The specs: A renovated 1927 mansion with 14 rooms in Santiago’s vibrant Lastarria neighborhood.
The look: Understated elegance running through a historic four-story stone structure with marble floors and a winding marble staircase. Contemporary artwork, modern furniture in the lobby, and an elevator were sufficient to update the space.
The experience: With no other hotels around (though some are under construction), you feel like a local when exploring the Sunday flea market or dropping into one of the thriving cafés, bistros, and galleries that have popped up around Parque Forestal in recent years. Each room is unique in size and shape, all with dark-wood floors, antique wooden furniture, and ceramic shower tiles. Every inch of the rather tight space is utilized (a cyber center squeezes into the lobby), and stairs lead from the second-floor café and terrace to the inviting pool area, where high walls (one with a vertical garden) keep neighbors from peeking. The staff give genuine smiles when proffering scented water or directions to the metro.