Immediately south of El Templete [1], Hotel Santa Isabel, is the former Palacio del Conde de Santovenia (Baratillo, e/ Narciso López y Baratillo y Obispo), now the Hotel Santa Isabel. Its quintessentially Cuban-colonial facade is graced by a becolumned portico and, above, wrought-iron railings on balconies whose windows boast stained-glass mediopuntos.
The conde (count) in question was famous for hosting elaborate parties, most notoriously a three-day bash in 1833 to celebrate the accession to the throne of Isabel II that climaxed with the ascent of a gaily decorated gas-filled balloon. Later that century it served as a hotel, as it is today. President Carter stayed here during his visit to Havana [2] in 2002.
Half a block east of Hotel Santa Isabel, on Calle Baratillo, the Casa del Café (tel. 07/866-8061, Mon.–Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–2 p.m.) serves all kinds of Cuban coffees; next door stands the Taberna del Galeón (tel. 07/866-8476, Mon.–Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–2 p.m.), the “House of Rum” (a rum and cigar store).
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/cuba/havana/sights-habana-vieja/plaza-de-armas/el-templete
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/cuba/havana