Cuba Day 9: Havana’s Hotel National: A Tour Through One of Cuba’s Crown Jewels

[@mz.foodie6951]

I had the pleasure of staying (3 nights) at The Hotel Nacional in November of 2013, in the Nat King Cole historic room, which was great. This hotel is my go to for every visit to Cuba for great live music, yummy cigars and tasty mojitos in their garden/bar/lounge area. Thanks Mr. Allison for another wonderful episode from your Cuba trip 😊.

[@Crackers2549]

Nothing like the "art deco" era....! Beautiful famous hotel in Cuba....

[@bheinatz1]

Beautiful old hotel! You can really get the sense of the glamour from the golden era of Hollywood. Thank you for the tour!

[@PortugueseCigars]

Loving this series! A season 2 is definitely needed.

[@kirbyallison]

Haha. Season 2 is in Italy!!

[@alantinoalantonio]

@@kirbyallison Kirby, you really outdid yourself in this series. Thank you, old boy. Series in Esteli maybe??

[@jamesdenvir6276]

Great series Kirby, where in Italy is the next instalment!!

[@lawrenceroadloonie3847]

​@@kirbyallisoncan't wait for an italy series

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

I had the pleasure of staying there for a week back in the late 1990s. The pool area was fabulous with live music, gorgeous people from around the world and of course excellent cigars. Thank you 🙏 Kirby ! Cheers 🥃 from Milano 🇮🇹 S.

[@kirbyallison]

Wow! I bet it was even better back in the 1990's!

[@RamblingVlogger]

Only word I can utter is wow! The history and structural design is just breathtaking. Such a marvel to be built during the 30’s utilizing classic designs incorporated with the influence of Cuban culture.

[@kirbyallison]

Thank you!

[@RamblingVlogger]

@@kirbyallisonI truly enjoy your channel and content. The amount of respect I have for you is tremendous for your work keeping quality, craftsmanship, and tradition alive.

[@Littlebodega]

For those watching this video, I recommend reading the book Havana, nocturnal by TJ English. How the mob owned Cuba , Santo Trafficante Jr., Albert Anastasia, Lucky Luciano, all those fine characters

[@kirbyallison]

Great recommendation! I"m going to have to grab that!

[@tomm3421]

Been there - fabulous place, especially the park/plaza outside in the evening.

[@kirbyallison]

One of the best places to smoke outside in Havana!

[@thepymes]

My wife and I stayed at the Hotel National de Cuba for a week in 2009. We had Cuban dance lessons (Casino, Son, Cha Cha and Cuban Rumba) for 3 hours every day with a group of local professional teachers in the hotel, we visited a cigar factory and spent time wondering around Habana Vieja and going out each night to clubs such as Club Jardines del 1830 and Casa de la Musica. But of course, one of the highlights of our trip was spending the evening smoking a cigar on the terrace, drinking Cuban cocktails and listening to the music played by a Conjuntos. Wonderful memories...

[@kojiattwood]

The way they honour Capablanca in that hotel is so cool!

[@MrModmustang]

Fantastic. Can't wait to hopefully see you and the Sahakians enjoy the new bar on another visit. I'm enjoying a God of Fire Serie B while enjoying this video. Nice work 👏

[@jksmithiii]

Oh damn, the Mafia room. Really incredible place. The view from that balcony is sick.

[@orenrubin2711]

Love seeing these every Saturday. Time to whip out my favourite Montecristo No 2 and enjoy!

[@kirbyallison]

Enjoy!

[@YousirArdume]

I take it from your spelling you're either Canadian or British? Therefore your Monty must be a Cuban made, not a General Cigar Co. product!

[@johnp9027]

I had a chance to stay there a few years ago and the rooms are nice! The breakfast buffet and dining is magnificent! Nice cigar store and patio lounge! Great video!!

[@dod957]

Kirby, next year you need to book room 211 for a meeting of the ‘Cigar Mafia’ you’ll know all the characters to invite 😊. Would make a great segment, the cake can have all the favourite Cuban cigar brands on it.

[@nathanhawee5373]

Another awesome episode, I'm really enjoying the habanos festival videos. Unfortunately I will never make it there, so thank you my friend for sharing it with us

[@markmckenzie1605]

This will be one of my bucket list hotels for sure now. Thanks for the great video.

[@kirbyallison]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@djenanmujanic8907]

Kirby for President !!!! best videos ever i look every half day and waiting for new . A lot of succes and satisfaction Djeno !

[@kirbyallison]

You're too kind!! Thank you!

[@isaiahbryson2872]

Absolutely loving this series, time to light up a cigar and enjoy the episode. Thank you dear Kirby

[@kirbyallison]

Enjoy! What are you smoking??

[@YousirArdume]

I'm smoking an LFD double ligero. It's pretty good, as far as taste. Nice, dark and oily. As far as the draw goes, it's way too hard. That's where the craftsmanship is lacking in LFD. That's why brand's like Arturo Fuente and Padron don't disappoint!

[@andrewm06]

Incredible. Hopefully Americans will one day be able to freely travel to that beautiful place.

[@kirbyallison]

You can travel there now! It’s really quite easy. The perception is way more difficult than it is in reality.

[@andrewm06]

@@kirbyallison Really? It is always made out to be illegal and dangerous. I understand you got a travel visa for journalism. Would you consider making a video about how you went about traveling there? Including any tips and tricks?

[@ntwalipat2]

Thanks to President Obama. The Cuban Thaw is a warming of Cuba-United States relations that began in December 2014, ending a 54-year stretch of hostility between the nations. President Trump tried to undo some of the changes during his presidency, but many of the changes made in 2015 remain in effect.

[@andrewm06]

@@ntwalipat2 politics are very divisive I try to keep my nose out of them. I think that regardless of your opinion common sense should be how we make decisions. And kindness should be how we enforce them.

[@ntwalipat2]

@@andrewm06 I share your view on politics, and it is unfortunate that the situation between Cuba and the USA is also rooted in political matters. It is regrettable because both countries have such wonderful people and rich cultures. I also don’t allow politics to influence me and my values.

[@pman31604]

Kirby! Great video. I love the terrace. Since your visit, the roof top bar is now open, there is a new restaurant, just off to the right of the courtyard when you enter the terrace. Also, there is a new lounge on the second floor, "Habanos Lounge" with a good selection of single cigars (better than the LCDH downstairs) and the best rums. The pool is being totally renovated, the hotel really is lovely. One of my favorite things to do in the Nacional (besides a puro and coffee on the terrace) is the show in the Parisienne Caberet. I hope you get a chance to return.

[@kirbyallison]

I haven't visited the rooftop bar yet! But I certainly will next month when I'm back for the Habanos Festival!

[@firebearva]

Glad to have been there.

[@claudiogiubrone2388]

Wonderful episode as always! I am trying to convince future to choose Cuba for the honeymoon and would love to stay in this hotel

[@kakhabertukhashvili9367]

Oh, yeah, let's do it!

[@bg-nm1qf]

First Rate production, top top shelf content.

[@kirbyallison]

Glad you enjoyed it!!!

[@urbandaniel100]

where are your sunglasses from kirby?

[@Biblioth3ca]

Nice. I noticed you intentionally put that part outside the elevator where a guy tried sneaking in an escort and she was trying to cover her face and all 😅

[@Sandman328]

Yes!!🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺

[@zangezur1]

Viva Cuba

[@ar007r]

Great video, I enjoyed visiting their hotel very much. It always is strange to enjoy such a place because we still have a nagging feeling that the only reason it is 'preserved in time' throughout Cuba is because of the Communist dictatorship that completely stalled any progress for their people. It is very interesting to see the history and to see a city frozen in time but it also has a sadness to it that we ignore for our amusement. Cuba is still a communist hellhole as well as a place with great people, traditions, and ambience. No one wants their country to freeze in time simply to become a place where rich people visit. I love Cuba but it also makes me appreciate my freedoms and is increasingly giving an eerie feeling that this situation is a lot closer than we think.

[@banjo2702]

Shalom Trilby, Enjoying a Smoke (Flor de las Antillas Toro) & Drink (Chateau de Montifaud Réserve Spéciale) to the content.

[@jemken8201]

Great video! I have a question for you, what do you think about cigarillos? I have noticed many afficionados overlook the cuban cigarillos and exclusively smoke bigger cigars. Have you tried the partagas serie club, or any other cuban cigarillo Kirby? I’d be honoured to hear :)

[@kirbyallison]

I find that the cigarillos burn too hot. I’d prefer to smoke a proper cigar.

[@jemken8201]

@@kirbyallison that makes sense, thank you for letting me know :)

[@24NunuGraph]

Cuba was Spain until 1898, so obviously an important architectural firm would have this fact in mind when building the hotel. Spain brought Agriculture to América (and horses and the wheel) Before that (year 1500) tobacco was not cultivated. The first tobacco leaves were brought to the European continent in 1510 by Hernández de Oviedo, the Spanish governor of the island of Santo Domingo. The very first tobacco factory though, was settled by another Spaniard: Bernat Rencurell. One of the oldest tobacco factories in Cuba was founded in 1845, by the Spanish Jaime Partagás. He learned the business from another Spaniard: Juan Conill. Currently the company belongs to the public organization "Habanos, SA". Partagás ended up shot dead (talk about mafia) but his name has become synonymous of world renowned cigars. Cuba has the best soil, climate and the most skilled tobacco rollers ("torcedores") to produce cigars. Dear Mr. Allison: your videos are "increíbles" but I am afraid that you got so excited being in La Havana, that you forgot to take your hat off! 🙂

[@hsmickle2224]

Freedom for Cuba ,in Cuba what tourists see and how the native Cubans live is totally different...sad that people promote going to Cuba like if it's a nice place ...people live terrible there...

[@teakey]

What an attractive lady 😊

[@paulmcgee1867]

When is the best time to visit? Kirby you're American I know and it's tricky but it's Las Vegas and not Los Vegas

[@kirbyallison]

Anytime but summer!

[@JavedKhan-ox5qe]

BEAUTIFUL JK

[@patbroe9186]

Kirby the security strictly told me that I'mm not allowed to enter when I was there in September 23, unless I am a guest. How did you get in? cheers

[@paulmcgee1867]

He has an appointment

[@kirbyallison]

That's surprising! The bar is open to the public. Must have been crowded or someone important staying that required extra security.

[@ayeyolo]

Nice videos. Next time you may want to take the hat off when indoors...tut, tut!

[@HabanosChris]

👌😚💨

[@odie2763]

You've seen the tourist spots, now go deeper where slave labor is making your cigars all in the same factories and just slapping on a different label on the same tobacco's.

[@Mungkee97]

After watching his tour of the plantation and factory, I still couldn’t find the slaves! I know communism and socialism are big words, but let’s make sure we educate ourselves before spewing hate! It’ll get you pretty far.

[@Ivan-hh1ed]

Really, slave labor, the tabaco makers made more money than a doctor or a teacher! The stupidity in the world is infinite, !!!

[@Ivan-hh1ed]

Really, slave labor, the tabaco makers made more money than a doctor or a teacher! The stupidity in the world is infinite, !!!

[@dannyg3916]

Ditto PortugueseCigars!!!

[@miguelcalero3662]

Have an incursion among the impoverished total population in the island and hear their stories about how they live under today's cuban communist regime.

[@JavedKhan-ox5qe]

How much a night. jk

[@sgismundo]

Ningún logro del comunismo. Todo estaba hecho

[@ЮлианАлександров-и2ф]

She wants you

[@kottoletta]

Your channel has become too little bespoke and too much cigars...

[@DarrenSnider]

Beautiful hotel. This series really makes me regret not taking a chance to go to Cuba when I had a chance years ago.

[@kirbyallison]

Never too late!

[@DarrenSnider]

@@kirbyallison oh don’t worry, it’s still on my bucket list!

[@HAVANA1955]

What about the other Cuba 🇨🇺? The real Cuba the one you do not show .. the Cuban people have been under a communist dictatorship for more than 60 years.. while you tourists enjoy the good foods and cigars the regular goes hungry.. do not travel to Cuba 🇨🇺 the money you spend goes to the poker of the military rulers who control the island Free all political prisoners Free Cuba 🇨🇺