Pros
- Excellent central location walking distance to Old Havana attractions
- Famed historic property with an attractive courtyard
- Rooms with minibars, safes, AC, and appealing decorative details
- Some rooms have balconies
- Restaurant serving free breakfast and other meals a la carte
- Courtyard bar with nightly live music
- Room service, laundry service, and money exchange available
- Paid Wi-Fi in the lobby and bar; computer for guests' use
- On-site gift shop selling rum and other souvenirs
Cons
- Some maintenance issues like leaks (common in Cuban hotels)
- Elevator frequently out of commission
- No business center, gym, pool, or spa
Bottom Line
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. The atmospheric, mid-range Hotel Telegrafo has an excellent central location, parked right at the end of Prado Street and looking toward the Malecón. It’s an ideal spot for sightseeing, and the Telegrafo itself could be counted among the area’s landmarks. It dates back to the 1800s and is famed as the first Havana hotel with telephones. Hints of that history are still on display in the hotel’s courtyard and restaurant. Its 63 rooms are simple but have flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and some have balconies. A few maintenance issues are ongoing, like AC leaks, but these are common throughout Cuba. As an alternative, travelers could consider the Hotel Inglaterra, another historic property with a central location.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Cribs
- Internet
Scene
A historic property with a striking courtyard bar
The Telegrafo has a storied past that reaches back through the last century. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the hotel was a gathering point for the well-to-do. The name came from the hotel’s biggest claim to fame as the first hotel with phones in all of the rooms. Touches of the hotel’s grand past are still in full view, like the restaurant’s ceiling crowned with ornate medallions. Other more recent additions, like the stained-glass and tile mural in the courtyard bar, blend seamlessly with the vaulted arches and exposed brickwork that rises to a looming skylight. And colorful modern furnishings keep things fresh and contemporary. Despite this generally attractive package, a few maintenance issues were present when we visited, including air-conditioning leaks, cracks along the marble steps, and an out-of-commission elevator; but travelers should note these issues are common throughout Cuban properties. The Telegrafo’s guests tend to be tourist, from families to couples to solo travelers, who are making the most of its excellent location and reveling in its history.
Location
Excellent central location walking distance to the Malecón and Old Havana attractions
One of the Telegrafo’s major selling points is its central location: It faces the Paseo del Prado with the Malecón at the end -- the two most famous streets in Havana ideal for strolling and taking in the city’s atmosphere. The Paseo del Prado, a leafy green promenade with Colonial buildings surrounding it, is just across the street. And the Malecón, a waterfront road that's often considered Havana's living room, is an 11-minute walk away. The surrounding streets are full of restaurants, bars, and other hotels; taxis and pedicabs are regularly parked out front ready to take guests sightseeing. Two of the city’s biggest museums, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts) and the Museo de la Revolution (Museum of the Revolution) are five and eight minutes away on foot, respectively. Obispo street, known for its lively nightlife, is a five-minute walk away, as is Hemingway's former haunt La Floridita, a bar famed for inventing the daiquiri. The city’s José Martí International Airport is 30 minutes away by car.
Rooms
Simple rooms elevated by a few decorative details
While simple, little touches of elegance can be found in the Telegrafo’s rooms, such as brocade bedspreads or sponge-painted walls in a variety of soft Caribbean colors like sage green or brunt orange. Expansive headboards with gilded frames sport tulip murals. Some rooms have wardrobes instead of built-in closets. Minibars, safes, AC, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and soundproofed windows are all standard. And tea/coffeemakers are available on request. First floor rooms also include a small balcony. Views are either of the hotels’ interior courtyard or the Prado opening up to the Malecón and the sea beyond (though only a sliver of the ocean is visible beyond the city). Basic bathrooms in rose-colored marble have bidets, shower/tub combos, and come stocked with hairdryers and individual toiletries. And three rooms have jetted tubs. Some rooms are interconnecting, a useful feature for families or groups traveling together. Triples are available, and Junior Suites have two bathrooms.
Features
Limited but appealing amenities, like free breakfast, live music, and lobby Wi-Fi
As a central city hotel, the Telegrafo has limited amenities; there's no gym or business center. But the Telegrafo covers the bases when it comes to food, drink, and other basics. There is an on-site restaurant serving all meals. A free buffet breakfast is included in the room rate; all other meals are a la carte. The bar, in the courtyard just off the lobby, hosts live music most nights. The on-site gift shop gives a spot to buy last-minute souvenirs or forgotten items. Wi-Fi is available in the lobby and in the bar on the first floor. Guests buy an hourly Wi-Fi card from reception, a system commonly used throughout Cuba. On our visit, cards were 6 Cuc each. A computer in the lobby is available for guests’ use as well. Other features include 24-hour room service, laundry service, plus on-site car rental and tour desks. A paid parking lot is by the hotel. For families, cribs and babysitting services are available on request. Wedding ceremonies and quinceaneras are occasionally held here as well.
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Scene
A historic property with a striking courtyard bar
The Telegrafo has a storied past that reaches back through the last century. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the hotel was a gathering point for the well-to-do. The name came from the hotel’s biggest claim to fame as the first hotel with phones in all of the rooms. Touches of the hotel’s grand past are still in full view, like the restaurant’s ceiling crowned with ornate medallions. Other more recent additions, like the stained-glass and tile mural in the courtyard bar, blend seamlessly with the vaulted arches and exposed brickwork that rises to a looming skylight. And colorful modern furnishings keep things fresh and contemporary. Despite this generally attractive package, a few maintenance issues were present when we visited, including air-conditioning leaks, cracks along the marble steps, and an out-of-commission elevator; but travelers should note these issues are common throughout Cuban properties. The Telegrafo’s guests tend to be tourist, from families to couples to solo travelers, who are making the most of its excellent location and reveling in its history.
Location
Excellent central location walking distance to the Malecón and Old Havana attractions
One of the Telegrafo’s major selling points is its central location: It faces the Paseo del Prado with the Malecón at the end -- the two most famous streets in Havana ideal for strolling and taking in the city’s atmosphere. The Paseo del Prado, a leafy green promenade with Colonial buildings surrounding it, is just across the street. And the Malecón, a waterfront road that's often considered Havana's living room, is an 11-minute walk away. The surrounding streets are full of restaurants, bars, and other hotels; taxis and pedicabs are regularly parked out front ready to take guests sightseeing. Two of the city’s biggest museums, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts) and the Museo de la Revolution (Museum of the Revolution) are five and eight minutes away on foot, respectively. Obispo street, known for its lively nightlife, is a five-minute walk away, as is Hemingway's former haunt La Floridita, a bar famed for inventing the daiquiri. The city’s José Martí International Airport is 30 minutes away by car.
Rooms
Simple rooms elevated by a few decorative details
While simple, little touches of elegance can be found in the Telegrafo’s rooms, such as brocade bedspreads or sponge-painted walls in a variety of soft Caribbean colors like sage green or brunt orange. Expansive headboards with gilded frames sport tulip murals. Some rooms have wardrobes instead of built-in closets. Minibars, safes, AC, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and soundproofed windows are all standard. And tea/coffeemakers are available on request. First floor rooms also include a small balcony. Views are either of the hotels’ interior courtyard or the Prado opening up to the Malecón and the sea beyond (though only a sliver of the ocean is visible beyond the city). Basic bathrooms in rose-colored marble have bidets, shower/tub combos, and come stocked with hairdryers and individual toiletries. And three rooms have jetted tubs. Some rooms are interconnecting, a useful feature for families or groups traveling together. Triples are available, and Junior Suites have two bathrooms.
Features
Limited but appealing amenities, like free breakfast, live music, and lobby Wi-Fi
As a central city hotel, the Telegrafo has limited amenities; there's no gym or business center. But the Telegrafo covers the bases when it comes to food, drink, and other basics. There is an on-site restaurant serving all meals. A free buffet breakfast is included in the room rate; all other meals are a la carte. The bar, in the courtyard just off the lobby, hosts live music most nights. The on-site gift shop gives a spot to buy last-minute souvenirs or forgotten items. Wi-Fi is available in the lobby and in the bar on the first floor. Guests buy an hourly Wi-Fi card from reception, a system commonly used throughout Cuba. On our visit, cards were 6 Cuc each. A computer in the lobby is available for guests’ use as well. Other features include 24-hour room service, laundry service, plus on-site car rental and tour desks. A paid parking lot is by the hotel. For families, cribs and babysitting services are available on request. Wedding ceremonies and quinceaneras are occasionally held here as well.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Best Rates
Amenities
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Air Conditioner
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Babysitting Services
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Balcony / Terrace / Patio
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Cabanas
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Cable
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Concierge
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Cribs
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Dry Cleaning
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Internet
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Kids Allowed
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Mini Bar (with liquor)
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Poolside Drink Service
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Room Service
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Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
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Smoking Rooms Available
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Swim-Up Bar
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.