Hotel Encanto La Habanera, Baracoa
La Habanera is a charming and budget-priced hotel on the main street, just steps from the main plaza, is housed in a recently restored colonial-era building dating from 1867.
For better or worse, the original colonial tile-work has been replaced with rather soulless contemporary ceramics, but beautiful hardwood doors are a lovely touch.
The location is a major plus for sightseeing, but it comes at a price: At night noise from the partying in the square and the nearby rooftop La Terraza cabaret can wake the dead.
Lofty ceilings assist air-conditioning in keeping things cool in the 10 bedrooms that surround an atrium courtyard, and four upstairs rooms open onto narrow balconies. Modest yet tasteful tropical-themed rattan furnishings and lively autumnal colour schemes in the bedrooms contrast with simply colonial-style decor and clinical whites in public arenas.
All rooms have lofty ceilings, plus two twin beds – so honeymooners should plan accordingly. Four rooms share a balcony over the plaza. Satellite TVs offer four international channels, and modern bathrooms sparkle.
