The city’s artiest enclave could only offer visitors ageing hotels and hostels - until now. Behind the elegant Art Deco façade, Lastarria’s first upscale boutique hotel is an artful combination of traditional and contemporary. The sensitive restoration has preserved the building’s original features - lofty ceilings, ornate mouldings, parquet flooring, a sweeping marble staircase - and added just the right amount of modernity.
The 14 spacious rooms are spread over 4 floors and there’s plenty of chill-out space in the lounge bar. But we spent most of our time on the terrace, which overlooks an unexpected and delightful extra - a luxuriant garden complete with an ingenious living wall and a shimmering pool.
Cosmopolitan Lastarria, tucked between the riverside promenade of the Parque Forestal and the Cerro Santa Lucía (a former Spanish stronghold turned public park), brims with history and you’ll find a bevy of museums, cutting-edge galleries, trendy shops, hip cafés and bars on your doorstep. Plus you’re only a 10-minute stroll from Santiago’s historic centre and a bit further from buzzy Bellavista.
Highs
- Rooms are a stylish combination of traditional architecture, modern design and hi-tech extras
- Friendly staff go out of their way to help you plan your time in the city, so it's good for first-time visitors
- The shady garden is perfect for post-sightseeing relaxation and the pool is an added bonus
- You’re minutes from one of Santiago's best ice-cream parlours and one of its most popular green spaces, Parque Forestal
- A decent breakfast
Lows
- There is no restaurant, but there are plenty of eateries nearby
- The parquet floors are beautiful but rather squeaky
- The Superior A and Standard Single rooms aren't up to the same standard as the other rooms, but are priced accordingly
Best time to go
Santiago is a year-round destination but the best months to visit are October, March and April. Temperatures can soar during the summer (November to May) but there’s lots going on. December and January are peak season for visitors, with cultural events and outdoor festivals galore. You can ski nearby from June to August, but the weather in the city can be cold and rainy.
Our top tips
Santiago has moved on from its stopover status and become a hot destination in its own right, so devote a few days to it. It’s a dynamic, modern city where Latin America meets Europe and colonial mansions sit next to skyscrapers. It’s been reinventing itself of late and its art, design, culinary and nightlife scenes have never been better.
- Boutique Hotel
- 14 rooms
- Breakfast
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
Rooms
Originally built as a family mansion, the rooms still have the feeling of being part of a grand, if divided up, home. No two are the same, but all feature warm-hued parquet floors and wonderfully thick wooden doors made from local rauli wood, along with the contemporary comforts of iPod docks, large flat-screen TVs and minibars.
Like all rooms, our street-facing first-floor Suite was thoughtfully soundproofed to ensure peace and quiet. Coupled with the blackout curtains and the extraordinarily comfortable kingsize bed clad in high-thread count linens, we had to book a daily wake-up call! The bathroom (with a tub and overhead shower) featured the mansion’s original blue and white tiles; really wonderful.
In all rooms, cream walls are offset with thick, colourful rugs and cosy embroidered bed throws (sadly not for sale - I checked). There are also antique armoires and delicate desks plus modern paintings: in our room we had close-ups of Valparaíso doorways. Granite-tiled bathrooms have powerful glass-walled rain showers (or baths), white fluffy towels, soft robes and lots of space for your toiletries.
The 2 Junior Suites on the top floor sacrifice room space for balconies with fabulous views over the neighbourhood; perfect for the summer months and well worth the upgrade. Deluxe Rooms face the garden. We loved the one with a private terrace and jacuzzi tub in the bathroom (#9), and another one has direct access to the pool, which kids will appreciate (#3). Cheapest are the Superior Rooms. Superior Bs are actually the same size as a Deluxe, just with less-inspiring views; The Superior A is a disabled-adapted room, and the Standard Single is as you'd think!
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
A buffet breakfast is served in the dining area and on the terrace overlooking the garden. Load up on fresh fruit juices (we particularly liked the raspberry), yoghurt, cereals, pastries, cold meats and cheeses, plus eggs to order.
No other meals are served here, but there are plenty of restaurants nearby. In Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro you’ll find gourmet salads and sandwiches at Café del Museo.
Sophisticated Opera offers 3 dining options in one location. You’ll need to book in advance for the French-influenced restaurant, where we feasted on lamb with ratatouille gratinee, rounded off with a ganache of dark chocolate and cardamom sauce. Upstairs, minimalist Catedral serves up a modern take on Chilean classics, while around the corner the Opera Café offers an inexpensive range of burgers, pasta and salads.
And don’t miss an exotic ice cream from Emporio La Rosa, just around the corner from the hotel. The dark chocolate with chilli is amazing.
Features include:
- Breakfast
- Restaurants nearby
- Room service
Activities
- Explore Lastarria and its weekend flea market, quirky designer shops and art centres, from the ultra-modern MAVI (Museo de Artes Visuales) and GAM (Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral) to the Museo de Bellas Artes, a Belle Epoque landmark and the oldest museum in Latin America
- Visit the historic centre: go people-watching in the lively Plaza de Armas; admire a display of every kind of fish and shellfish at the chaotic Mercado Central, and head to the Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda for exciting exhibitions (changing frequently)
- Pay a visit to La Chascona in Bellavista, the quirky house of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (you can book ahead for a tour in English). There are fantastic handicraft shops and lively bars and restaurants around Patio Bellavista
- Climb to the top of nearby Cerro Santa Lucía; on a clear day you’ll get spectacular views of the city backed by snow-capped Andean peaks
- Chill out in leafy Parque Forestal for a real slice of Santiago life, complete with pampered pooches and smooching couples
- Taste Chilean wine on a tour of the vineyards of the Maipo and Casablanca valleys; reception can organise
- Take a day trip to the colourful and picturesque port of Valparaíso, a Unesco World Heritage site. The ‘Garden City’ of Viña del Mar is also well worth the journey
- There's decent skiing 35km from Santiago (June-August). The chic 20-run resort La Parva is recommended
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Private guided tours
- Shopping / markets
- Swimming
- Wine tasting
Kids
Children of any age are welcome and under-12s stay free of charge.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
An extra bed/baby cot can be added to Suites. Rooms 7 and 8 (a Superior and a Suite) can be connected for large families.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
Available on request.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Casa Bueras Boutique Hotel is in the bohemian and historic Lastarria barrio of Santiago, in central Chile.
By Air:
Santiago Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International (also known as Pudahuel Airport) is 21km away.
From the Airport
The hotel offers a transfer service, or you can jump in a cab. It's easy to take public transport too; see below.
By Car:
As downtown Santiago is relatively small and easy to explore on foot, you won't need a car while you're here. However if you do want to hire one, see our car rental recommendations. There is parking 20m from the hotel.
By Public Transport:
The hotel is a couple of blocks away from the Bellas Artes, Baquedano and Universidad Católica metro stations. From the airport you'd need to get a bus into town then switch to the metro.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
Airports:
- Santiago Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International 21.0 km SCL
Other:
- Beach 120.0 km
- Shops 0.5 km
- Restaurant 0.3 km