Gran Hotel Manzan
Belle-époque shell, modern European interior. High ceilings, silvery chandeliers, French doors, marble bathrooms — it could easily be a Kempinski in Vienna or Prague. Cuban touches are subtle: a La Girardilla statuette here, an Afro-Cuban photograph there. The street outside does all the heavy lifting culturally. Ground floor is a working luxury shopping mall (Versace, Armani, Lacoste, Montblanc), which both anchors the building's heritage and sets the tone.
US-issued credit cards are NOT accepted — Visa, Mastercard, and AmEx work only if not issued by a US bank. Bring an international card or cash.
Why It Matters
The first true 5-star luxury hotel in Cuba, and still the benchmark. Occupies the entire Manzana de Gómez city block — a landmark building that was Cuba's first shopping arcade. Award-winning Spa Albear by Resense ranks in the Top 10 best spas in Latin America. The cigar lounge Evocación is staffed by a two-time world champion Habano sommelier. Location is genuinely unmatched: Parque Central directly across the street, El Floridita (Hemingway's bar) visible from the Bar Constante windows.
Cuba's first genuine luxury hotel, the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski opened in May 2017 inside the Manzana de Gómez — an entire city block in the heart of Old Havana built between 1894 and 1917 as Cuba's first European-style shopping arcade. Kempinski (Europe's oldest hotel group) manages it under a deal with Gaviota, the Cuban military's tourism arm, and the result is 246 rooms and suites of decidedly European comfort dropped into a UNESCO World Heritage streetscape. The rooftop infinity pool with sightlines to El Capitolio and the Great Theatre is the headline act — and Spa Albear by Resense has won Best Spa in Cuba.
Where You'll Stay
7 room types available
Deluxe Room
Same footprint as the Patio Room but facing the historic streets of Old Havana. French doors open to views of the city's colonial architecture — El Capitolio, the Great Theatre — and the daily soundtrack of Havana life. Contemporary décor with high ceilings, king or twin beds, Nespresso machine, minibar, safe, flat-screen TV, and marble bathroom.
38 sqm
Family Suite
Faces the quiet internal courtyard — the patio view makes it one of the calmer rooms in the house. Living room with dining table, bathroom with rain shower, bathtub, two sinks, and some rooms include a bidet and separate guest toilet. Good option for families or anyone wanting extra living space without paying Presidential Suite rates.
72 sqmGran Deluxe Room
The largest standard room category at 55 sqm — a significant step up. Two scenic French doors, generous entrance, and city views over Old Havana. Sleeps up to three adults. Some interconnecting versions available, making it practical for families. King or twin configurations.
55 sqmJunior Suite Constante
A corner suite on the 1st floor with three large French windows giving direct views of Old Havana and La Floridita — the bar where the Daiquiri was perfected (and where Hemingway was a fixture). A separate sitting area, walk-in closet, and a bathroom with both a rain shower cabin and a bathtub. Named for Constante Ribailagua, the barman who created the Daiquiri. Sleeps up to three adults.
68 sqmJunior Suite Hemingway
Named for Havana's most famous literary resident, who haunted the bars just across the street. A separate living area with large sofa, two French doors, and views of either the city or the courtyard. Sleeps up to three adults. The extra living space is the main upgrade over the Gran Deluxe Room — useful for a longer stay.
50 sqmPatio Room
The entry-level category and the quietest option in the hotel. Looks inward onto the internal courtyard rather than the street — a real contrast to the buzzing city outside. Contemporary décor with high ceilings, king or twin beds, Nespresso machine, minibar, flat-screen TV, and a marble bathroom with walk-in rain shower. No balcony, but French doors let in good light.
38 sqmSuite Presidential Lorca
The top of the house at 150 sqm. Named after Federico García Lorca, who visited Havana in 1930. Four large French doors in the living room open to sweeping views of Parque Central, the Capitol, and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. A separate dining room, kitchenette, walk-in wardrobe, and guest toilet round out the living spaces. The king-bedded bedroom has its own set of French doors. The bathroom is the main event: a Jacuzzi bathtub plus a separate rain shower cabin. Connects to a Gran Deluxe Twin Room.
150 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
6 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Vintage American cars — a genuine Havana icon — wait at the hotel entrance for hire. The concierge team organizes city tours and airport transfers in these cars. A genuinely memorable way to see the city, and the hotel's central location means most major sights are a short ride away.
Interactive presentations and personalized guidance from the hotel's Habano sommelier — a two-time world champion. Learn to select, cut, and pair Cuban cigars with aged rums and spirits in the Evocación Tobacco Lounge.
The ground floor of the Manzana de Gómez building operates as a working luxury retail arcade — a direct callback to the building's origins as Cuba's first European-style shopping centre. Current tenants include Versace, Giorgio Armani, Lacoste, and Montblanc.
Four meeting rooms ranging from 25 sqm boardrooms to the 215 sqm ballroom (El Progreso and La Virtud), plus a 140 sqm panoramic outdoor terrace for up to 120 guests reception-style. Total meeting capacity up to 250 guests. All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with city views and state-of-the-art technical equipment.
The hotel's location in the heart of La Habana Vieja makes self-guided and guided walking tours trivially easy. Most of the UNESCO World Heritage district's landmarks — Parque Central, the Capitol, the Great Theatre, Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral, the Museum of Fine Arts — are within a 15-minute walk. The concierge can arrange guided options.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Four meeting rooms plus outdoor panoramic terrace. Total capacity up to 250 guests reception-style. Floor-to-ceiling windows, state-of-the-art AV equipment. Meeting rooms: El Progreso (80 sqm), La Virtud (135 sqm), two boardrooms (25 sqm each), foyer (80 sqm), terrace (140 sqm).
24-hour Wi-Fi throughout the property — notably reliable by Havana standards, where consistent connectivity is genuinely rare.
Technogym-equipped fitness room within the Spa Albear by Resense on the 6th floor.
Full laundry and dry cleaning service available for hotel guests.
Foreign currency exchange available at reception. Note: only credit cards not issued by American banks are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx from non-US banks). Cuban Peso (CUP) is the official currency.
Full 24-hour concierge team handling restaurant bookings, city excursions, vintage car rentals, and airport transfers. Guests report the concierge as one of the hotel's strongest assets.
Outdoor rooftop infinity pool on the 6th-floor terrace with panoramic views over Old Havana including El Capitolio and the Great Theatre. Reserved for hotel guests. Adjacent bar and light dining available.
Round-the-clock room service available for all guests.
A functioning luxury shopping mall at street level housing brands including Versace, Giorgio Armani, Lacoste, and Montblanc — directly referencing the Manzana de Gómez's origins as Cuba's first European-style shopping arcade.
Limousine service and classic American car rentals organized through the concierge. Cars available at the hotel entrance.
BUILD YOUR GRAN HOTEL MANZANA KEMPINSKI LA HABANA PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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