We've just come back from Havana after spending our last 3 nights at the Hostal Valencia, and the staff were, in the main, unfriendly and even surly. This was contrary to all the reviews I read so it was very disappointing. Some other guests had noticed that the staff had changed from friendly to unfriendly during the time they'd been there (a week). The breakfast was obviously trying to appeal to all nationalities, which was a mistake (noodles/frankfurters/blancmange/paella etc. etc.) and the coffee was awful. The worst thing, for me, was an indescribable smell emanating from (I assume) the drains at night. I had to sleep with the sheet over my nose and mouth... The restaurant staff always tried to drag us in, but in a pushy way. So we didn't eat there. Paladars are always better anyway. But it is a pretty hotel - if that's enough for you - in a good location.

It's quaint and right in the center of a lively area.
The breakfast is limited, but the restaurant offers lunch and dinner (same menu), which was fresh and tasty.
The rooms aren't very spacious, but we don't need much room anyhow. The room had french doors which led out to a balcony on a small side street. The days start very early in the morning in Havana, so I was up very early most mornings.
The staff is very nice and helpful. I was surprised at how friendly and willing everyone was to accommodate us.
Book a few tours, they're inexpensive and gets you a long way!

Each room in this hotel is unique, but the best ones seem to be upstairs. Very high ceilings, balconies, old frescos, an inner courtyard/restaurant filled with potted green plants. Common space on the second floor a real plus; you can read, play cards, write, and listen to great music from the restaurant, but it's never noisy late at night. The restaurant's specialty is paella (not actually very good) and they often have flamenco music & dance. There is a helpful concierge service. Tour guides often take their groups here to see the lovely courtyard.

We stayed at this hotel 2 years ago, and found it nice enough that we booked it again. This time, unfortunately, the experience was horrible. We ended up in one of the middle floor rooms, even though through email we specifically requested one of the upper floor rooms, and had booked several weeks in advance. It was smelly, mouldy, low ceilings, and dark. The bathroom ceiling was leaking from above, and the bathroom was in very poor repair. There was no water on the second morning to shower. The fridge made so much noise during the night we had to unplug it.

The staff was moody, uninterested and completely unhelpful. They were very upset that we had our daughter with us, she's 15, even though we had included her in the reservation, they said that we had only been charged a double rate, and requested 120 CUCs additional in cash. The day manager had promised when we checked in that we would be moved the next morning, but the next morning she was not there and the front desk woman said that the maids had moved someone else to the room we had been assigned. When we asked for 3 towels, they were upset, saying that there were only supposed to be 2 people in the room. I said I would be paying for 3, and that there were 3 beds in the room, so should there not be 3 towels?

The breakfast was poor, even by Cuban standards. We've traveled to Cuba 3 times, and found that the food on this last trip was poor everywhere, but it was very bad at the Valencia this trip.

In short, I would not recommend this hotel - especially if you get one of the middle floor rooms. I suspect the mezzanine rooms still offer a pleasant stay.

I am sad about this, as our first stay with the hotel was great, the staff was cheerful and helpful. Not so this time....so with all honesty, I can't be enthusiastic about this hotel.