This hotel is overrated, until one looks into the local competition.

Room: Ordinary size, reasonably clean. However, do not be surprised if a maid just walks in using her key without knocking or announcing.....it happened. The room trash (empty soda cans, nut bags) were not picked up ever during four days. The shower ran scalding hot or cold, depending upon which minute I was under the shower head. The toilet flush valve broke the first time I pushed it. Room safe is handy and useful.

General: Hotel literature says drinking the water is not suggested. There is no bottled water provided in the room, unless one takes their recommendation to buy a bottle for USD $2.50. I drank the tap water and it was ok.

The hotel location is great. An easy walk to Old Havana.

Breakfast: It's complimentary, but I should have been paid to eat it. At the buffet table, a two or three pound pile of bacon cooked as a lump and placed on a platter as a greasy marginally cooked tangled pile. Scrambled eggs almost floating in a big bowl as the water leeched out over time. 8:00 A.M. and there were flies walking on the fresh fruit and meats, etc. One day the milk was tepid, the next day quite warm and the next day it had to have been diluted with water...never consistent.

Lobby bar: Service is ok if you could get the wait staff to tear themselves away from the group joke swapping session among themselves at the bar. Lots of people just standing around and not working.

Appetizers: Three thumb (last joint) size bits of unremarkable meat with bar-b-que sauce, each on a small wood skewer for USD $6.00.

Late check out: Bring more money. The $1200 CUC I had spent was apparently not enough. They wanted $20 CUC more to stay two extra hours and there was plenty of room availability. Instead, I bought a lemonade at the bar and read a book until my airport departure

Swimming pool: Forget exersize swimming. It looks much bigger in the brochures. The rooftop bar staff were totally unattentive. "You want something...get it yourself". The view is interesting for a short while, then the sight of delapidaded rooftops gets old.

This hotel looks charming and of a botique nature. But, the staff is inadequately trained. All in all, a disappointment for the money.

This is a great hotel. Stylish, comfortable, an oasis of calm in crazy Habana. The staff were fantastic, food and drinks great and the experience of sipping a mojito from the roof top pool overlooking the Habana skyline hard to beat.

This hotel in my opinion is the best in Havana. It has character, it's decor is beautiful and in keeping with the feel of Havana. It's location is perfect, you can walk to all the main attractions. Our room was stunning and after 5 - 8 hours a day of walking round Havana I've got to say that the roof top pool was such a welcome relief both to cool off and recuperate. We spent 4 days here and 10 days at Paradisus Princesa Del Mar (resort near Varadero) which was also incredible however if I were to do it all again I'd spend a week in Havana and a week at the resort in Varadero. Havana has got to be the best city I've ever visited. There is so much to see and do there. The culture, people, food, nightlife were all brilliant. You have to embrace it though and go with the flow.

... but it didn't really match my expectations.

The plus points are the location, very easy to navigate the rest of the city from here. The rooftop pool -- excellent with great views of the city.

The room was okay - but beware, we stayed in one overlooking the bar atrium area. Fine if you're on a higher floor but you do get noise up till 3am and don't have any natural light. No fault of the hotel and unfortunately the property was full and we couldn't be moved.

Front of house staff ranged from surly to friendly so a bit hit and miss. Breakfast ok but not spectacular.

It is a shame, whilst the boutique feel is nearly there I didn't particularly warm to the place. If I return to Havana I'll go back to the Nacional in preference to the Saratoga.