Casa Gangotena, Quito

Location

A restored historic mansion on Plaza San Francisco, the main square of Quito, the Relais & Chateaux-owned Casa Gangotena is a fabulous hotel. Neoclassical in style, the building is befitting of its excellent location, depicting a strong sense of past with its fine furniture, array of antiques and evocative design. Rebuilt in 1926, the hotel sits on a square that dates back to the Inca period, when it housed temples and a sizeable open-air traders' market.

Accommodation 

The interior design is largely contemporary, while the 31 rooms on offer feature high ceilings, art-deco furniture and Wi-Fi. Request a luxury room with garden access, or elect for an excellent plaza view instead. All rooms are en-suite – complete with a shower and bath – and also feature TVs with national and international channels, free Wi-Fi access and air-conditioning (or heating for the cooler months).

Dining

Casa Gangotena’s Cedron Restaurant consistently serves excellent traditional Ecuadorian cuisine, with many dishes offering a modern take. Ingredients are locally-sourced – often from as close as the restaurant's own garden – while each meal can be paired with an in-house sommelier chosen fine wine (of which there are over 100). Seafood is the main draw, here, although the Quiteño lamb stew is ever-popular with the restaurant's diners. In keeping with Quiteño tradition, afternoon tea is also served, providing an ideal opportunity to sample the reinvigorating agua de frescos – a herb and water-based drink topped up with fresh lemon and sugar to energise oneself after a day's wandering around the city.

Facilities

Away from your own room, Casa Gangotena's Sitting Room is an elegant affair and offers stylish respite. However, the real treasure is the hotel's third-floor terrace, providing unbeatable views of the charming plaza below and mountainous surrounds.