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Hotel Haya is a Havana-inspired boutique hotel located in Ybor City and we were thrilled to spend a couple of nights here. It’s the newest addition to Ybor and it is already quite the buzz in town. We packed our bags and were ready for our staycation in this historic neighborhood.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

As soon as we pulled up to the entrance, we were immediately greeted and the reception was very welcoming. Check-in was a breeze and we were in love with the bright, spacious, and massive lobby.

We were staying right in the city center of Ybor with tons of walkable nearby attractions. We adored the Cuban-inspired mid-century decor that was colorful yet sophisticated. We definitely penciled in plans to spend time here as well as the other on-site amenities.

THE ROOM

Our room was located on the third floor and had an awesome view of the pool. There was a ton of natural light (we LOVE natural light) and the space was perfect for the three of us. Kuma, Crystal’s corgi, accompanied us on this stay and there was a special corner just for her with an ultra-plush bed and double stainless steel pet bowls with a silicone mat. To top it off, Kuma also received two freshly baked biscuits.

Our room was modern, trendy, and effortlessly minimal. We were surprised with a locally curated gift (Cuesta Reys Cigars), local craft beer, and a box of dried plantain strips. We were actually starving so we immediately dug into the plantain strips and they were the perfect savory snack that paired well with the local beer from Coppertail Brewing Co.

Our beds were cozy with plenty of plush pillows. We appreciated the blackout curtains which gave us uninterrupted sleep on both nights we were there. We surprisingly also never heard any other guests in the hallway or from the pool area. We’re not sure if the rooms are soundproofed, but it definitely sounded like it was.

Cigars from the oldest family-owned premium cigar maker in America

Our room was equipped with a small refrigerator, a long working desk, and a closet where the iron and ironing board was stored. Between the beds was a nightstand that provided plenty of USB ports for both of us to charge our phones and other devices. We also enjoyed the selection of books in the room that all tied so well to the history of Ybor and Cuba.

BATHROOM

The bathroom was modern and very spacious with plenty of counter space for both of our toiletries. The tiles in the bathroom with the black accents were bold and pleasing to the eye.

All of the toiletries (soap, body lotion, shampoo, and conditioner) were from Grown Alchemist, which is a fantastic brand from Australia. They use innovative techniques in their products to regulate the aging process.

Grown Alchemist shampoo, conditioner, and body soap — **Grown Alchemist** shampoo, conditioner, and body soap

This cleansing Bar of soap was fantastic

The blow dryer wasn’t your average one and was of higher quality, which is a huge plus for us since we both have thick hair. Higher-end blow dryers style and dry your hair so much faster and leaves your hair feeling silky and not fried.

THE POOL

We usually don’t spend a lot of our time at hotel pools, but we made it point to splash around and enjoy it. It was pretty hard to resist especially since we can see it from our room. Before we took a dip in the pool, we ordered an omelet and a blueberry muffin for breakfast from Café Quiquiriqui. The omelet was cooked to perfection and it was similar to a classic French omelet. Firm exterior and a creamy core - yum!

There were a couple of cabanas, but we chose to lounge in the sun since we were both in need of a tan. The pool was definitely refreshing and we spent a few hours lounging and swimming.

ON-SITE DRINKS & DINING

There are a couple of dining options within the hotel: Flor Fina and Café Quiquiriqui.

Café Quiquiriqui

We ended up ordering from Café Quiquiriqui (pronounced KEE-KEE-REE-KEE) a few times during our stay. The Cuban-inspired cafe has an all-day breakfast menu, pastries, desserts, and a lunch menu.

Hotel guests also get complimentary coffee from the café, so we made sure to take advantage of that. They serve delicious coffee from Made, a Florida-based coffee company.

The display of empanadas immediately caught our eye so we ordered every single empanada flavor they had to offer (veggie, breakfast, chicken, and brisket). The empanadas were flaky and packed with flavor. Our favorite was the chicken empanada.

Crystal Waiting for the Empanadas and Dessert

We couldn’t resist dessert, so we ordered a chocolate cheesecake and espresso cookie to accompany our cup of Cuban coffee. The cookie was recommended as a store favorite and it was ours too. Definitely give the cookie a try.

Love the bright red chairs and Hanging plants

Flor Fina

We spent both nights lounging and dining at Flor Fina. The space is appealing and there is ample seating at the bar and lounge area. Hotel Haya features special evenings and we enjoyed their Noche del Habano (Wednesday nights) and Haya Nights (Thursday nights).

Club Sandwich from the Noche del Habano Tapas Menu

On Noche del Habano night, we lounged and ordered a delicious Club Sandwich. The bread was toasted to perfection and the flavor in the meat was rich and juicy. The peppery arugula was a nice touch as well. The Club Sandwich was the perfect light bite to pair with our cocktails.

We were pleasantly surprised when we ordered an Old Fashioned as it came in an enclosed white box. When the server opened the cocktail smoker box, our drink appeared out of the foggy opaque smoke with an infused savory smoky scent. This was such a new and unique experience for us and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

The following evening, we sat down in their dining area and enjoyed an entrée from the Flor Fina menu. We both ordered the Borracho Chicken and the Sweet Corn Fritters appetizer. The Sweet Corn Fritters reminded us of a hushpuppy and it tasted pretty similar to it, but the fritter had a lighter texture to it.

The Borracho Chicken was cooked in their sugar maple wood-burning grill and injected with beer. The chicken was moist and had a fantastic flavor from the maple wood grill. It was also Haya Nights while we were dining, so the live Latin-infused sets were in full effect. We enjoyed our meal and the upbeat vibe of Haya Nights.

LOCATION

Ybor City, also known as, Cigar City, is a National Historic Landmark District. Crystal used to work in Ybor and frequented many of the restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops over the years. It was once a thriving cigar industry composed of Cuban and Spanish immigrants and you can definitely see the influences of the rich Cuban culture throughout the district.

We wanted to learn more about the history, so we hopped on Ybor’s free streetcar and visited the Ybor City Museum. It’s not big by any means, but for an entry fee of $4, we absorbed so much of Ybor’s past. It definitely helped us understand why the Cuban culture here was so prominent.

Jose Marti Park near Hotel Haya — **Jose Marti Park** near Hotel Haya

FINAL THOUGHTS

We had an amazing time and thoroughly enjoyed all the amenities the hotel had to offer. We were impressed by their commitment to keeping things local which ranged from the beer to the interior decor. Everything was so thoughtfully designed with the community in mind. The staff was inviting and the entire atmosphere of the hotel gives you a warm vibe that everyone is welcome here.