I've just returned from 3 weeks in Cuba, which included 3 nights at Hotel Ambos Mundos. Whilst the location of the hotel is handy, that is about all it has to offer. If you are considering staying here, I strongly suggest you shop around. It simply didn't offer a value for money and left us feeling quite ripped off. The staff were not friendly, unless they thought that they could sell you cigars or send you to their friend's paladar. The reception staff have questionable procedures (eg. calling us to find out when we were leaving) and dodgy euro exchange rates (they offered 1 euro to 1 CuC)!
We had a middle of the range room which unfortunately was not very comfortable, with a broken shower, smelly cupboard, and a twin room rather than a 'matrimonial'. Worst of all, we had booked the hotel prior to leaving Europe and opted for the half board option. Dinner was much like attending a bad wedding with a choice of 'chicken' or 'pork', accompanied by fried things and mashed potato made from powder. We had a token free drink with our meal, which covered water, beer and soft drink but wine had to be bought.
Honestly, it was not good value for money.

Ambos Mundos has been one of the most romantic hotels I have ever had. It's true we hadn't a few problems in our first night, 'cause we had in a hot bedroom without balcony and my boyfriend is asmatic but I spoke with the reception people and the day after they change our room to another bigger with balcony and besides they invited us to a dinner for the inconveniences. Hotel is a little old but just for this reason it has a historic atmosphere (remember Hemingway used to write here and even you can visite his room). Varied breakfast in a lovely roof with the most beautiful views of La Habana (lot of tourist visit the roof to take pictures). Location is the best, in the old Habana near cathedral and Malecon, I prefer this area to El Vedado, where most of the touristic hotels are. I would repeat if I came back. And please, remember to leave shampoo, clothes or a little present to the girls who clean your room, they're really very nice:)

We were bumped from the lovely Hotel Telegrafo to the Ambos Mundos on our first night in Havana. Both hotels are in the state run Habanguex chain and purport to be the same class but that's the only similarity. We were surprised that the charming bell hop made such a fuss about our room having a real window until we discovered that some rooms don't! Yes, the hotel is full of character and is interesting for the Hemingway connection, but you could get all that by spending an hour there while you were sight seeing. We are not "dainty" travellers but even by our standards, the rooms are in desperate need of a refurb and the bathrooms are distinctly grubby with cracked tiles and temperamental plumbing. They seem to literally be in original 1930 condition. There are many nicer roof top restaurants in Havana and the service was very poor. The receptionists were positively rude and made transferring back to the Telegrafo as dificult as possible despite them being told repeatedly by their sister hotel that this was what needed to happen. You don't go to Cuba for the accommodation or the food, but there are many better options.

I stayed at the Ambos Mundos way back in 1999, and while the rooftoop restaurant leaves something to be desired cuisine-wise, there were many wonderful qualities to this hotel. The lobby is a lovely place to relax, have a Mojito and let the gentle breezed waft around one. The staff was very gracious and detail oriented and very helpful. Even after we departed the Ambos Mundos, the concierge helped me with a number of things Our room was nothing terribly fancy, but I found it very comfortable and charming, with modern amenities and a lovely view. And it cannot go without mention that the location, in Old Havana, is one of a kind. The darkened streets at night, with people out and alive, the old buildings the fort and most of all, the wonderful, friendly and intelligent people, the street culture is what its all about. Cuba isn't meant to be a "perfect" experience. And there are a lot of culinary pitfalls in state run hotels, but the Ambos Mundos has history, hospitality and charm and is a wonderful cuban hotel.