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Hotel Conde de Villanueva

Mercaderes 202, 16046 Havana, Cuba.

Conceived with cigar-lovers in mind, this tastefully restored 18th-century mansion has a rustic colonial charm and intimate feel to it that makes it just as ideal for sightseers and couples seeking a relaxed, quiet atmosphere. The hotel's prime location - quite literally the heart of the Old Town - is somehow spared what some might consider attendant drawbacks, such as hectic traffic or noisy thoroughfares: opposite a small, shaded park. Earthen tones and open, sunny spaces predominate inside, where restoration efforts have left fragments of colonial mosaics and fixtures from the period intact, for an overall effect of authenticity. A mere nine rooms are arranged around the inner courtyard, on two levels. The sense of privacy and calm is heightened by the thick, limestone walls that keep both noise and heat outside the accommodations. Cigar aficionados, tobacco enthusiasts and smokers in general can savour a broad range of brands and even custom-made habanos in the cloistered penumbra of a small smoking lounge, located on the mezzanine. The San Diego del Valle meeting room, with capacity for 60 people, may be rented for conferences, cocktail parties and business rendezvous.