Hotel Saratoga, a relatively new addition to Old Havana’s hotel scene, is a stylish and luxurious establishment, which combines charming early 19th century elements with an inventive and tasteful modern décor and excellent facilities. Though the interiors were completely rebuilt and refashioned (3 floors were added to the property’s original 4), the eclectic, chiefly neo-classical façade has been restored and recalls the days, during the 1930s, when artists and other cultural luminaries gathered here and the spot was enlivened by the Anacaona all-girl orchestra.

The hotel’s immediate surroundings are, admittedly, somewhat noisy and not aesthetically pleasing. This minor shortcoming, however, is more than compensated for by hotel Saratoga’s privileged location: at the south end of Prado, across the street from the Capitolio and Gran Teatro and a relatively short walk away from the seawall and Obispo, one of the main access points of the colonial heart of the Old Town.

Inside the hotel, guests are greeted by a daring and sophisticated interior design that sets a new tone for hotels in the area, evoking the kind of cosmopolitan spirit one might come across in New York and other major cities. The mezzanine bar, under an atrium skylight, epitomizes this feeling with its mixed furnishings, tall palms and large mural depicting a Cuban landscape.
Anacaona Restaurant, its intimate adjoining bar and the rooftop restaurant, which offers great views of Prado and places of interest such as the Partagas cigar factory.

The overall sense of elegance and tasteful hotel design carries over to the hotel’s accommodations, which combine classical elements with modern facilities (such as Internet access).

Other attractive features include outdoor parking, Wi-Fi in communal areas, a state of the art gym; massage services, a well-equipped business centre and two meeting rooms. Visitors who seek intimacy and modern-day comforts will be hard pressed to find a better option.