Iberostar Selection Parque Central

The Parque Central has been the workhorse of upscale Havana for more than two decades, and its position explains the loyalty: the hotel faces the square that joins Old Havana to the Prado, with the Capitolio, the Gran Teatro and Calle Obispo all within a block or two. It spreads across two connected buildings—a colonial-style original with a grand columned lobby and a newer tower across a side street—linked by an underground passage.

Rooms are comfortable rather than fashionable, in warm classical tones, and the practical virtues matter here: reliable air-conditioning, generous breakfast buffets and staff long practised at helping visitors navigate the city. The tower rooms are quieter and fresher; the historic wing has the atmosphere and the balconies over the square, where vintage American cars line up below.

Both buildings carry rooftop terraces with pools, and the view from the original wing's roof—Capitolio dome on one side, the bay and old town on the other—is among the best free spectacles in the city. Dining is solid international and Cuban fare, best treated as fuel for days spent exploring, and Havana's paladares are all around. As a well-run, fairly priced base at the exact centre of things, it remains hard to beat.