Dec 22, 2023

Travel With The Twins To Cuba

We recently spent a long weekend in Cuba and were absolutely enchanted by the rich culture, lively colors, stunning architecture, and most welcoming people. We loved talking with our guides about the country's complex history and felt so grateful to have our eyes opened to this most special place.

Our travel there was remarkably easy (we flew American Airlines through Miami, where we purchased Visas), and we stayed at a guest house instead of a government-operated hotel, so we were able to benefit the hosts and had the advantage of local residents
to assist with currency exchange, taxi arrangements, and the other logistics of traveling in Cuba!

Stay at:

Twins Havana, the most chic, comfortable guest house with the benefit of a local host, who basically doubles as a concierge — arranging the greatest itinerary for us. When we go back, we look forward to staying at Twins’ sister property: Gardens Havana.

What to do:

Twins Havana will arrange a walking tour of the old city with a local guide, who showed us so many details of the city’s beautiful squares in “Havana Vieja”.

Stop for lunch at Doña Eutimia and enjoy one of their many mojito varieties!

Twins Havana also arranged mojito classes and salsa dancing classes at the guesthouse for us: so much fun, and a wonderful opportunity to interact with
(and support) more young locals who were eager to share
elements of their culture with us.

Take a drive down the world famous Malecon in the vintage cars that Cuba is known for & take in views of the Caribbean on one side and the old city on the other.

Visit Ernest Hemingway’s home-turned-museum “Finca Vigía” where he famously penned The Old Man & the Sea. This stop is well worth the hour trek outside of Havana’s old city. Hemingway’s boat, The Pilar, is on display at The Finca, which also houses a Picasso… I could have stayed here for days!

Shop at:

Alma: for handmade goods by Cuban artisans and some vintage finds. Kathryn brought home a beautiful handmade paper star ornament and Peter found a handmade wooden muddler for the mojitos we’ll be making back in NY.

La Casa de Belkys: I’m so sad I didn’t have time to go antiquing (the group would have killed me) but I’ve heard great things about this multi-floor antique treasure trove inside Belkys home.

Where to eat:

El del Frente for the rooftop breeze, generous cocktails, and tartare that will knock your socks off. We loved the wonderfully chill vibes.
It’s a very short walk from Twins Havana & here we are on our way there (with our friend Val of Major Studio.)

Santy Pescador for the best off-the-beaten path lunch spot. Situated on the Rio Jaimanitas, there are great water views,
fresh seafood and one of the best, authentic daiquiris I’ve ever had.

Otramanera: We didn’t make it here but read great things about this Spanish-inspired restaurant in a serene setting.
The food also looks excellent on their IG! Next time!

If you want the perfect itinerary we REALLY can’t recommend Twins Havana enough. It was exceptional!

XX,

LF