Highlights for Luxury Travelers to Cuba
As a culture stopped in time, the mystery and magic of Cuba and specifically Havana allures us all. Like a treasure chest, Havana has precious, old wonders like the Cabaña Fort along the Port of Havana as well as hidden, modern gems like the Fábrica del Arte Cubana (Cuban Art Factory), a modern art gallery showcasing multi-media art, live performances, culinary treats, and Cuban mixologists.
Whether you choose to stay along the world renowned sea boulevard, “The Malecón”, at the Meliá Cohiba or in Old Havana itself at the Parque Central like Beyonce and Jay-Z, you will be in the heart of Havana within a short walk to live music clubs like Jazz Café or La Floridita for a daiquiri.
Regardless of how long you’re staying, where you’re from, or how old you are, no trip to Havana is complete without a classic convertible car ride. With Buena Vista Social Club playing on the stereo and the breeze blowing through your hair, take an hour city tour along the Malecón, the old city walls, past the Capitol and Havana University, out to the embassy neighborhood, Miramar, and back to the Malecón where you will set eyes on the U.S. Embassy and the Nacional Hotel. If you are not staying at the iconic Nacional Hotel, you may want to stop and relax on its terrace overlooking the Port of Havana just like mobsters, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky, and other global stars like Frank Sinatra and Leonardo DiCaprio. This is an opportune time to smoke a real Cuban Cohiba cigar.
For art lovers and history and architectural buffs, take your time to stroll Old Havana and its four plazas. As a UNESCO world heritage site, you will witness a combination of colonial, baroque, and neoclassical architecture as well as many art galleries, souvenir shops, and cafes to sit and enjoy the moment. To get an aerial view of Old Havana, the Ambos Mundo Hotel (Both Worlds hotel), where Hemingway stayed and began writing For Whom the Bells Tolls has an open-air terrace on its sixth floor. Those with a sweet tooth, head over to the Museo de Chocolate (Museum of Chocolate), which is between Plaza de Armas (Arms Square) and Plaza San Francisco (St Francis Square).
Without a doubt after exploring Havana’s streets, you will have worked up an appetite. The culinary scene in Cuba is thriving. With private restaurants, paladares, popping up with new, creative, fusion menus, Havana is becoming a global foodie scene. In Old Havana, Chef Ivan Justo has two locations featuring Cuban fusion. In the preferred residential neighborhood of Havana, Vedado, Café Laurent is a penthouse restaurant with an eclectic menu of traditional Cuban as well as fresh seafood. For the night owls or those that will sleep when they get home, catch another taxi to La Tropiciana nightclub for a cabaret show that revels Las Vegas. Its talented musicians, singers, and dancers will not disappoint. La Tropiciana is certainly a five star YOLO (You Only Live Once) experience.
Discover the magic and mystery of Cuba and Havana in style. Your vacation in Havana can be all that you dreamed of and más (more). Now is the time to go!
