Iberostar Selection Parque Central

Rooms and decor

Picture a 5-star standing right on Parque Central, the busiest square in Havana — that's Iberostar Selection Parque Central, which plenty of travelers rank near the top in the city. What makes it unusual is that it's two separate buildings joined together. Facing the square is the Colonial building, early-20th-century architecture that still carries the old atmosphere. Behind it rises the newer Tower, climbing to floors with full city views. The two are linked by an underground tunnel you can walk straight through — a detail that delights nearly every guest. The roughly 426 rooms are done in cream and gold, a warm colonial-meets-modern look, with soft beds and heavy blackout curtains that keep things restful even though the old town stays alive all day. Some Tower rooms facing Parque Central look out at the pure-white Capitolio dome, modeled on the real Capitol in Washington DC — opening the curtains to that view in the morning is a feeling you won't find anywhere else. If your budget stretches, upgrade to Capitol Level, the exclusive top floor with a private lounge serving canapés and drinks plus a relaxed breakfast over the city.

Food and amenities

If this hotel has a heart, it's the top-floor rooftop — 2 outdoor pools with a wooden deck and an open-air bar at a full 360 degrees. You look out at the white Capitolio dome front and center, the red-tiled roofs of the old town running to the horizon, and the blue Caribbean at the far edge. This is the sunset spot many call the best in Havana without hesitation. In the evening you can sip a smooth fresh mojito while a live band plays son cubano, which they sometimes bring up here. Downstairs the main restaurant serves a breakfast buffet that runs well beyond the Cuban standard — eggs cooked to order, fresh tropical fruit, pastries baked each morning, imported cheese, and cold mimosas to sip. Plenty of reviews agree it's the best breakfast they had in Cuba. There's also an à la carte restaurant for dinner, a lobby bar open late, a small spa with treatment rooms, a fitness room, and a cigar lounge selling the real Cuban thing — so you can fill a whole day without leaving.

Location and getting there

Location is this place's strongest card. The hotel sits right on Parque Central — the central square with the José Martí monument at its heart and rows of brightly colored 1950s American classic cars running tours all day. Step out of the lobby and a few paces later you're at the Capitolio, the white-domed icon of the city. Across the street is the Gran Teatro de La Habana, the grand theater once directed by ballet star Carlos Acosta. From here it's an easy walk to every plaza of the UNESCO Old Town — Plaza Vieja, with its cafés and craft beer, is 7-8 minutes; Plaza de la Catedral, with its grand baroque cathedral, is about 10 minutes; and Plaza de Armas, the city's oldest square, is a few steps further. Head south and you hit Paseo del Prado, the tree-lined avenue that runs down to the Malecón, the seafront walk that doubles as Havana's living room. From José Martí Airport (HAV) it's about 25-30 minutes by car. The short version: if this trip is about covering Old Havana, this location is a perfect ten.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The first thing reviews agree on is that room quality is uneven, because there's the older Colonial building and the newer Tower. Some Colonial rooms still turn up small issues — slow hot water, a noisy AC, or wear on the furniture. If yours isn't right, tell reception and ask to move; staff here respond reasonably well. For the tidiest rooms, ask for the Tower. The second thing is noise: sitting in the busiest part of the city means live music from Parque Central, classic cars honking, and bars around it open late. Street-facing rooms can be hard to sleep in, so a higher floor or an interior-facing room helps a lot. The last and most important point is the Wi-Fi, which is slow and unstable in line with Cuban internet. It handles a LINE or WhatsApp message but struggles with video calls or streaming, so if you need to be online, buy a Cubacel SIM or eSIM before you travel. Don't expect European or Asian hotel speeds — that's the country, not the hotel.

Our take

After reading through hundreds of real reviews, Iberostar Selection Parque Central sells its location in the heart of Old Havana, its rooftop pool facing the Capitolio, and its generous breakfast with real confidence. If your mental image of a Havana trip is waking up to the white Capitolio dome, walking out to classic cars rolling past, ticking off every UNESCO Old Town plaza in minutes, then heading back up to the rooftop pool for sunset with a cold mojito, this is about as well-fitting a choice as you'll find. But if you expect a European-grade 5-star with flawless rooms everywhere and fast Wi-Fi, you'll need to adjust your expectations a little to Cuban standards. Overall we give it 8.4/10, best for couples and old-town travelers who want to cover Habana Vieja in one trip without long drives anywhere.