Few literary figures are as bound to a place as Ernest Hemingway is to Cuba. The American novelist first visited in 1932 and soon made it his base, writing some of his greatest works under the Caribbean sun. From the fishing village of Cojímar to the streets of Old Havana, Hemingway’s presence still lingers — in the bars he frequented, the house he loved, and the sea he fished. To explore Havana through Hemingway’s eyes is to experience Cuba as both myth and memory.
Where to Stay
Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana
A five-star property in the heart of Old Havana, with colonial façades and modern luxury. Its rooftop pool offers sweeping views of the Capitolio and the city’s layered skyline.
🌐 kempinski.com
Hotel Nacional de Cuba
An icon since 1930, this hotel has welcomed everyone from Ava Gardner to Frank Sinatra. Its gardens overlook the Malecón, and its architecture is a nostalgic blend of Art Deco and Spanish Revival.
🌐 hotelnacionaldecuba.com
Iberostar Grand Packard
Set on the Paseo del Prado, this sleek modern hotel blends contemporary comfort with views over Havana’s harbor. A favorite for travelers seeking Hemingway’s Havana with 21st-century polish.
🌐 iberostar.com
Finca Vigía Stay (Private Casas Nearby)
While Hemingway’s actual home, Finca Vigía, is preserved as a museum, visitors can stay in nearby private guesthouses (casas particulares), offering a more intimate immersion in San Francisco de Paula, the suburb where Hemingway lived.
🌐 airbnb.com/havana
Where to Eat & Drink
El Floridita
Known as “la cuna del daiquirí” (the cradle of the daiquiri), this Havana institution was Hemingway’s haunt. A bronze statue of the writer leans on the bar, where he ordered his own version: strong, unsweetened, icy cold.
🌐 elfloridita-cuba.com
La Bodeguita del Medio
Another Hemingway favorite, credited with popularizing the mojito. Its graffiti-covered walls and lively music make it both touristy and atmospheric.
🌐 labodeguitadelmedio.com
San Cristóbal Paladar
One of Havana’s most celebrated private restaurants (paladares), serving refined takes on Cuban classics. President Obama and Beyoncé dined here; Hemingway would likely have approved of its convivial atmosphere.
🌐 sancristobalpaladar.com
Doña Eutimia
Tucked behind Havana Cathedral, this family-run paladar serves authentic home-style Cuban cooking — ropa vieja, malanga fritters, and flan. A perfect pause between sightseeing in Old Havana.
La Guarida
Perhaps Havana’s most famous paladar, set in a crumbling yet cinematic mansion. Known for its nouvelle Cuban cuisine and rooftop terrace.
🌐 laguarida.com
What to See & Do
Finca Vigía (Hemingway’s House)
Located 15 minutes outside Havana, this was Hemingway’s home from 1939 to 1960. Visitors can peer into rooms preserved as he left them: typewriter, hunting trophies, thousands of books. The tower study overlooks the lush grounds.
🌐 fincavigia.org
Cojímar
The fishing village that inspired The Old Man and the Sea. A bust of Hemingway stands on the seafront, and the waters remain a pilgrimage for sport-fishing enthusiasts.
Museo Hemingway (Hotel Ambos Mundos, Havana Vieja)
Before Finca Vigía, Hemingway lived at the Hotel Ambos Mundos in Old Havana. His room, No. 511, is preserved as a small museum. The lobby piano bar still hums with nostalgia.
🌐 ambosmundoshotel.com
The Malecón
Hemingway loved walking along Havana’s iconic seawall, especially at dusk when the city seems suspended between sea and sky. Even today, it is Havana’s communal living room.
Havana Vieja (Old Havana)
UNESCO-listed and meticulously restored, the cobblestoned quarter still resonates with the atmosphere Hemingway knew: baroque churches, leafy plazas, and centuries of layered history.
🌐 habanavieja.com
Sport Fishing & the Sea
Hemingway was an avid fisherman, and visitors can book charters from Marina Hemingway, named in his honor. The turquoise waters off Cojímar remain legendary for marlin.
The Essence of Hemingway’s Cuba
To follow Hemingway in Cuba is to experience an island at once timeless and changing. The daiquiris at El Floridita may taste the same, the Malecón may stretch unchanged along the waves, but Havana today is also alive with contemporary art, jazz clubs, and design-savvy hotels.
Hemingway himself once said, “In Cuba, I found the kind of life I wanted.” To trace his footsteps here is not only to see his haunts but to feel the same magnetic pull of Havana’s rhythm — intoxicating, elusive, and unforgettable.
My World of Interiors 