What to do in Vedado, Havana

Far from the tourist crowds of Old Havana is the largely residential district of Vedado, with its crumbling villas and green spaces.

The area is becoming more popular these days, as the growing number of visitors to Havana look for places to sleep, eat and drink. Vedado is rightly turning into a new hot spot, thanks to a huge number of new businesses opening up.

However, some of the main attractions are old ones, including the imposing Hotel Nacional. Walk through the opulent gardens and enjoy a cocktail in the same place where Frank Sinatra famously sang for a huge meeting of Mafia members in 1946.

The nearby Habana Libre hotel is also a historic property, where Fidel Castro set up his headquarters after arriving in Havana with his revolutionaries. There is an interesting collection of photographs to peruse on the ground floor.

Across the street lies the historic Coppelia ice cream parlor, famous for its outlandish architecture as well as its appearance in well-known Cuban film Strawberry and Chocolate. Stop in for a quick scoop of ice cream and watch the locals have some downtime at this popular hangout.

Elsewhere there are countless restaurants and bars to check out, including El Madrigal and Topoly. The latter offers Iranian dishes, a rarity in Cuba, while the former focuses on a fine cocktail list.

After you’re refreshed, head to the Cementerio de Cristobal Colon, where you can wander around the elaborate tombs on a guided tour.