Hotels: Where to stay in Santiago

For a true Chilean experience, the only place to stay in Santiago is a boutique hotel.

There are almost 1000 hotels in Santiago, Chile’s capital, and largest city, with a population of 7 million people. But for a truly authentic Chilean experience, a boutique hotel in Santiago is the way to go. I can’t get enough of them.

Most are converted mansions or apartment buildings, and the Chilean architects are particularly skilled at creating light-filled spaces, and blending the best of the old with striking creative, modern new interiors and features.

Luciano K:

Located a 2 minute walk from the heart of the old town, La Starria, this gorgeous hotel, Luciano K was one the first buildings in Santiago to have an elevator and central heating when it was built as an apartment building.

Today that elevator is still there and is a glorious ode to days gone by, surrounded by marble  with artistic black ornate wiring. This hotel is all style, service and fun.

The rooftop bar is magnificent, and one of the best places in Santiago to enjoy a Pisco Sour and watch the sun go down.It has a swimming pool, restaurant and views across the old part of the city. Friday nights it is packed.

I love the hotel rooms on either end of the hotel which are spacious and have windows overlooking either the park or the city. The design is spacious, flooded with light, and unique, and more like  an apartment  than a hotel room.

Furnishings are elegant, modern and warm.

Breakfast is served in a very large stylish room on the ground floor of the hotel, with fantastic coffee and eggs made to order as well as a buffet. Nothing about this hotel feels overcrowded  – rooms have space and light, and staff aim to please.

Staff here are excellent and the majority speak English, which is not easy to find in Chile. I was so impressed as they went right out of their way to ensure I was organised and looked after.

I stayed at Luciano K hotel several times, and it felt like coming home. The people and the building has a warmth about it that will keep me coming back.

Click here for more about Luciano K.

Magnolia: 

If you like the finer things in life and have an appreciation for intelligent, insightful, high end design and architecture, you will love this boutique hotel. It is an instagrammer’s dream.

It is a former home that has been transformed into a boutique hotel with a huge sense of style – oh if these walls could talk! There must have been a lot of life lived here in days gone by.

Gorgeous black Spanish gates greet you on arrival. The interiors are the perfect blend of old & new, with natural light pouring in through glass ceilings in the restaurant and huge, modern glass doors in the entrance, that sit next to old world stained glass.

There’s lots of black & white, gold and mirrors, but it is not overdone at all.  There’s a coffee bar, seating areas perfect for reading or a chilled glass of Chilean Chardonnay, a modern staircase to access rooms ( there is a lift too) & another traditional Spanish style one & toweringly high ceilings.

Like most boutique hotels, rooms are all different & unique – I had one at the front which was spacious & very modern. It had a large  shower & bathroom area and gorgeous old style stained glass style windows.

There’s even a rooftop terrace with modern furniture but it’s closed Sunday & Monday – this is the only flaw in the place I could find.

The location is great too, in downtown Santiago but walking distance from the old town, right in the middle of the bustling mall packed with local shops.

A good breakfast spread – and the gym doesn’t have weights, just cardio equipment.

Click here for current rates.

Hotel Altiplanico Bellas Artes:

The facade of this striking four storey Spanish style hotel building is pleasantly imposing when you arrive at Hotel Altiplanico. The historical house was built in 1909 and has the grace and style of this era.

This fabulously modern boutique hotel is walking distance to the bars and restaurants of La Starria and has a fresh, clean, modern, minimalist feel inside.

Located on a corner, the spacious lobby has high ceilings, a courtyard and space to sit and unwind after a day walking, and is where breakfast is served.

A large old style elevator services the 24 rooms, which are well sized, with big bathrooms. The stately architecture of the original building means hallways are wide, doors are large, and the hotel has a grand  – but still boutique feel.

Book here.