10 Best Hotels in Central Cuba, Cuba

The lobby of this 1927 hotel is a jewel, with ornate columns, a marble staircase, and a dark wooden bar and front desk. The patio in back—surrounded by painted columns and lighted by antique street lamps—is flanked by the main bar, restaurant, and some rooms. Most rooms are on the second floor, and though they're small, they have new furniture and tiled baths. (A 2001 refurbishing really spruced up the rooms here.) The two that face the street, with tiny balconies, are the biggest, though can be noisy.

This stately hotel in the heart of Ciengfuegos is Cuba's oldest, but the structure has been completely rebuilt and the retooling maintains a faithfulness to the style of its 19th-century heyday. The result is a pleasing blend of old and new with wide arches, painted columns, and quiet courtyards populated with potted plants. Rooms have high ceilings, white-tile floors, faux antiques, and modern amenities. The bright-blue restaurant serves an inventive selection of Cuban cuisine and fresh seafood.

This centrally located hotel was (believe it or not) newly constructed in 2006, and was built in colonial style directly on Plaza Carrillo at the end of Parque Cespedes—a popular spot in this truly colonial city. The interior lobby is tastefully designed, with plants and a host of contemporary Cuban artworks. Unique tables and chairs are decorated with found objects including old pipes, opera glasses, and bijoux. Guest rooms are exceptionally tastefully appointed with dark-wood furniture and bright tropical colors.

This stately, five-story lodging in Camagüey's historic center has served guests in style since 1939. Its bright lobby has chandeliers hung from high ceilings and various other antiques, the elevator being one of them. Rooms are small and a little on the dark side and have high ceilings and old tile floors; those facing the street are the biggest, but they can be noisy at night. Although the fifth-floor restaurant is lovely (it's furnished with antiques and surrounded by windows and glass doors that open onto a wraparound balcony); you come here for the atmosphere more so than the food. Even if you stay elsewhere, stopping in for a sunset drink at the rooftop bar is one of those when-in-Camagüey must-dos.

Though it caters mostly to Cubans, some of the rooms in this older hotel several blocks east of the historic center have been fixed up for visitors from abroad, which means there are now such modern amenities as satellite TV and mini-refrigerators. Guest rooms are a bit on the dark side, but public areas are pleasant, especially the rooftop and the central patio bars.

The historic Hotel Plaza, which overlooks the Plaza Serafín Sánchez, has airy, charming public spaces with arches, wicker furniture, and potted plants. Guest rooms are a mixed bag, however. Those in the old wing have high ceilings, and evoke the history of the place, but newer rooms in back are small and dark; opt for one in front (Room 201, 202, 210, or 211), as they have small balconies and park views. There's a verdant patio bar next to the lobby. The requisite hotel restaurant is okay, but you can do better dining elsewhere.

This modern six-story structure dates from the 1950s and looks out of place among the palacios of Punta Gorda, but rooms sparkle and service is top-notch here. Rooms view the bay and the city—a more pleasant sight at night than by day thanks to an oil refinery and other industry. The decor is bright and modern, with white-tile floors and colorful bedspreads. The restaurant has buffets—serving Italian food one time, Cuban another—when there are groups and offers a Continental menu when it's quiet.

On a grassy hill at the northern edge of town, this collection of cement duplexes enjoys a sweeping panorama of Trinidad's red-tile roofs, the Península de Ancón, and the blue Caribbean beyond. The name means "the caves," and caverns riddle the ground beneath the hotel; one of them is a museum, another holds the discotheque. Rooms are above and below the modern reception area; next door is the main restaurant, which usually serves buffets; a smaller café overlooks the pool atop the hill.

Try to get a room away from the restaurant if you don't want to hear the nightly folklore show.

Although such alterations as gleaming white-tile floors detract from its historic atmosphere, this late-19th-century inn, the only real game in town, is still charming. The thick square columns, high arches, and abundant potted plants in the public areas will enchant you. Guest rooms have tile floors and modern wooden furniture. The five front rooms have high ceilings and small balconies overlooking Plaza Martí. The restaurant ($–$$) serves quality Cuban cuisine; try the bistec en cazuela (in a red sauce) or a seafood dish.