Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana

The United States doesn’t control the whole travel business, of course, but now that the region’s great power has finally begun to come to its senses regarding the Cuban embargo, the world’s hoteliers are starting to dip their toes in this controversial corner of the Caribbean. The first full-on luxury hotel to arrive on these shores happens to be a representative of the Swiss-based Kempinski group, and the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana assumes a privileged position in the heart of Havana’s old city, surrounded by luxury brands that make it crystal-clear just how enormously this city is about to change.

For now, though, imagine a European luxury hotel incongruously transplanted to an emerging Caribbean city and you’ve more or less got the right idea. Its 200-plus rooms and suites are elegant and contemporary, and come with wi-fi, still a novelty here. There’s a high-end spa that feels more like Geneva than Havana, and the Manzana’s multiple restaurants and bars are a distinct upgrade over the local competitors. If you’re looking for the lost-in-time feeling, there are plenty of hotels in Cuba that are true to their original history — but if contemporary luxury is your preference, at the moment there’s only one game in town.