A New Lounge At The Nacional
Because there’s no hotel in Cuba as iconic as the Nacional, no visit to Havana is complete without walking through its Spanish Eclectic lobby and into the scenic courtyard. If you’re a cigar lover, you head to its La Casa del Habano, located downstairs, then find a spot outside under the beautiful arches and light up. For many, coming to the Nacional is a non-negotiable ritual with every visit to Cuba. But if you’ve grown a bit tired of the routine, the Nacional now has a hidden cigar lounge upstairs away from all the tourists.
Rather than going outside with everyone else when you enter the hotel, instead turn left and continue to the end. There, you’ll find a small staircase that takes you up to a spacious and well-stocked cigar bar. Opened in 2022, it’s managed by Yanset Torres, a trained Habanosommelier. When you’re here, you are in her domain, and you’re in capable hands. Once you settle into one of the lounge’s settees or camelback sofas, she will first ask your preference of brand or strength. Then, she will make a few thoughtful suggestions. What follows is an old-fashioned cigar-lighting service that’s been mostly lost with time—and she pulls it off with grace.
As per her training, Torres will roll over a cart full of Cuban rum, cedar spills and a lit candle. She’ll then cut your cigar, light a spill with the candle and start to gently toast the foot of your puro. With a deft flick of her wrist, Torres then twirls the cigar in a circular motion to make sure every bit of the foot is alight. Once the end is glowing to her satisfaction, the cigar is yours. It’s a fascinating ceremony and a true throwback.
Should you opt for a rum, Torres can suggest a pour that best suits the cigar you’ve chosen. Cuban rum is king here, but the bar also has selections of Scotch and Cognac. Prefer to smoke outdoors? A terrace opens up to a seaside panorama on one side or a view of the hotel’s façade on the other. Of course, you could always skip the ceremony, but where’s the theater in that?
