153 Obispo St. on the corner of Mercaderes St., Old Havana ,
Havana, Cuba
(+53) 78609529
yes
About
Ambos Mundos
Much is made of Ernest Hemingway’s predilection for staying at the Hotel Ambos Mundos. He wrote the first few chapters of ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ in room 551, which is now maintained as something of a shrine.
The rooms are comfortable and this also applies to the ground floor bar area, with its cosy, squishy modern sofas. The roof terrace has great views of the Plaza de Armas and environs; for the main advantage of staying in the Ambos Mundos is proximity to all the best and most beautiful parts of Old Havana.
Clients can derive a warm philanthropic glow from the fact that since the hotel is run by the Office of the City Historian of Havana through its company called Habaguanex. All its profits are reinvested in the restoration of the city’s historical centre.
From 15th June 2014 the Hotel Ambos Mundos will start renovation on their 5th floor. All rooms on this floor (including Ernest Hemingway’s museum room) will be closed. The renovation will last for at least 6 months.
San Ignacio y Empedrado, Habana Vieja
The Cathedral Of Havana
The Cathedral of Havana is an iconic work of what is known as Cuban Baroque and the most remarkable of our colonial churches. The glorious baroque facade and asymmetrical bell-towers of the late 18th-century cathedral are the square’s top attraction. Its interior is surprisingly plain, but it once held the remains of Christopher Columbus. Religious services are held here. It has been declared a National Monument.
Calle Mercaderes No. 160 e/ Lamaprilla y Obrapia, Habana Vieja, La Habana
Simón Bolívar Museum
The Simón Bolívar Museum is situated within an old Neoclassical palace dating back to between 1806 and 1817., right in front of the bronze statue of Latin America’s liberator, in Old Havana. This museum in honor of Simón Bolívar was opened July 24th 1993, coinciding with the anniversary of his birth. It has permanent exhibitions dealing with the history of the Bolivarian nation and its main figures of independence. The museum also houses a great library with important book collections and Latin-American documents.
Calle Mercaderes No. 114, Habana Vieja, La Habana
Maqueta Museum of Old Havana (Scale Model Museum)
The Museo Maqueta de La Habana Vieja (Maqueta Museum of Old Havana) (Scale Model Museum) hosts a 1:500 scale model of Old Havana, one of the most important of these models in all of Cuba, and is considered as a place of great interest, knowledge and entertainment by its inhabitants. It is continuously updated and is rather impressive due to the incredible attention to detail in its works in regards to some of the most important buildings of Old Havana. This is one of Old Havana’s must-visit museums, as it allows you to imagine what the historical center of Havana is like as a whole, and therefore being able to get a better look at it when walking its streets.
Calle San Ignacio 54 (Plaza de la Catedral), Habana Vieja, La Habana
El Patio Restaurant (Marquis of Aguas Claras Palace)
This is a 1760 Baroque palace venerated for the great beauty of its Andalusian patio. It has a fountain surrounded by tropical vegetation where you will find several tortoises. Before the Revolution, this monumental building was the headquarters of the Industrial Bank; nowadays it houses the El Patio Restaurant. Although it offers traditional Cuban food, it speciality is meat and crustaceous, dishes as the Cathedral Mixed Grill (a varied grill) and skewers of lobsters and shrimps. The bar serves a collection of wines beers, rums and cocktails. It is currently possible to buy souvenirs in the craftworks shop located in the former Casa de Baños House, on the western side of the Cathedral square.