The Hostelz.com Review - Genuine, independent review you can trust.
Of the many backpacker hostels that have sprung up in Havana over the last couple of years, Cuba 58 Hostel is the most "Western" hostel. This is a backpackers' hostel owned by a former backpacker and there are lots of little touches that show this.
The Location
Cuba 58 has a great location just a couple of minutes' walk from Havana Vieja, the Old City, and five minutes from the center. It is also a stone's throw from the Malecon (the waterfront area) and the ferries across to the Casablanca side of Havana.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There's an assortment of rooms here, three private double or twin rooms and three dorms of four, eight, and twelve beds. Some of these rooms are in an adjoining apartment, but in the main apartment, there is one private double, a twelve-bed and a four-bed dorm, all upstairs from the first floor reception. The four-bed dorm is air conditioned and the twelve-bed dorm is fan-cooled by five standing and ceiling fans. The twelve-bed dorm is also en suite with a shower and two toilets plus a hand basin. The four-bed dorm shares the toilets and showers downstairs, of which there are two each. The beds are sturdy metal bunks with ladders for the top bunks, and the mattresses are good and firm. Each bed in all dorms has a large metal locker for storage able to take a mid-sized backpack, if you have your own padlock. The bathrooms are very clean and there is hot water in the showers. Towels are provided on request.
Common Spaces
The main common room is the sitting room by the reception desk. It doubles as the breakfast room, as breakfast here is included in the bed price. You get eggs, rolls, fruit, tea or coffee, and juice. After breakfast, this is the social area and it has a TV screen and leads out to the narrow balcony overlooking the street. There is also a fridge here with drinks for sale. The hostel does not allow guests to bring in any drinks that they have for sale here. In the corridors between the rooms, there are info points with maps or notes advertising clubs and events on around Havana. The sitting room also has a large painted map of Cuba on the wall, surrounded by dozens of photos of guests on their trips around the island. There is a Wi-Fi hotspot in the hostel, which is very useful -- ask reception for the password. It gives access to the Etecsa network, for which you need to buy a card.
Summary
This is a bright and friendly hostel in a more typically Western style than most of the other backpacker places that are in family homes. It's exceptionally professionally run and very clean. The open balcony gives the place a nice sea breeze and all the rooms are spacious and brightly painted. The hostel has a great atmosphere and any information you might need, staff can help. We would recommend you book in advance, as Cuba 58 is one of the best hostels in Cuba and is very popular. This place is highly recommended.
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
+4
LondonroadMa
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on Dec 15, 2018
Location and Contact
Location
• How to reach us: • Transportation to/from Havana Jose Marti Airport • By taxi: • Taxi is the fastest way to get somewhere. Transportation to Havana will take you approximately 20-30 minutes. Taxi parking areas are located in front of each passenger Terminal. Do not forget to settle the price before the ride. Usually it is about 20-25 EUR). Although all taxis have meters, taxi drivers often do not switch them on. • By Public Buses: • There is no bus transportation to International Terminal 3. Public buses are convenient only for domestic passengers. • Notification: • We don't offer a Shuttle-Service from Airport to the Hostel.