Hotel Melia Cohiba

In the Vedado district, slightly set back from the Malecon, to the west, and not far from the Nacional hotel. For transfers from the airport, 13 miles away, you should anticipate 45 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

The Melia Cohiba is a model of luxury for Cubans. Built in 1995, it is managed by the Spanish chain Sol Melia. Thanks to its location, it has become a meeting point for businessmen in Havana. The manager is Spanish.

The Melia Cohiba is made up of a tall 21 floor tower, of which four are reserved for businessmen. It has 462 bedrooms. The Melia Cohiba visitors can also make the most of the large outside swimming pool built on the roof, a fitness centre with massages and a shopping centre. For a great life style, there is everything: Havana Café with a 50s ambiance, a piano-bar with a subdued atmosphere, smoking room for cigar lovers (headquarters for the club of Cohiba smokers) and even a discotheque for dancing all night long.

Total comfort in the 401 rooms and 61 suites. Modern, nicely decorated in quite a neutral style, they have all the amenities: air conditioning, satellite TV (14 channels), direct telephone for international calls, bathroom with bath and hair dryer, Internet access, minibar and safe (payable). The rooms in the Executive part also have a personalised service: free laundry service, international papers, head waiter etc. Almost all the rooms have a sea view. 24 hour room service.

The Melia Cohiba offers a varied selection of cuisine with its four restaurants. Excellent Cuban and international specialties are served in the gourmet restaurant, in particular rice dishes (its paella has the reputation for being the best in Havana). We also recommend the most popular one, La Piazza (open from 1 pm to midnight) which serves produce imported from Italy which is rather rare in Cuba. A good quality buffet restaurant and a steakhouse, near the swimming pool.