We stayed at this hotel for three nights 19-21 November 2011, then again 16December, for one night.
The location really is the best in Havana, as you can walk straight into the Park, or into old Havana. The Front Lobby is amazing, with a balcony all around showing the next floor.
Lots of big comfy chairs, and everything you imagine Hemingway, or Al Capone saw, all those years ago.
The hotel is very clean, and well run - quite tight security- lots of guys with earpieces, and two way radios watching all the comings and goings! These guys seemed to recognise guests within hours, but I still wondered ,"Why"?
The rooms are furnished in dark traditional, heavy furniture, no English T.V. (well none that we found anyway). People watching, in the Lobby (enormous), or from the bedroom window, was totally fascinating. We ate at the roof terrace, good food, and wonderful views of Havana. The bar in the room was quite expensive - we bought bottled water across the square, in a little local shop. That was an adventure too!
The important things, comfortable bed, quiet rooms, clean bedroom and bathroom, are all there, along with a new, and totally different hotel experience!

We had planned to stay at a hotel around the corner but found our hotel overbooked and we were transferred to to the Parque Central. This turned out to be a very fortunate mis-hap.

First of all, the location is fantastic - it is right in the middle of Havana and easy walking distance to the old town, foreshore and the main tourist attractions. This was a key advantage compared to some of the other international standard tourist hotels which are considerably further afield in the suburbs.

The Parque Central is managed by the Iberostar group and is an international standard five star hotel and not just a Cuban standard 5 star hotel. The service was friendly and efficient, the food was good by international standards, (outstanding by Cuban standards) and everything just worked. After a week travelling around Cuba staying at state-run hotels with lazy staff, broken facilities and barely-edible food; the Parque Central felt the perfect place to stay.

These features did however come at a price. The hotel restaurants and facilities were noticeably more expensive than other places we had stayed in Cuba. For example, a water out of the mini-bar cost CUC3, and a burger in the lobby was CUC15. Internet access was CUC35 which I must say made my jaw drop! Fortunately, the credit card facilities worked here as credit cards.

Also of note: the Parque Central has a great pool on the roof, a decent gym (with working equipment) and real espresso coffee in the lobby bar. I would without doubt stay here again if I were in Havana.

There was 4 us traveling together and all agreed that we liked Havana and the Parque Central the best. We spent 3 nights there and had good service at the front desk, concierge, breakfast room, and housekeeping. Our rooms were large and beds were comfortable. Our room faced the noisy side street but the windows blocked out all of the noise. The other room was very quiet and faced the interior courtyard and the lobby. The rooftop pool and bar with its exceptional views was outstanding and a nice place to go at the end of a long busy day touring the historic sites nearby. We had a lovely steak dinner at the Paseo on our last night & would recommend it. Great atmosphere with white tablecloths and a piano player and friendly service. The total cost was only 43 CUC (about 47 Cdn) for 2 of us. We would definitely recommend this hotel and would return here.

This is a Great hotel for Cuba. Lots of kind personnel, spacious rooms and the lobby. Huge selection in the breakfast buffet. Food quality and taste only 6/7 out of 10. Rooms not clean (mould and pubes in shower). Not my idea of a 5-star hotel.