Fodor's Expert Review Hotel E Velasco

Brilliantly restored, this elegant hotel built in 1902 is a gem, set on the pleasant Parque de la Libertad. The grand lobby, in shades of peach and gold, has a gilded ceiling supported by faux-marble columns, wrought-iron chandeliers, lavish floral arrangements, and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the square. The lobby bar is as sophisticated as it gets in Cuba, and the dining room features a two-story atrium and an international menu ($). The hotel has only 17 rooms—13 standard and 4 larger junior suites—furnished in early-20th-century style with decorative tile floors, all with air-conditioning, phone, satellite TV, and minibar. Drop in anytime to sip the house specialty—a cup of Café Encanto, which is an espresso spiked with old Havana rum (CUC$6).