SO/ Paseo del Prado La Habana

Rooms and decor

Picture walking into a lobby where one wall is century-old colonial stone — and it collides with a bright fuchsia sofa, floral carpet, and lamps in shapes you would never expect. That's the first surprise of SO/ Paseo del Prado La Habana, the newest 5-star hotel in the city, opened in 2023 under Accor's SO/ lifestyle brand. The building sits on the corner where Paseo del Prado, the city's prettiest street, runs into the seafront Malecón. The interiors are the work of Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, the Spanish designer known for childlike, joyful use of color and shape. Her playful-luxury idea runs through the whole place — lobby, corridors, bar, and all 250 rooms, each with its own color and artwork. The first time you open the door it can catch you off guard, but it grows on you, and it fits Havana — a city full of the bright colors of 1950s cars and pastel buildings. Many rooms, especially on the Malecón side, have floor-to-ceiling glass framing the Caribbean, so you wake to deep-blue waves hitting the seawall. Beds are soft, the bathrooms are modern, and the in-room kit is what you would expect from a new 5-star.

Food and amenities

If this hotel has a heart, it's the rooftop. Go up to the top floor and you understand instantly why every review lands on it — an infinity pool stretches out toward the sea, its edge seeming to dissolve into the Caribbean horizon. Beside it, the Cuban Vibes bar pours classic Cuban cocktails — Mojito, Cuba Libre, Daiquiri — in plain glasses but at full strength. You sip and watch the tiled rooftops of Habana Vieja run all the way out to the dome of the Capitolio. At sunset the orange light against the blue sea is the moment a lot of guests call the highlight of the trip. Back inside there's a full set of 5-star amenities — a contemporary Cuban restaurant that plays with local ingredients, a spa for after a long day in the old town, a fitness room with brand-new equipment, and Wi-Fi that's reasonably stable by Cuban standards (where internet is still a national challenge). Breakfast is a buffet plus à la carte, with fresh tropical fruit like mango and papaya, juices, and traditional Cuban dishes such as scrambled eggs and bread rolls.

Location and getting there

The location is the trump card here, and it's hard to match. The hotel sits on the corner where Paseo del Prado — a tree-lined promenade laid out by a French engineer in the 18th century — meets the Malecón, the Caribbean seafront road that has become an icon of Havana. It's the exact point where both of the city's symbols come together. Step out of the lobby and you choose: turn left into the heart of the old town, or turn right and walk the seafront. The Capitolio, Havana's Capitol-style landmark, is about an 8-minute walk. Plaza Vieja and Plaza de la Catedral, the core of the UNESCO-listed Habana Vieja, are around 15 minutes on foot. Along the way you pass pastel colonial buildings — some restored, some still raw and old — bright 1950s vintage cars still running as normal, and small cigar shops and cafes tucked into side streets. For getting in and out, José Martí airport (HAV) is a 30-40-minute drive, and the hotel can arrange a transfer if you book ahead. Simply put: if you want to wake up and walk straight into real Havana without spending the day in a car, this spot delivers.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The thing reviews mention most is noise. In the evenings and on weekends the Malecón is where Havana gathers — people drinking, playing and singing music, talking loudly, and sometimes vintage cars cruising with the stereo up. Rooms facing the Malecón directly can hear it late, so if you sleep lightly, ask for a high floor away from street level or switch to a room on the Habana Vieja side, which is much quieter. Second is service. Because it's a new opening and Cuba has limited access to international training, a lot of staff are still learning. Some reviews note slow check-in, less fluent English, or requests that take longer than they should at this brand's hotels elsewhere — the genuine Cuban warmth is there, but the international-standard polish can be missing. Last, and important: payment. Cuba still has limits on cards from US banks, and some online booking channels can hit snags. Check directly with your agent or Accor, bring some cash in US dollars or euros for use around town, and don't count on every credit card working the way it would elsewhere.

Our take

After reading through a stack of real guest reviews, SO/ Paseo del Prado La Habana earns its pitch: an iconic corner location, the best sea-view rooftop in the area, and fresh design from Agatha Ruiz de la Prada. If your mental image of the trip is waking to the Caribbean through your window, walking a few minutes to colonial buildings and vintage cars, then heading back up to the rooftop for a Mojito as the sun sets behind the Capitolio, this is a rare fit. But if you expect the seamless service of the same 5-star brand in Europe or Asia, adjust your expectations a little — Cuba's structural limits are real and they reach the hotel. Overall we give it 8.5/10. It's best for couples, luxury travelers, and design lovers who want something new in Havana's most atmospheric quarter and are ready to take Cuba as it actually is.