Hotel El Bosque

Surrounded by leafy trees in a calm residential pocket of Havana, El Bosque (“the forest” in Spanish) is appropriately named, the dense Havana Forest unfolding behind it and along the Almendares River. A soaring, dense green canopy serves as the hotel backdrop enjoyed best from the restaurant, and rooms set at the rear. The building itself is a beige-and-burgundy facade that opens onto subdued and dated interiors where the beige theme continues. Simple decoration includes a row of wicker sofas where guests are commonly found waiting for cabs and/or checking their internet devices. A shrine of papal images decorates walls in tribute to the Pope’s 1998 stay here. The Lobby Bar at the rear features a handful of glass-topped bistro tables and chairs continuing through wide French doors to the open-air restaurant. Here, beautifully set timber tables and chairs unfold across a covered terrace, draped in green canopy views. The vibe at El Bosque is generally pretty calm, but just below the hotel, an open-air salsa dance club can create noise late at night that can disturb rooms at the rear, so light-sleepers should beware.  

El Bosque is located in a pretty, residential area outside the city center. It’s 25 minutes from both Jose Marti International Airport and Old Havana. Eight minutes or so on foot will take guests into the heart of Bosque de la Habana -- an incredibly lush and dense urban jungle, unfolding along the Almendares River. It’s about 11 minutes by car to Vedado (the center of Havana), 14 minutes from Calle 23's restaurants, shops, bars, and nightlife; and 17 minutes from the Malecon. The hotel's sister property, Hotel Kohly, is a 10-minute walk directly north of El Bosque. Other nearby highlights include the Havana Zoo (six minutes by car), and the National Botanic Garden (nine minutes’ drive). Taxis can be arranged at the front desk. 

Available in Standard Twin, Double, and Superior Suite categories, rooms are spread over four floors with stair and elevator access. Standards are the most basic, while remaining categories offer private balconies, and Superior layouts also have separate living areas. 

A Latin colonial flavor gives each room some charm, with vibrant colors like lime green, bubblegum pink, or sunset orange on walls, and gothic-style wrought-iron bed frames. While rooms are comfortable and clean, they do feel rather tired with furniture that’s practical, but dated. Rooms set at the rear all open onto arc-shaped balconies that take in beautiful green nature views. The ambience is mostly calm, however the open-air salsa club, located below the hotel property, can play loud music quite late some nights, which naturally annoys guests. Rooms positioned at the front of the hotel lack balconies and take in leafy neighborhood views which may not be as enchanting -- but come without the late night dance racket. Bathrooms clearly haven’t seen updates in a while, but they’re perfectly functional with stand-up showers (not tubs), hairdryers, and a good selection of free individual toiletries. All rooms feature air-conditioning, satellite flat-screen TVs, safes, telephones, free water, and minibars.

El Bosque has a solid lineup of features, but not all are on the property's grounds. The hotel features an on-site restaurant -- La Yagruma -- serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with quality food guests praise. The Lobby Bar serves snacks, and offers drinks service 24 hours. Wi-Fi is provided in the lobby, and internet cards can be purchased from the front desk. Meeting rooms are available, and taxis can be arranged at the front desk. Guests also have access to the facilities at nearby sister property, Hotel Kohly. Located a 10-minute walk up the road, Kohly offers a large pool surrounded with deck chairs, tennis courts, a fitness center, sauna, and a choice of restaurants and bars -- including a bowling and billiards bar. El Bosque guests are entitled to 10 percent off at select Kohly eateries.