Telégrafo Axel Hotel La Habana: the first LGBTQ hotel in Havana, the Cuban Capital

Pictures: Provided

If you were looking for a reason to visit the Cuban capital of Havana (as if you REALLY needed one!) then the opening of Axel Hotel’s latest is just as good a reason as any we can find!

Telégrafo Axel Hotel La Habana is the city’s first LGBTQ+ hotel. The new four-star establishment is located in the historic and iconic Hotel Telégrafo, which opened in 1860 and is the oldest hotel in Cuba.

The Hotel has quite a history too. Taking its name from the country’s first telegraph station built years before, the hotel underwent a full renovation in 1911. This saw the establishment change completely and come to be considered the most modern hotel in the city when it reopened.

During the 1960s it came to be used by visitors from Cuba’s provinces. Sadly, the building collapsed in 1964 and it wasn’t until 1972 that it began to take on a new life hosting a variety of exhibitions.

This was after thorough cleaning and reconstruction work on the facade. In December 2001, it was fully restored with the original hotel’s arcades being reconstructed into the current design, creating a beautiful blend of old and new, classic and new. The colonial charm is further preserved thanks to the stunning blue and white façade.

The hotel’s 63 slick, gorgeous and modern designed rooms (some of which come with exterior views or a balcony) are perfectly equipped for maximum enjoyment. Various dining, entertainment, and relaxation options, it makes for a perfect and inclusive meeting point.

Its restaurant and lounge bar, both of which come with a wide range of gastronomical delights including soups and creams, salads, sandwiches and pizzas, meat and fish dishes, and desserts, will allow you to taste the finest flavours Havana has to offer. We dare you to resist.

The hotel’s rooftop Sky Bar offers a swimming pool just begging to be dived into at the end of a long day exploring the vibrant and energetic capital of Cuba. With panoramic views to boot; what more could you want?!

And for those wanting to sweat out the toxins from the night before, or for those who simply fancy a pamper, a fully equipped wellness area, which features different fitness activities and saunas is the perfect place to leave those cares behind. 

Situated right next to the National Capitol of Cuba, the National Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museum of the Revolution the hotel has direct access to the Paseo del Prado which runs all the way to the El Malecón seaside promenade with views of the Lighthouse of the Morro Castle.  

Telégrafo Axel Hotel La Habana is open to everyone who wishes to enjoy a different experience in Havana and also for those wanting to take a few moments to relax from the bustling rhythm of the city, during the day or at night.

For music lovers, La Floridita – the birthplace of the Daiquiri – is but a stone’s throw away and the famous Bodeguita del Medio, which serves only the best cocktails, is a mere stumble away.

The founder of Axel Hotels, Juan P. Juliá, says of Havana’s first LGBTQ hotel: “We are very pleased with this new opening in Havana, a new and very different concept in Cuba which we really believe in.

“We believe that our hotel will be a meeting point for many people and that little by little we will create stories that everyone who visits us will remember.”

Telégrafo Axel Hotel La Habana is truly somewhere for everyone to feel welcome. An open and cosmopolitan place where leisure, relaxation, and fun are combined in one of the most authentic and popular cities of Latin America. 

It makes for a fantastic addition to the Axel Hotels in Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, San Sebastián, and Miami (Soon to be in Valencia and Bilbao, and on the island of Madeira!) and carries on the chain’s warm and welcoming atmosphere.

As the world begins to get back to normal after the pandemic, Cuba is forecast to continue being one of the star tourist destinations, so now is a great time for a stay!