Prepping for our first trip in 2020- Cuba!
HAVANA, CUBA… I don’t think we’ve booked & planned a trip as quick & spontaneous as we did with this one! It took a few glasses of wine and some Baileys shots and boom… we are booked! It’s been on the top of our list for quite some time but finally we are ready to cross it off our bucket-list! When I imagine Havana, I see pastel colored classic cars, Spanish-colonial architecture, vibrant plazas & eclectic alleyways, Cuban cigars, pristine beaches, salsa music in every corner and warm, lively locals. So we decided we would spend 3 full days in Havana, spend a day in Viñales and the tobacco fields, and then we’ll end it with 2 full days on the beautiful beaches of Varadero.
After booking our flights, we started researching where we wanted to stay. We all agreed to stay in an Airbnb in support of the locals instead of staying in a hotel and that would definitely give us a more authentic Cuban experience especially by staying in the Old Havana historic district. Just imagine jumping back into history and getting lost in a maze of colorful cobblestoned alleyways that date back to the 16th century!
There were many options to choose from in Airbnb. We wanted something in the mid-range in old Havana that had a unique artistic yet rustic design & feel to it, and looked clean & well maintained. I will link all our top options for 2 or more couples or a family::
::Airbnb::
Nuestra Havana- A 2 bedroom apartment with a blend of vintage & modern design with exposed brick details.
Casa Colonial 1922- Entire home with 2 bedrooms, Rustic architectural details, wrap around balcony, hammocks, rooftop garden & a rooftop terrace.
Cosy House in heart of old Havana- One of our favorites! Beautiful retro style furniture, looks clean and accommodates up to 4 couples.
Villa Vera- An entire 4 bedroom home - exposed brick wall, original flooring & wooden doors, and a rooftop terrace (Vedado district)
Bambú Penthouse- 2 bedroom penthouse with a nicely furnished large rustic rooftop terrace and lush greenery
Casa de Vera- Large home with a blend of retro/modern & classic design. (Vedado district)
Casa Viva Havana- Industrial modern architectural style
Modern charming colonial central apartment- 2 bedrooms with high ceilings and beautiful full length wooden doors including a little balcony
Welcome to the heart of old Havana- Eclectic small 2 bedroom apartment
After deciding on our Airbnb, it was time to dig deep into the historic sites and figure out our must do, see & eat list. The fact that we were going to be staying in the heart of Old Havana, it would be the perfect area to step back in time, get lost in its cobblestoned, narrow alleyways and discover our way from there. (can’t wait!)
::HISTORIC PLAZAS, LANDMARKS, NEIGHBORHOODS, MUSEUMS & ARCHITECTURE::
Old Havana or Havana Vieja was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. It is unique for it’s range in architectural styles from Baroque, Art Nouveau, Moorish and Neo-Classical. It’s also special for its ornate facades, cathedrals and lively plazas.
Plaza Vieja- Restored plaza with a fountain in the middle considered the most popular gathering spot busy with lively bars, restaurants and cafes. It’s famous for the blend of architectural styles- from Baroque to Art Nouveau. Also know for Havana’s finest stained glass windows (vitrales)
Plaza de la Cathedral- Spanish architecture influenced by Baroque design elements. Definitely will need to check out its famous Cathedral which the plaza is named after- Catedral de la Habana -finished in the late 1700’s. It is unique for its baroque exterior and neoclassical interior. The other massive historic buildings in the square used to be homes to the elites.
Plaza de Armas- One of Havanas oldest colonial plazas with surrounding governmental institutions. It used to be the plaza where military parades used to take place.
Plaza de la Revolución- Largest plaza in Cuba known for the iconic giant mural of Cuba’s revolutionary hero Che Guevara placed on the facade of its ministry of interior building, and a giant portrait of Camilo Cienfuegos is installed on the adjacent Telecommunications building.
Capitolio- the Capitol which was built in 1926 and used to seat the cuban government until the Cuban revolution in 1959. Its been newly renovated and now houses the Cuban Academy of Sciences.
El Morro- Colonial-era Spanish castle and fortress constructed in 1589 but completed in 1630. Many years later it was used as a prison… but now it’s just as a tourist attraction.
La Cabaña- an 18th-century fortress complex with a museum
El Malecon- Havana’s famous five-mile long boulevard that runs along the waterfront
Rent a 1950’s American classic car and cruise along the waterfront promenade
Fabrica del Arte- Located in the neighborhood of Vedado, its an amazing multi-disciplinary cultural & hangout space (food, music, art) housed in an old cooking oil factory
Museum of Fine Arts- A blend of Spanish Baroque and Plateresque architectural style building that was inaugurated in October 1927 and used to house the Asturian Center, but now is a museum
Museum of the Revolution- A Spanish Baroque architectural style building that was inaugurated as Cuba’s Presidential Palace in 1920, but now is a museum
San Isidro District- vibrant with lots of street art- graffiti
Miramar neighborhood- a stunning area comprised of grand mansions and colonial estates which house embassies, diplomats homes and upscales shops
Calle Obispo- street in old Havana known for its vibrant nightlife
Paseo promenade stretches from El Parque Central to the Malecón and separates Central Havana from Havana Vieja. Great time to go for a stroll after 4 or 5pm. Great place to observe the daily lives of Cubans also great art to buy on the weekend market
Vedado’s Old Mansions- Residential neighborhood west of old Havana were once home of the biggest mafia and mob leaders from the 1920’s and sugarcane plantation owners. Many have been restored to embassies, cultural centers & restaurants/bars. Some of Vedado’s landmark hotels are Hotel Nacional, the Capri, and the Riviera.
Bacardi Building- one of the most beautiful examples of Art Deco architecture in Latin America
Gran Teatro de la Habana- neo-baroque piece of architecture inaugurated in 1915
Interior lobbies of the historic hotels like Hotel Raquel, Florida or Sevilla that tell a story of a once rich history
Hemingways home
::RESTAURANTS::
La GUARIDA- Stunning old palace was the film location for the movie "Strawberries and Chocolate”. Check out its restaurant and rooftop terrace.
Lamparilla 361 (drinks)
Salchipizza- Michelin star chef using cuban ingredients and not pricy
San Cristobal- A taste of colonial Cuba
Madrigal bar cafe (cocktails) artsy 100yr home
Jesus Maria 23 voted as best new restaurant
El Del frente a hip spot to dine in old Havana
El Cafe- set in a gorgeous old casa and known for best coffee, breakfast & sandwiches in Habana Vieja
5 Esquinas tratoria/espanada street near revolutionary museum- cute street at night with several bars/rest
Doña Eutemia- paladar (independently-run restaurant) is a staple of old Creole cuisine
El Cochinera- NY loft-style lounge near fabrica del arte
La Bodeguita del Medio- A small bar/restaurant with a live band known for its mojito cocktails and its link to American writer Ernest Hemingway (who was a regular in the 40s and 50s when he lived there)
Café Laurent- Anthony Bourdain recommended
Calle 13 Entre de E y F in Vedado to check out the Mediterranean restaurant known for the best seafood and pasta in Havana
DAY TRIP from HAVANA::
Viñales- known for its limestone hills and tobacco fields- Less than 3 hours from Havana, it is recommended to rent a classic car and enjoy the scenic drive. Another way to get there is via public transportation- bus. Viazul, a popular bus company in Cuba where their buses depart every morning from Havana and leave Viñales in the late afternoon, arriving back in Havana in the evening. It’s about a four hour trip with a stop.
Another thing worth doing in Vinales is to hike Cuevas de Santo Tomas, Cuba’s largest cave network using head torches or a simpler option would be Cuevo del Indio which involves a shorter tour on a boat ride into a dimly lit cave.
We can’t wait to immerse ourselves in the Cuban culture and learn about all the beauty that Cuba and its people have to offer! Its countdown time… 3 more weeks to go!!!
STAY POSTED…
