Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Nacional

Officially the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, this elegant establishment recalls another era, as it's filled with memorabilia of such famous (and infamous) guests as Winston Churchill, Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra, and Meyer Lansky—the Nacional still buzzes. Although rooms are disappointing and the service is only fair, the historic Galería bar is a great place for a mojito, as is the clifftop garden, with its magnificent views of the Malecón and the Straits of Florida beyond. A peacock strolls graciously as you sip lemonade at the bar under the shade of a majestic palm tree. Invariably there's a hot trio playing son, a genre of Cuban music and the perfect accompaniment to the movements of visitors from all over the world as they wander in and out of this national monument.