46 The ‘Apple’ at the centre of the city Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski, Havana, Cuba Originally built between 1894 and 1917 as the first European-style shopping arcade in Cuba, Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski is situated in the heart of Old Havana with a direct view of the Capitol and the Great Theatre of Havana, amidst other UNESCO World Heritage sites. The iconic ‘Manzana’ building (literally translating as ‘apple’ but also a colloquial term for ‘block’), with its colourful past as a popular hub for fashionable locals and tourists, was the perfect stage for Kempinski’s first hotel in Cuba. The result is nothing short of an iconic, architectural rebirth in a city famously frozen in time. The hotel is the perfect base from which to admire and explore the old town of Havana. Its 246 rooms and suites ooze elegance with high ceilings, plush king beds (or two twin beds) and French windows where you can watch city life roll by. That cultural feed washes into the hotel through the many commissioned artworks from contemporary Cuban artists that are an integral part of the hotel’s décor, such as the images of featured artist Claudia Corrales. Dining here is a real highlight. The Confluencias dining room provides refined buffets for breakfast whilst the sixth-floor San Cristobal offers delicious Caribbean sea food and unrivalled city views. The stylish Constante Bar is perfect for after-dinner drinks, whilst original Cuban cigars can be enjoyed in the Evocación Tobacco Lounge. On top of this, you’ll also find a fitness centre, a rooftop infinity pool and a stunning spa complete with eight treatment rooms and state-of-the-art equipment.
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