Hotel Roc Presidente

The Hotel Roc Presidente probably shouldn't be anyone's first choice in this price range -- the NH Capri La Habana is a better option in Vedado -- but it's far from the worst choice. The lovely lobby truly impresses, thanks to its 100-plus antiques; think marble busts, bronze figurines, historic mantle clocks, giant, intricately painted Chinese vases, and delicate china in glass cases. There are marble tile floors, original chandeliers, rectangular columns with marble and plaster molding, and historic photos of the hotel (founded in 1928, when it was the tallest building in Vedado) on the walls. Just note that there's no AC (or none that we noticed) so it can get quite warm in here, and the Wi-Fi signal is more unreliable than in the restaurant or at the pool. The outdoor porch where live music is performed many evenings is a pleasant place to relax with a drink.

During our visit, the lobby was milling with English-speaking tour groups of older travelers, and the hotel says it gets many guests from Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Brazil -- followed by Canada and the U.S. Because of the location in Vedado, in between Old Havana and business-centric Miramar, the hotel is able to appeal equally to leisure and business travelers. 

Features are a bit lacking for a hotel that advertises itself as a four-star, and guests shouldn't expect a gym, room service, or any freebies (even use of the safe is extra) -- unlike at the NH Capri La Habana. One rare possible selling point here, though, is that the top-floor rooms with the best views don't cost extra; it's just luck of the draw. This could also be a downside, though, for guests willing to pay more to guarantee sweeping views of the ocean.

Some guests choose to stay here because of the hotel's historic nature and traditional charm, but its age also means maintenance issues are more common here than at other hotels we visited, despite the 2011 renovation. 

Hotel Roc Presidente is only a five-minute walk from the Malecon, the famed seaside promenade that has earned the nickname "the sofa of the world." A stop for the Hop On, Hop Off bus (5 CUC a day to ride) is right outside. It is located in Vedado, considered the modern heart of Havana, where many locals come to work and play; it's home to both office buildings and the many nightclubs along Calle 23 (nicknamed La Rampa). It's reasonably convenient for both leisure travelers hoping to visit Old Havana and business travelers with work in Vedado or adjacent Miramar. 

• Five-minute walk to the Malecon
• 12-minute walk to La Rampa (the nickname for Calle 23), a strip of nightclubs, bars, and movie theaters
• Five-minute drive to Hotel Nacional, an attraction in its own right that offers daily tours
• 10-minute drive to Old Havana
• 10-minute drive to Miramar
• 30-minute drive to Jose Marti International Airport  

Rooms at the Roc Presidente have decor inspired by the style popular when the hotel was opened in 1928. Expect red comforters, antique-style wooden furniture, and tile floors. They're not quite upscale but they're clean, and some have truly excellent views of the ocean or city (predictably, those on the top floor -- the 10th -- have the best views). Unlike at most Havana hotels, guests don't have to pay extra for these views; the price of the Double Room on the 10th floor is the same as for a Double Room on the second. Categories include Double Rooms, Triple Rooms (typically corner units), or one of the two Suites with living rooms and balconies. Single travelers can pay a lower rate to stay alone in a Double Room. In Double Rooms beds are typically pushed together, and a cot for a child can be requested; Triple Rooms can fit two adults and two children (with the addition of a cot). 

All rooms have TVs (usually flat-screen) with 52 channels, including options in English, French, and Chinese; the Discovery Channel and sports channels in English are available. There are empty mini-fridges but no free water provided, and no coffee/tea makers. The safes cost a fee to use. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos and during our late 2015 visit the hotel had just completed an update to the plumbing system, though some guests still complain of water pressure issues, especially from the higher floors, among other maintenance problems. There is AC but it can be finicky in some rooms. Towels and sheets sometimes have stains, which is common for Cuba (many hotels we visited had issues with timely laundry service and worn linens).

The hotel has a smallish outdoor pool off of the buffet restaurant; during our visit it was looking worn but awaiting renovation. A staircase from the second story allows guests to head to the pool straight from their room and avoid walking through the lobby in a bathing suit. There's an upstairs solarium area (that had a single lounge chair), which the hotel plans to repurpose, perhaps as an event space or bar. A downstairs poolside bar serves drinks and casual fare such as burgers.

The buffet restaurant has outdoor seating near the pool, as well as indoor seating. Breakfast is free and typically includes meats, cheeses, fries, sausage, scrambled eggs, breads, fruit, and a cooked-to-order egg station. Dinner is served here as well. Hotel buffets in Cuba don't typically have the most flavorful food, but by Cuban standards this buffet is adequate or even above average. The a la carte Cuban restaurant serving lunch and dinner offers items such as fish and pork. The lobby bar is open 24/7 and serves sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and hot dogs; there is no room service. 

Wi-Fi is available for 2 CUC an hour (typical for Cuba) in the lobby, rooms, restaurant, and at the pool; there's also a computer station in the lobby guests can use. The signal can be unreliable and slow, a common issue country-wide. Hotel staff advise trying to connect in the restaurant or by the pool if you're having trouble in the lobby.