Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana, Havana

The Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana is a high-end accommodation option situated in Havana. It occupies the historic Manzana de Gómez (Gómez Block) building, which dates back to the early 20th century and was originally designed as Cuba's inaugural shopping complex.

Constructed by José Gómez-Mena Vila between 1894 and 1917, this architectural marvel represented Cuba's first venture into European-style shopping arcades. The Manzana de Gómez stands out as the initial city block in Cuba crafted entirely for commercial purposes at the dawn of the 20th century. It features two inner diagonal streets that intersect the building, facilitating pedestrian movement and blending seamlessly with the surrounding urban landscape.

Following extensive renovations, the Gaviota Group, a division of the Cuban military, transformed the structure into a lavish 246-room hotel. Operated by Kempinski Hotels, the establishment commenced operations in May 2017 and officially inaugurated its doors in June of the same year. The hotel complex incorporates a ground-floor shopping area housing prominent retail outlets such as Versace, Giorgio Armani, Lacoste, and Montblanc, paying homage to the building's original purpose.