Casa Zinc

A tranquil and charming rustic-industrial refuge that vintage lovers will adore, close to the beach in La Barra

It takes a serious design guru to make rusty banisters and old sofas look cool. And design guru is exactly what Casa Zinc owner Aaron Hojman is: he has cleverly filled his homely posada - which started off as a showroom for his wonderful antique shop down the road - with tasteful vintage finds from Uruguay and beyond, transforming a building full of random odds and sods into one of the hippest places to stay on Uruguay’s exclusive east coast.

From the outside, Casa Zinc attracts attention with its depot-style corrugated iron walls and distressed siding. Once inside, things get a whole lot prettier with the gravel courtyard and its grand olive tree, iron tables and Art Nouveau chairs. Light pours into tall salvaged windows, and the sweet scent of lavender plants wafts into the communal breakfast room. Hojman has a bit of an obsession with antique globes, which line the mantelpieces and bookshelves, as do old siphon bottles and an impressive collection of vintage dictionaries. Best of all are the the 6 guest rooms, light-filled and lovely, with vintage laboratory lamps, iron bathtubs and old desks.

Highs

• La Barra is a quiet residential neighbourhood - it feels a million miles away from bigger, brasher Punta del Este, but you're close enough to dip in and out, and just a quick bike ride from the beach and restaurants
• Friendly and personal service: the chatty staff treat you more like friends than guests and are full of useful tips on what to do in the area
• The irresistible combination of a welcoming vibe and trend-setting appearance attracts fashionistas, arty types and families alike
• A laid-back attitude towards getting up early: breakfast is served until 4pm
• With a little advance warning, guests craving a home-cooked meal can take over the kitchen

Lows

• Communal breakfast might not be everyone’s cup of tea
• There’s no pool, but the beach is close
• No in-house restaurant. However, they serve a daily snack (perhaps a vegetable quiche with a rucula salad), and La Barra’s main strip has dining options for all budgets