Hotel Nacional de Cuba
Spanish eclectic grandeur meets faded Havana glamour. The 1930s bones are intact — coral stone columns, Moorish arcade gardens, three-nave lobby like a medieval cathedral. Classic American cars still park out front. Think living museum, not polished luxury resort.
Book direct on hotelnacionaldecuba.com — you get free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, a welcome cocktail, and the historic hotel tour included. Non-guests can visit the gardens and terrace bars freely, making it worth a stop even if you're not staying. The Comedor de Aguiar restaurant has won international awards for its cuisine — book in advance. The Churchill Bar is currently closed for renovation. The historic Executive Pool (adults-only, renovated 2025) is reserved for Executive Floor guests and suite occupants. Grab a rum on the terrace at sunset — the Malecón view at that hour is genuinely hard to beat.
Why It Matters
A UNESCO-registered National Monument declared part of Cuba's Memory of the World, the hotel has hosted mob summits (the 1946 Havana Conference attended by Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky), world leaders, Hollywood legends, and Nobel laureates. Individual rooms are still named after their most famous occupants — Sinatra in Room 214, Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra together in Room 225, Jean-Paul Sartre in Room 539, Walt Disney in Room 445. It also hosts the International Latin American Film Festival every year since 1979.
The Hotel Nacional de Cuba opened December 30, 1930, and has been piling up history ever since. Designed by McKim, Mead and White — the same New York firm behind Grand Central Terminal — it sits on Taganana Hill above the Malecón, commanding views from Havana Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Winston Churchill, Walt Disney, and Meyer Lansky all stayed here. That last name is significant: the hotel hosted the infamous 1946 Havana Conference, dramatised in The Godfather Part II. The architecture is a collision of Sevillian, Moorish, Roman, and Art Deco elements. But look — it's not a slick modern luxury hotel. Rooms show their age in places, service can be inconsistent, and Cuba's economic realities affect day-to-day operations. The draw is the history, the gardens, the sea views, and the sheer singularity of the place.
Where You'll Stay
12 room types available
Double or Twin Room
The most popular room type at the hotel. Spacious at 32 sqm, with a choice of two single beds or one queen/king. Classic, historic decor with modern essentials.
Double or Twin · 32 sqm
Double or Twin Room (Executive Floor)
Located on the 6th floor Executive level. Same room size as standard doubles but comes with a suite of perks: early check-in, late check-out, snacks and cocktails served 12:00–16:00 on the floor, butler service, pillow menu, laundry for two garments, and exclusive access to the adults-only historic Executive Pool (renovated 2025).
Double or Twin
Double or Twin Room (Ocean View)
Same layout as the standard double/twin, positioned to face the sea. The Greek-cross building layout means most rooms get at least a partial ocean angle.
Double or Twin
Historical Rooms
Named rooms preserved exactly because of who slept in them. Room 225 is Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra. Room 214 is Frank Sinatra. Room 445 is Walt Disney. Room 539 is Jean-Paul Sartre. Room 211 is simply called 'Mafia' — a nod to the 1946 mob summit. Over 26 celebrity-named rooms in total across the property.
Junior Suite
Thirty of these in the hotel. One bedroom with a separate living room, bathroom with tub and shower. Most positioned for ocean views. Executive Floor perks included.
King or DoublePresidential Suite
The hotel's singular presidential suite. Full slate of top-tier perks: 24/7 private check-in/out, complimentary massages and sauna, Habanos ritual. Historically significant — world leaders and heads of state have stayed here.
KingRoyal Suite
The hotel's top accommodation. One of a kind. All Presidential Suite perks included. The most private and exclusive option in the property.
KingSenior Suite
Twelve in the hotel. Larger than the Junior Suites, on the Executive Floor. Includes full Executive perks plus courtesy massages and sauna access throughout the stay.
KingSingle Room
The entry-level room, compact but equipped with everything necessary. Views of city or gardens. Recently renovated units available.
SingleSingle Room (Executive Floor)
Single occupancy on the Executive Floor with the full slate of 6th-floor perks included.
SingleSingle Room (Ocean View)
Same footprint as the standard single but positioned for sea views over the Gulf of Mexico.
SingleSpecial Senior Suite
Two special suites with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a spacious living room. Top-tier Executive Floor perks: 24/7 private check-in/out, complimentary massages and sauna, Habanos tasting ritual, and a corporate gift.
KingThe Property
Eat & Drink
10 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Eight meeting rooms of varying sizes, accommodating groups from 10 to over 200. The Baracoa Hall is popular for ambassadorial meetings due to its privacy and conservative style. Audiovisual equipment, printing services, and event planning available.
The 'Habana de Fiesta' show runs Saturday through Tuesday, 9pm–2am, show starts at 10pm. 100 minutes of live Cuban music, dance, and elaborate staging. Bookable as show-only, show + dinner, or show + gourmet dinner at Comedor de Aguiar.
Live Cuban music performed on the terrace most afternoons and evenings. The Salón 1930, dedicated to Buena Vista Social Club legend Compay Segundo, hosts performances by his successors weekly.
The hotel concierge can arrange vintage American car rentals with a chauffeur for tours of Havana. A row of classic 1950s American convertibles typically lines the hotel entrance.
A free guided tour of the hotel's history, architecture, Hall of Fame, and gardens — offered Monday through Saturday at 10:00am. Led by hotel historians. One of the best free things to do in Havana for architecture and history lovers.
A gallery of historic photographs and memorabilia featuring over 300 celebrities, world leaders, and personalities who have stayed at or visited the hotel over its 90+ year history. Free to enter and located in the Bay View Bar area.
The Habanos Lounge stocks premium Cuban cigars — Cohiba, Montecristo, and others. Presidential, Royal, and Special Senior Suite guests receive a complimentary 'Ritual Sabor a Cuba' tasting paired with Cuban coffee or rum. Walk-in purchases available for all guests and non-guests.
Two pools on site. The main pool (opened 1992) is a large modern free-form pool open to all guests, with a dedicated children's section and a lively resort-style atmosphere — hosts aquatic ballet and live music events. The historic pool (the first hotel pool in Havana, completely renovated and reopened in 2025) is adults-only and reserved for Executive Floor guests and suite occupants.
On-site tennis court available for an additional fee.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Recognized by the Ibero-American Network of Accessible Tourism. Access ramp, four adapted motor disability rooms, visual and hearing disability rooms, Braille signage throughout (including elevator, safe, minibar, room numbers), magnetic induction loops, vertical platform for cabaret access, portable elevator for pool access.
Business center with conference area, printer, and audiovisual equipment. Meeting rooms for 10–200+ people.
Unlimited Wi-Fi included in all room rates when booking direct. Available in public areas.
Included in all room rates when booking direct.
Cabaret Parisien on site. Saturday through Tuesday, 9pm–2am.
On-site medical center available at an additional fee.
The main pool (large, modern, open to all guests, children's section included) and the historic Executive Pool (adults-only, renovated 2025, reserved for Executive Floor and suite guests).
Full concierge desk plus a tourism bureau selling excursion tickets. Bilingual staff.
Laundry, ironing, and dry cleaning services at additional charge. Executive Floor guests receive complimentary laundry for up to two garments per stay.
On-site minimarket and gift shop. Department stores also on site.
The concierge arranges vintage American car rentals and regular taxi service. Classic cars park at the entrance.
Free public parking on site, no reservation required. Parking spaces designated for guests with disabilities available.
On-site gym with weights. Included in all room rates.
BUILD YOUR HOTEL NACIONAL DE CUBA PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning