cubacasas.net •|• La Habana • Playa ::: Miramar

PARQUE ALMENDARES runs along the banks of the Río Almendares below the bridge on Calle 23 (La Rampa), this wonderful oasis of greenery and negative-air ions in the heart of chaotic Habana is sometimes referred to as the lungs of the city. The park was restored in 2003 and a beautiful job has been done : benches line the river promenade, plants grow profusely in the shade and there are many facilities here, including an antiquated miniature golf course, the Anfiteatro Parque Almendares and a children’s playground. There are also several good places to eat. Take a 20-minute stroll through old-growth trees in the Bosque de la Habana and you’ll feel transported. Lonely Planet

OUR CASA LIST BEGINS HERE

MIRAMAR-PLAYA MAP HERE

Miramar is only a narrow band of streets by the sea with hotels and offices in this much larger area known to Cubans as Playa. There is no beach (playa) per se here — with the lovely exception of Club Havana (see at right).

Playa includes neighbourhoods and municipios in and around the Convention Centre (Palacio de Convenciones in Nautico), Marina Hemingway (bars, boats, hotels, restaurants), Almendares, La Sierra, Atabey, Barlovento, Bélen and Alturas de Bélen (Colegio and Tropicana), Buenavista, Cubanacán, Flores (Club Havana), Kohly, La Copa, Marianao, Nautico, Baracoa, Querejeta, Siboney and more.

You're not exactly downtown. Taxi rides to Old Havana are 12-15cuc each way. Cocotaxis are not any cheaper, private taxis (shared) should be about 5cuc from Vedado to Belen, much more to the Palacio de Convenciones, the Convention Centre, far into Playa, about 80 blocks from the Habana Libre in "downtown" Vedado.

MAPS & LINKS

Map of Playa with some of our rental casas

Map of the Miramar (seaside) area of Playa

Havana Weather

Daily currency exchange rates

Acuario Nacional web site

Palacio de Convenciones web site

Canadian 737-room hotel project — Monte Barreto

Parque Quinta Avenida •|• Postcard of same, from the 40's

RESTAURANTS
Pan.com, 7ma, angle 26 (sandwiches, 24 hrs); Vistamar, ave. 1, entre 22 y 24 (dear, but with a view sublime); Subacuatico at the Acuario, Avenida 1ra. Nº 6002, corner 6 (affordable seafood, minimum cover 8 cuc; garlic shrimps for 5, beer 1 cuc).

PALADARES
Quote from "The London Foodie" [Mar 2011] : By far the best food we had in Havana was at the "Paladar La Cocina de Lilliam". Located in an elegant house with lush gardens in a suburban district of the city, this supper club was one of the culinary highlights of our trip. Cocina de Lilliam, calle 48 #1311, e/13 y 15, Playa; El Diluvio (Italian), calle 72, e/17 y 19 (Playa); El Laurel, 5ta, past Marina Hemingway, between casas in the back; La Esperanza, calle 16 #105 Tel. 202 4361; La Fontana, calle 3a, e 46; La Vicaria 5ta y 180;

EVENINGS
Amelia (also good eats), groups and comics, 3ra, corner 82; Casa de la Musica, salsa dancing, orchestra,superb place. Matinées and evenings. Expensive. Calle 20, corner 35; Caneyes del Papa, club, salsa at midnight, calle 248, corner 5ta in Barlovento; El Bolero, best bolero in town at 22h and midnight 15, complejo Dos Gardenias, ave. 7ma, angle 26; El Diablo Tun Tun, piano-bar and shows of salsa et al. THE spot in Miramar. Upstairs from Casa de la Musica; Irakere Jazz Club (Casa del Jazz cubano), Calle 0, # 314, entre 3ra y 3ra A; La Cecilia (also restaurant), groups, outdoor stage. Avenida 5ta, e/110 y 112; La Maison, shows nightly, 22h15-00h30. Calle 16 #701, corner 7ma; Teatro Karl Marx, 5,500 seats, the largest concert venue of the country; been there, done that : Los Van Van, Buena Vista Social Club, Pablo Milanes et al. Ave 1ra, corner 8 in Miramar.

Parque Almendares invaded by dinosaurs ! Run for your ticket ! photo © Roberto Suarez / Juventud Rebelde

The old Miramar Yacht Club in its heyday © unk

The old Miramar Yacht Club in its heyday © unk

Club Havana* is located in reparto Flores (map) 25 blocks past the Palacio de Convenciones and it's open to anyone who can afford its 1200cuc per year membership fee. Visitors and other travellers can pay 30cuc for the day (well worth it) to hobnob with the elite, the diplomats and their hangers-on and enjoy its bars, restaurants, swimming pools (mouseover) and this lovely beach, closest to the Capital. Save on cab fare : take the Metrobus, route P10 (map here) from the Capitolio. Otherwise, one has to go 25 km to Guanabo (playas del Este) for a beach. *called the Biltmore during Batista's reign : the President/dictator was not allowed entry because of the colour of his skin... © robin thom, flickr

Second most visited spot on the island after El Cobre near Santiago, there have been over the years more than 25 million young and old visitors who have toured the large attractions of the Acuario Nacional where Cubans and other life travellers can learn about the island's numerous marine mammals and invertebrates.

Besides the classic half-hour dolphin show, one can admire many tankfuls of colourful sea fauna, a cave with rich water life, the replica of an eco path and a surprising mangrove.

One can also find on its premises the Restaurante Subacuatico (hard to locate) for affordable fish and seafood. Minimum food cover is 8 cuc.

Founded in 1960, completely renovated in January 2002, it is not only a bonafide research and environmental education center but also one of the most popular attractions in Cuba's history.

Tuesday to Sunday, 10h-18h. Admission fee : adult tourists 5 cuc, students and children, 3 cuc. Tel. (7) 202-5872 Avenida 1ra. Nº 6002, corner of 6, in the Miramar area of Playa.

Photos © Howard Norfolk, aquarticles.com

Colegio de Bélen •|• Graffiti © sogestour

In the Bélen area of Playa, the Cabaret Tropicana in 1954. It's still one of the most fabulous dinner showplaces on the planet, albeit not as in its heyday. Other photos from the Guardian here. •|• Graffitis pop-pol in Bélen © sogestour

Near the Pedro Marrero stadium, one of the city's top spots for dancing, prancing and cruising to fabulous sounds is Salon Rosado corner of 41 (straight-line continuation of calle 23 from Vedado), corner of 46, close to some of our casas © debbies caribbean resort reviews •|• In nearby Flores, there used to be luxurious bathing spots with ornate buildings and rich patrons.

HEED THE HINTS IN THIS FINE PRINT
::: Make sure that in your first email or phone call you specify that you want to book a room in that particular casa and that you will reconfirm your booking on arrival in Cuba. Unless you only want a room in any house which may be of the same quality, not the specific casa you booked through photos on these websites ::: So as to not abandon expecting owners with empty rooms, reconfirm (or call ahead to cancel) your booking by phone as soon as you can after arriving in Cuba ::: Please write or phone a casa owner to cancel a booking. As late as it may seem, it allows them a chance to rebook. ::: Children under the age of 16 may share a bedroom with adults for free. Specify the child's age when booking. ::: Since October 2010, maximum bedroom capacity is not limited to two adults ::: Also, large casas are not limited to renting only two bedrooms per night. ::: At the end of the casa name, the V signals the casa was suggested by travelers or owners but not verified by the website staff. If you try it and like it, write us about it. ::: Unless otherwise mentioned, the average room rates and service prices are : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night [up to 40+ for 4 in a room]; breakfasts 3-5cuc, dinners 7-10cuc. ::: Note : monthly taxes have increased 15-50% for owners; this may be reflected on the aforementioned rates. ::: Any casa particular anywhere in Cuba must have a hot water shower, otherwise it cannot have a permit to rent ::: Please share your Complaints, comments & suggestions webmaster [@]cubacasas.net

BOOK BY PHONE
• From Canada and the USA : 011 53 (add phone # preceded by La Habana's area code, 7) • From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by the La Habana's area code, 7) HOW TO DIAL A CUBAN PHONE NUMBER HERE ••• CELL PHONE NUMBERS on our town lists and casa pages are preceded by 05 for calls originating Havana; from anywhere else in Cuba, dial 015 + the 7 digits of the cell.

BOOK BY EMAIL :

Click on logo to open a message addressed to that casa in your email application; or right-click to copy address. Spanish vocabulary here.

Click photo to see more pictures and details. See some of our recommended casas on Playa map here.

See casas in sequence

Click logo to see next casa

CASA MERCY
One-bedroom apt + one bedroom, ensuite
Calle 68 #4111 e/ 41 y 43, two blocks from the famous Tropicana Cabaret in Alturas de Bélen of Municipio Playa area. Tel. (7) 203-6735

CASA CECILIA RUIZ V
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite baths
Calle 110A no 523 entre 5taB y 5TaF in Playa, near hospital CIREN part of area Querejeta close to Nautico, some 9 blocks from the Palacio de Convenciones. Tel. (7) 209-1137

GUSTAVO GARCIA
Two 2-bedroom apts on indep floors, kitchen ensuites
Calle 74 no 2317, entre 23 y 25, in Buenavista burrough of Municipio Playa, close to the Acuario nacional. Tel. (7) 207-3646

CASA DINORA PARRA CABRERA V
Two one-bedroom apts, kitchen, ensuites
Calle 19, #7605, e/76 y 78, in Buenavista.
Tel. (7) 209-5853

CASA VICTOR V
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite baths
Calle 70, #2703, e/27 y 29, in Buenavista. Tél. (7) 207-3159

CASA MARIA MARTHA V
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite baths
Calle 82A #2116, e/21 y 23, in Buenavista. Tél. (7) 202-7046

CASA ELDA CRUZ MOREJON V
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite baths
Calle 76, #29e21, e/29e y 29f, upstairs, in Buenavista, about 150m from Hospital Pando Ferrer.
Tel. (7) 203-7052