It’s finally here.
The highly-anticipated Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana has opened its doors to guests, a major new addition to Cuba’s booming tourism sector.
The five-star property has been exquisitely restored, taking a building first constructed between 1894 and 1917 as Cuba’s first European-style shopping arcade and turning it into what’s easily one of the best hotels in the Caribbean region — already.
Indeed, the original shopping arcade has been transformed for the modern era, too, with a collection of branded and local luxury shops including the new Cohiba Atmosphere lounge.
In plain view of Havana’s Capitolio and El Floridita, the famous Hemingway haunt, the Kempinski (the Geneva-based brand’s first foray into the Caribbean) has 246 rooms and suites, a variety of restaurants and bars, a simply breathtaking spa and a show-stopping rooftop pool and lounge.
And then there’s the soon-to-debut cigar lounge, which, upon opening, will likely be among the best in the city.
All in all, it’s a new level of hotel for Cuba, which has become a draw for high-income travelers seeking a rich, cultural experience.
Cuba Journal got an exclusive first look at this landmark property. Check it out in the video above.
— Simons Chase and Alexander Britell in Havana
