Parque Central

With a great location on the edge of Old Havana and a few blocks from the Malecón, the Parque Central is one of the top hotels in the city.

The original wing of Old Havana's important Parque Central occupies an historic building on the Central Park. The best rooms, in fact, face the park and the Gran Teatro de la Habana.

Inside however, there is a distinct lack of historic design elements; in fact the lobby atrium most closely resembles a 1980s Hyatt. The 427 guest rooms are also missing a sense of place or charm but they do feature basic comforts such as mini-bars, TVs with international channels and modern bathrooms. The best guest rooms are in the hotel's newest tower, which is accessible only through a strange interior hallway.

The hotel has a bar and restaurant on the main floor and a small fitness room on the top floor. There is also a rooftop pool with gorgeous city views, a bar and food service.

Managed by the Spanish hospitality group Iberostar, the hotel offers some of the most reliable service in the city. Many educational groups, like Harvard and Stanford alumni tours, stay in the Parque Central and have come to trust their staff and standards.

Though some complain that the hotel lacks a sense of authenticity, the guestrooms are the most modern and comfortable in the city.