Restored colonial townhouse
A peaceful central courtyard and lounge gather guests for regional art, live Andean music, and craft cocktails after mountain excursions.
Where it shines
Notable
Sunlit internal courtyards open to exposed stone walls and headboards carved by Andean artisans.
Notable
Restored 1930s Spanish colonial townhouse with preserved brick arches and relief-carved timber doors.
Notable
Sarance serves ancestral Andean cooking alongside evening storytelling sessions on local indigenous folklore.
What they say
One Michelin Key
Michelin
The current iteration is faithful to its roots — the building’s best features have been preserved, from its charming brick archways and exposed stone walls...
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
The vibrant artisan stalls of Plaza de Ponchos sit three blocks away, with crater lakes and volcanic peaks just beyond town.
The rooms
Exposed brick, hardwood floors, and hand-carved headboards anchor the bedrooms, while top room categories add private balconies and whirlpool tubs.
Restaurant
Restaurante Sarance
Woven basket chandeliers hang between historic brick arches, where menus highlight ancestral cooking from the Andean highlands.
At the table
The rooftop terrace bar pours house-made canelazo under a wooden pergola looking straight toward Mount Imbabura.
How it began
Dating back to the 1930s as a colonial landmark, the townhouse was carefully restored by Art Hotels Ecuador and reopened in 2018.
Good to know
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Hotel Otavalo
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.