Spanish chroniclers told of grand Inca palaces built around the Plaza San Francisco in Quito's historic quarter. This part of the city was once a huge marketplace where Andeans and Amazonians traded their wares and has recently taken on a new lease of life. The beautifully restored colonial mansion Casa Gangotena has been reborn as a chic 31 room hotel. Its sophisticated, contemporary interior embraces the building's many original features and the garden is ablaze with orchids, flowers and ornamental plants. The hotel's rooftop terrace affords wonderful panoramic views across the spires and towers of Quito's Old Town to Panecillo Hill. The property offers an Ecuadorian-style 'high tea' either in the patio or on the terrace every afternoon.
Why we like it
