Hotel Los Frailes

We got off to a very bad start with this hotel which does not really help this review. We were supposed to stay here for 3 nights on a recent visit to Havana but on our arrival at the hotel we were told that our room had a leak and they had put us in another hotel which was very sub-standard and not what we were expecting but that we could come back for our last night. On our return to this hotel we discovered that in fact from two members of staff that our room had not had a leak - sounds very much as though the hotel had been overbooked even though this hotel had been booked by our travel company months in advance. However, this hotel is a very interesting it is dark inside and we were told that it only had 22 rooms and only 4 of these have windows. The hotel is very well placed for the centre of the old town. All the staff are dressed up in Monk's habits and there is a feeling of mystery about it - I think it was a house for the Monks who served the Cathedral - there are copper statues of monks dotted around the hotel which seem to cause quite a stir with visitors and you would often find them in the lobby looking at them. It has a lovely lobby and bar and the best Mojito in town. The staff were very nice particularly Rene and Alexander. You do not have your meals in the hotel as there is no restaurant you have to go to a cafe on the corner. We had breakfast here which was good and Hilda who served us was lovely. Our room which overlooked the road was very nice, clean and comfortable. However, if you want coffee there is a machine but you have to pay for the coffee. The rooms are air conditioned and the windows open onto the street.

Stayed at Hotel Los Frailes during our visit to Cuba last year, a few days at the start of our 2 week holiday, and a couple of days at the end. The hotel is in a great location in Old Havana. Your taxi can only get to within a couple of hundred metres so be prepared to move your own luggage along cobble streets.||||The hotel itself looks fantastic, everyone working in the hotel dressed as monks habits. Some kind of old monastery. Interesting enough even just to walk in and have a look around. Many tours seemed to do just that. Always busy during the day with people taking photos of the staff and artefacts around the hotel.||||In the first visit we had a room with no windows, which was fine except for that point. Fairly clean with some interesting furniture. For our second stay, we were put in a far nicer room at the front of the hotel on the top floor with a great view from the balcony of the square. The sturdiness of the balcony did not look too robust, so didn't stay out there that long.||||There was internet available, but as with many places in Cuba, you had to buy an access card.||||Interesting place, I gave it 4 stars, anywhere else in the world, and it would have been 3, this is Cuba and was one of the nicer hotels we stayed in. I would recommend staying, but there are things that give it a shabby appearance, enamel bath with big chips in it, poor tiling in the bathroom, etc. etc.||||Remember, no Credit Cards so have cash or at least access to it

Situated on a beautiful pedestrian street in the heart of old Havana this lovely hotel is within walking distance of all the restraunts and music this city has to offer. The staff are cheerful and helpful guiding you to find nice places to eat and giving info on booking your own site seeing trips and changing money. The hotel is spotlessly clean and well maintained. Some of the fixtures ie baths etc are old but well cared for, in fact the shower was great. The rooms have a fridge safe and hair dryer. Most rooms do not have a window a fact that concerned me before our arrival however this was fine .. Cool rooms with air con and no Mosquitos . This hotel is on the tour route for Havana but we were not bothered by the stream of tourists to the reception. I would highly recommend this hotel.

We were dropped off by shuttle in a deserted square late at night. Found the hotel due to the metal monk outside. The room was without windows, as befitting an old monastery, but there was plenty of lighting. The room and bathroom were large with a great chambermaid service. Breakfast at the local cafe 30 seconds away was good. Plus there was a bank exchaning money across from this. In fact, everything you needed was within easy reach. Also, you had the great experience of having a woodwind quartet playing in the lobby , as you zonked out on cocktails. Also the old square was close by, with bars and restaurants. Then, the streets leading to the centre of the city were very close. These had bars and eateries with live music. All of 'em. Brilliant. We walked and rode all over Havana and couldn't find a better placed hotel.

Located in the heart of old Havana,i stayed here with a Cuban friend in June for 1 week.On arrival the staff were very very friendly and helpful. The hotel was clean comfortable and quirky as the rooms are decorated as monastic cells as this is the theme of the hotel, all the staff are dressed as monks also. I knew this before I travelled but BE WARNED the standard rooms have NO WINDOWS, this does not detract in anyway from the comfort of the room, which was a pretty good size with a good powerful shower. A small safe was standard in all rooms but this was more than big enough for travel documents passport money jewellery etc. The hotel does not have a kitchen and breakfast is taken just a few yards down the street in La Marina café/restaurant and again the staff were very friendly and polite.At the hotel entrance and In the hotel there are life size copper hollow statues of monks which just add to the character and ambiance of this wonderful hotel. In the bar you will get the best mojito in Cuba bar none, I an say this from my vast experience of mojitos, haha.

We have travelled the world in everything from 5 star hotels to hostels. The only good thing about this hotel is the location, in the middle of the old town (Havana viejo). Most rooms have no windows which is fine as they are quiet. This is where the good points end. The rooms are worse than tired. No hot water, stained, chipped bathroom fittings and antiquated, noisy air con. This would all be ok if it was £50 a night but £200?! Do not stay here. Find yourself a nice casa particuliares and save yourself the money. I agree with another reviewer about the doorman who continuously pushes overpriced excursions and taxis every time you set foot over the door. Stay here at your peril.

Our stay here was initally bad but turned very good in a few minutes. Our first room had mold in the bathroom. We were immediately moved to another room which was perfect. Hotels of this era and the climate make keeping these rooms clean difficult. The hotel staff were very accommodating and put us in touch with a private local travel guide who made our trip most memorable. The inclusive breakfast was just down the block at a local restaurant

You can tell this hotel must have been lovely once. My friend said she'd stayed there about 12 years before and it looked as though they'd done nothing to it since. Such a let down as it's quite expensive for Havana but we wanted to treat ourselves for a few days. The rooms have no windows and it was dark, dank and very musty smelling. The bathroom was old and tatty and could have done with a complete refit. The only saving grace was that the air conditioning wasn't working properly and when we checked in the staff offered us a transfer to their sister hotel the Raquel. After one night we moved to the Raquel which was lovely but would have been even more expensive if we had booked there. Stay in a nice casa particular instead!