Calle 17 esq. a A, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana, Cuba | (618) 248-8274
Large porch with rocking chairs; enjoyable spot for a drink
Former aristocratic home dating to 1940
Pretty marble staircase with wrought-iron banister
Free breakfast buffet with fruit, breads, and cheeses
Snacks and drinks available to enjoy in lobby (from restaurant)
Clean rooms with AC and minibars; some can fit up to four guests
Wi-Fi in restaurant and lobby (for an hourly fee)
No Wi-Fi in rooms (yet)
No pool
Neighborhood rooster that crows early in the morning
Uneven water pressure in showers
Some complaints about toiletries and towels not being replaced and showers lacking hot water
Visible wear and tear
No dedicated bar area, but drinks available from restaurant
This no-frills value hotel in a residential part of Vedado is intimate, with just 30 rooms and few features. It occupies a neocolonial-style home dating to 1940 that once belonged to the wife of Fulgencio Batista, and its large porch with rocking chairs and preserved historic details are notable aspects -- though the competitive rates are probably the biggest draw. Rooms are clean, if basic, and up to four guests can fit in a single room. It's a perfectly serviceable option for the price, but leisure visitors should note that there's no pool and Old Havana isn't within walking distance.
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 no-frills, shabbily charming historic boutique hotel drawing many older travelers and student groups
Hotel Sercotel Paseo Habana is an intimate option in a residential part of Vedado with an interesting history. It was once the home of the wife of Fulgencio Batista, before the mansions of the aristocracy were repurposed for other uses after the revolution. The building was used as a laboratory for the nearby hospital for years before opening as a hotel in 2008. Today, this aging beauty still retains some of its past charm, with its antique-style furniture, marble staircase with wrought-iron banister, and big porch with rocking chairs that's a pleasant spot for a cocktail on a warm evening. This is a tiny hotel with just 30 rooms and few features, and most travelers are student groups, older couples without kids, or solo travelers. Rooms are well-suited to student groups as there are Triple Rooms available that can fit four guests when an extra bed is brought in. Romantic couples might not be happy here as there are no queen- or king-size beds.The historic part of the building is the most attractive, and there's a newer addition added in 2006 housing the rooms and elevator that has significantly less charm. The drop ceilings and unflattering lighting in the hallways give the feeling of a '90s office building.
Location
In a residential area of Veradero, within a 15-minute drive of Old Havana
Hotel Secrotel Paseo Habana is in Vedado, surrounded by local homes and businesses. A few restaurants and bars are within easy walking distance and there's a small market nearby. It's normal to see neighborhood residents sitting in front of the hotel connecting to Wi-Fi. It's a five-minute walk to La Rampa, the nickname for Calle 23, which is lined with nightclubs, bars, and movie theaters. It's not quite walking distance to the Malecon, the famed seaside promenade, though those who don't mind a trek can get there in a little over 20 minutes on foot. Same goes for the iconic Hotel Nacional, a tourist attraction in its own right. - 12-minute drive to La Cabaña, a large 18th-century fortress
Rooms
Basic rooms with AC and minibars
Rooms at Hotel Sercotel Paseo Habana are adequate for the price, and decor -- gold bedspreads, black and white photos of Havana, and tile floors -- is inspired by the hotel's historic roots. They are barebones, with minibars stocked with water and juice and wall air-conditioning units that can be a little bit noisy -- though guests may not mind this as it can help drown out the noise of the early-morning rooster. Flat-screen TVs get around 15 channels, including options in English. Bathrooms have showers, and soap, shampoo, and conditioner should be provided, though may not be replenished without asking. Some guests complain that not enough towels are provided and that showers lack hot water. Rooms have Juliet balconies with views of the nearby hospital or the neighborhood; a few rooms have a glimpse of the sea. Those facing the hospital tend to get less rooster noise. There are Single, Double, and Triple Rooms; Double Rooms have either two twins or two doubles. Extra beds can be brought it upon request, and it's possible to fit four guests in a Triple Room, one of the reasons this hotel is suited to student groups.
Features
A restaurant serving lunch and dinner, and a meeting room -- but not much else
The restaurant serves a free breakfast buffet that includes cereal, fruit, meats and cheeses, bread and jam, and eggs (sometimes just boiled eggs). An a la carte dinner with Cuban and international dishes is served here as well, and guests can order drinks and snacks to enjoy in the lobby area. A meeting room upstairs can be used for business events and birthdays. Wi-Fi is available in the lobby and restaurant. Unlike at many Havana hotels, there is no pool. There's a small viewpoint area with slatted windows that the hotel plans to turn into a small cigar lounge; during our visit it was blocked off to guests.
