Meson Panza Verde

A classy and romantic little hotel, brimming with Spanish and Cuban colonial antiques, and just 4 blocks from the main plaza

For 20 years this was Antigua's premier restaurant, with just 4 guest rooms, until owners Bruce McCowan and Laurel Jacobson extended Meson Panza Verde into the next-door property, creating 12 imaginative suites and rooms. They incorporated hand-crafted furnishings, private patios floating with water lilies, a domed roof in the bathroom, and a fountain-fed lap pool at its centre.

This is a world of sumptuous colonial elegance shot through with contemporary verve. Expect Cuban antiques, panoramic terraces, bougainvillea-draped verandas, twisting staircases, turn-of-the-century chandeliers, Laurel-designed resin patterns, vintage porcelain and tiles. There are fresh flowers and Guatemalan textiles in your room; regular yoga and classes upstairs in the Panza Verde art gallery. Live music plays 6 nights a week, and the fine restaurant and music salon host everybody who's anybody. It's the heart of Antigua's vibrant social and cultural scene.

Highs

• Uniquely styled colonial Spanish and Cuban interior with wonderful furnishings and architectural features
• Opulent, individual and well-appointed suites
• Destination restaurant and 2 cosy bars
• Narrow lap pool, lush inner courtyard and charming roof terraces
• Reception desk with bilingual staff, and a small office where guests can access free internet
• It's close to the main plaza and Antigua's rich heritage

Lows

• The restaurant can be the all-consuming focus on busy evenings - to the detriment of hotel guests
• The plunge pool is narrow and more of a decorative feature than anything else
• The bustling vibe may not suit everybody - and the smaller rooms just off the restaurant can be noisy at night