I booked this on a student website(STA) for £20 pppn and it was listed as a hostel. Im so glad i took a chance on it.Its a bar/rest and the rooms are situated above. rooms are great with large bay doors or windows. Beds were clean and comfy. Bathrooms could have been cleaner but ok.The atmosphere is brilliant. We reguarly sat at the bar watching the world cup with the friendly staff. So relaxed and cool.Strong mojitos! Had dinner one nights and it was great_ cheap and tasty! Breakfast wasnt great though - only downfall but still edible. Location was central to everything. Port and square all within walking distance. Recommend this hotel for all.

When we arrived at 3 a.m. (as scheduled) they wouldn't take us to our room, saying there was no electricity. Then, they drove us across town to the Riviera (a huge hotel built in the 50's by the Mafia) and installed us in a massive suite completely unchanged (every stick of furniture was original) since it was built. It had a huge king-size bed, a sunken bathtub, a large living room, even a bidet, and a view of the ocean. The next day, we went back to El Meson and found ourselves in a high-ceilinged room at the back. Very nicely appointed. However, the water pressure was so low, with no hot water, so we couldn't take a shower for 4 days. The air in Havana was so polluted and because we badly needed sleep since the flamenco show was so loud right beneath us until 11:00 p.m. nightly, and the staff talked in full voice until much later and then again very early in the morning, we finally gave up and left, despite having paid in advance for a whole week, and booked into the luxurious Nacional for one night before escaping, at our own expense, to Cayo Largo, for much needed rest and recreation. Havana is a fascinating city, with remarkable architecture and historic buildings, but once in a life-time is enough. Also, after half a dozen visits to Cuba over the past 30 years, it finally sunk in how limited the lives of Cubans are, how little money they have ($20 a month is a "good" salary) and how restricted their freedom is, that we began to feel uncomfortable, and will not go back again. Should you go? Yes, at least once! Should you stay at El Meson de la Flota? Not unless you're very young and prepared to rough it.

good food although in typical Cuban style only 3 or 4 things on the menu were actually available. Also, insist on the wine list, don't get fobbed off with the wine they are trying to sell; it won't be a bad bottle but it's not the only one they have. Very friendly to all types of tourists. The Flamenco show is fabulous, honest and worth the visit in itself.

We visited the restaurant not the hotel but as there is no restaurant review .... We would really recommend this place. We were taken there for lunch by a Cuban friend who certainly knows what's what. I had the prawn and chicken skewer and my partner and Norma both chose the chicken with tropical fruit sauce. I can honestly say that the food, while not brilliant by European standards, was among the best we ate in Havana and at very reasonable cost. Much has been said about the flamenco. I can imagine that if you were staying at the hotel this could be an issue (although it does finish by 11pm), and even at lunchtime it's not conducive to conversation at the table but ... it is really good. Wer have seen a lot of flamenco in the south of Spain and the performances here honestly do compare - the groups doing it are the best in Cuba and it's fascinating that there is so much interest here in the Spanish art form. From other reviews we like the sound of the hotel too so may try it on a future visit! We stayed at the Parque Central, which we've already reviewed.