Best Luxury Hotels in Quito

A former family home, this 18th-century mansion house is found on Plaza San Francisco in Quito. High-ceilinged period public spaces have a palatial look and feel, thanks to liveried doormen, an attentive concierge, original frescoes, heavy carved doors, a grand sweeping staircase and dark wooden panelling, while bedrooms (31 of them set across two floors) have received a lighter decorative touch. There’s a lounge with a glass-atrium roof for coffee or a Quinteñan High Tea taken from the comfort of a sofa, a bar and Cedrón restaurant for all meals (breakfast is served buffet-style).

Found on Plaza de la Independencia in the Old Town, this building’s colonial architecture is very much in keeping with the neighbourhood (which is best seen via one of the Hotel Plaza Grande’s moonlight horse-drawn carriage tours). 15 suites with sitting areas are decorated in classic Ecuadorian style; dark wood furnishings, heavy drapes with period pelmets and marble bathrooms (plus the more modern addition of hydromassage tubs). The hotel has three restaurants; La Belle Epoque where gourmet meals are accompanied by operatic serenades;, Café Plaza Grande for traditional Ecuadorian cuisine to the sounds of live guitar; and El Caustro wine cellar with Flamenco music and shows.

Stay in the city’s La Mariscal district, within walking distance of shops and restaurants, and a short cab ride away from the Old Town attractions. The Marriott has a large-scale, international atmosphere, making it popular with business travellers. Onsite, you’ll find boutiques, three pools (including one for kids), a large gym, a spa that incorporates a water circuit and fitness studios with a busy programme of classes. When it comes to wining and dining, you have the choice of the Exchange Lobby Bar & Sushi Bar, Café Gourmet for light lunches, Bistro Latino serving South American dishes and La Hacienda, specialising in Argentinean steaks.