel dark and drab. There’s an authentic, Old World feel to the property, and its history is evident. However, the rooms, like much of the hotel, are passed their prime. As of early 2017, the hotel was in the process of updating every room. Standard Rooms and Junior Suites differ mainly in size while all offer similar amenities. Air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs (with Cuban programming), and limited minibars are all standard. Suites upgrade to small, unusable balconies. Bathrooms are drab with aging tilework and exposed lighting fixtures. Generic bath products and walk-in shower stalls are standard. Suites add dated hot tubs (though some don’t work). Though rooms are clean, there's evident wear and some permanent stains on the floors.
Features
An intimate restaurant, a beautiful open-air courtyard, and a cigar bar
Even for a mid-range property, the list of amenities here is thin. Just off the lobby, Restaurante Vuelta Abajo is situated in a cozy, tunnel-like space with exposed brick, terra-cotta flooring, and vintage wood beam ceilings. The romantic vibe recalls the look and feel of a Mediterranean wine cellar and live music often wafts in from the terrace of an adjacent restaurant. The a la carte lunch and dinner menus are Cuban-inspired with traditional dishes like pork roll with mango sauce and colonial sugar mill fish. Alfresco dining is available on the outdoor bistro sets that line the open-air courtyard. Room service is offered for a fee.The on-site cigar bar, La Casa del Habano, is one of the best-known in Havana. Regular clients can rent out private humidor space to ensure their personal cigar reserves stay fresh. The hotel's location on a pedestrian mall means a total lack of parking. Like most hotels in Havana, there is no available Wi-Fi service, even in the lobby. Credit cards are accepted here.
