Arturo O'Farrill, pianist and director of New York’s Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra was guest of honor at the Palacio O´Farrill during the annual Havana Jazz Festival in 2010.

Some 300 years earlier, his Irish ancestor, José Ricardo O`Farrill, landed in Havana and made a fortune on sugar. Cuba and Ireland have a long, rich history inextricably linked through music, of which Arturo is living proof.

The colonial, arched-column courtyard is a verdant oasis with inviting wrought iron chairs and tables perfect for intimate conversation over cocktails. Street noise trickles in from the aptly named Calle Cuba, without compromising the patio’s serenity, protected from the elements by a beautiful glass dome.

The on-site Don Ricardo restaurant specializes in Irish cuisine and the lobby bar is festooned with photos and articles dedicated to Latin Jazz. Not surprisingly, this hotel is a favorite of visitors from Ireland.

The restoration was cleverly done: each floor is dedicated to a different century – as you climb higher, you pass from 18th, to 19th, to 20th-century styles and features.

Address: Calle Cuba 102-108 entre Chacón y Tejadillo. Habana Vieja. Ciudad de la Habana. Cuba

Total Rooms: 38