Hotel Sevilla

The Sevilla, as it was known before the Revolution, was one of the establishments owned and run by Havana’s Mafia network. Santo Trafficante Junior had shares in it and the Cuban-Italian owner, Amletto Battisti, was the kingpin of the city’s lottery racket. The Sevilla hotel has a rather curious layout but its public areas are very attractive. The prevailing decorative style is, as one would expect, Andalusian, with a profusion of luster-glazed cuerda seca tiles. The lobby and courtyard bar are welcoming and the Hotel Sevilla is one of the only three hotels in the area with a pool (the other two are the Parque Central and the Saratoga).

The Sevilla Hotel is located just off the elegant Paseo del Prado, the public promenade which links Parque Central with the Malecon Ocean Drive, it is ideally placed for exploration of Havana’s historical centre. The rooms are very satisfactory, but the very best part of the Sevilla, much frequented by those in the know, is its rooftop restaurant in what was once the hotel’s grand ballroom. It has wonderful views of the city and the sea, and if you can get a table next to one of the balconies you can revel in blissful ocean breezes on hot summer nights. The food is very good due to the hotel’s French ownership.