Hotel Nacional

Come for the glamour of yesteryear. Built on a bluff overlooking the ocean road in the entertainment district of el Vedado, Presidents, movie stars, models and mafia have all stayed at the iconic Hotel Nacional.

It’s worth booking the executive floor, as the rooms are smarter, breakfasts better and the dining room less like a school canteen. You don’t stay at the Nacional for contemporary style, or for the best service, instead it’s about soaking up the old-fashioned grandeur, Spanish style architecture, mojitos on the terrace, and the sense of history. The famous daily tour of the hotel is unmissable for the lowdown on who has stayed and where.

This one’s best suited to history lovers, and those wanting a full-service hotel.