Ambos Mundos

We paid $23 for a coffee and a drink, with no menu showing the prices. The coffee was really bad, I didn't even finish the drink, and the chairs were uncomfortable. The elevator was being worked on, so we had to take the stairs. Honestly, walking down them was the best part of the visit. Don't go.

The older woman at the lobby bar was lovely. She took time to talk us through different rums, and the rum itself was very good. A colleague switched on a blender right beside us while we were talking, though, so we couldn't hear anything for a while. We had started there with a cocktail, which was excellent, and the lobby's classic atmosphere made a nice first impression. We had come to Hotel Ambos Mundos because a travel guide recommended seeing Ernest Hemingway's room. The guide said entry would be around €2 per person, but reception asked for €9 each. We paid since we were already there, but the room was underwhelming. It had some of Hemingway's belongings, including furniture and works, but didn't feel especially informative or special. The old elevator ride was a nostalgic touch. The staff member who accompanied us gave no explanation about the room or why it mattered, and seemed to treat our visit as an interruption. We left after about five minutes and went back downstairs. In the end, the overpriced room visit and generally unmotivated service made the experience disappointing, despite the kind, attentive service from the woman at the bar.

Breakfast on the open rooftop terrace was a beautiful start to the day. It came with bread, fruit, meat and cheese, two eggs, and juice or coffee. We only ate breakfast there, though other meals are served too. The hotel sits in Havana's historic center, close to plenty of sights and walkable streets. It's at the end of a street, so it stays fairly quiet. The place is dated but charming, and our average-sized room was clean and comfortable. The shower was warm, though the pressure wasn't great. Wi-Fi worked only in common areas, but my SIM card worked fine. Service depended on who was on duty. Some staff were wonderful, others made us feel like a nuisance. The front desk all spoke English; communication with servers and cleaners was less predictable. A few things to know: taxis can't reach the hotel because nearby roads are closed, so the closest drop-off is about a block and a half away. There's one old cage elevator with an operator, and waiting can take time. We used the stairs. You get one bottle of water at check-in, then have to buy your own. I wouldn't buy it there, since they charge four times the going price: 800 pesos for a bottle, while a local store sells a 2L bottle for 250. We also asked the front desk to arrange a car, and they gave us an extremely high quote. When we objected, they argued it was fair because our route had "a lot of turns." I wouldn't ask them to arrange a car unless you're going to the airport, which has a set rate. Even with those issues, I'd stay again for the location alone.

I can't speak to the hotel or rooms, but the rooftop bar was awful. Drinks cost too much, and though they were drinkable, so are mine. The view was okay and service was okay, but the toilets didn't flush and they wouldn't take pesos. What was I paying for? Stay away from this tourist trap. Regards, Harry