Located on the picturesque promenade Paseo del Prado, just a few steps away from all the cultural treasures of Old Havana, Hotel Sevilla is one of the four grand historical hotels (together with the Inglaterra, the Plaza and the Saratoga) near Havana’s Central Park.

Built in 1908 with marked Moorish influence in its architecture, the Sevilla is a classic hotel steeped in history, reflected in the photo gallery on the ground floor which shows pictures of the celebrities who stayed at the hotel during its heydays in the 1930s and 40s. The Sevilla is even featured in Graham Greene's novel "Our Man in Havana" as the place where his protagonist is recruited to become a spy.

Crossing the beautiful façade, one enters an impressive Thousand and One Nights lobby enhanced by lovely ceramic tiles. The pleasant indoor patio with its whispering fountain and well-stocked bar invite travelers to chill out after the city’s heat, hustle and bustle . The “Mary Pickford” (rum, pineapple juice, grenadine and ice) is the specialty of the house, as this refreshing cocktail was invented here in the 1920s in honor of a visit by the silent film star.

Upstairs there is a marvelous rooftop restaurant, where the large windows that surround the very wide room offer spectacular views over the city and the sea.

Rooms are tastefully adorned with elegant colonial furniture but, like the rest of the hotel, could use some refurbishment, painting, and maintenance, here and there.

The swimming pool area is quite large and constitutes, along with the hotel's location, another of its major advantages.