Any visitor to Quito who wants to stay in one of the best hotels in Quito, look no further than the historic Casa Gangotena, located in the heart of the old town. The hotel overlooks the Plaza de San Francisco. Casa Gangotena is a Spanish colonial mansion that dates back to the 1600s. The wealthy Gangotena family bought it in the 19th century, but a fire destroyed it in 1914. In 1924, the house was rebuilt with a grand circular staircase, Art Nouveau murals and Art Deco and Neoclassical architecture. In 2010, the former mayor of Quito, Roque Sevilla, bought it and transformed it into a luxury boutique hotel.
In just a few short years the hotel has won multiple international awards, which comes. as no surprise after our experience staying there.
What we loved most about the hotel is that on the third floor there is an open air terrace that offers panoramic views of the city, the Plaza San Francisco, the Convent of San Francisco, the La Merced church, the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesus and El Panecillo hill on the back side of the building.
How much does a night cost at Casa Gangotena?
Rooms at Casa Gangotena start at $350 per night, but if you want to a room overlooking Plaza San Francisco they start at $400. Being a boutique hotel, with only 31 rooms. The price does include a buffet breakfast.
What are the Casa Gangotena rooms like?
Each hotel room is unique, there is no standard accommodation here. Mo matter which of the three floors you stay on, the ceilings are high, the carpets are plush, and the white marble with black veining in the bathrooms adds a cool, elegant touch. There are rooms with a view of the plaza, a deluxe plus room, a junior suite, a junior suite with a balcony, and a regular suite, which is created from the combination of two interconnected deluxe rooms. The Luxury Plus Room has an Art Nouveau mural of an Italian lakeside scene complete with flowers and pillars.
Is it safe to stay in the Historic Center of Quito?
It depends. During the day you have to be careful carrying any valuable belongings but its location is ideal for exploring the historic center of Quito on foot. The truth is that within the Historic Center of Quito at night is preferable not to walk alone, the good thing is that the hotel offers an excellent atmosphere in its bar and a delicious menu in its restaurant for dinner.
Our experience at Casa Gangotena
We arrived at the hotel and upon check-in, we were greeted with a welcome drink, an Agua de Frescos, a refreshing drink made with local plants. After giving us a brief rundown about the activities that can be done in the area, we are led to the elevator, which is next to a beautiful spiral staircase for a quick tour of our room. We stayed in one of the eight Plaza View rooms, on the second floor, which amazing views right from our bed of Plaza de San Francisco, the La Merced church, the green domes of La Compañía on the right, the Basílica del Voto Nacional, and of course the Convent of San Francisco and its church.
The room comes with a flat-screen television with 90 international channels, and climate control as the big windows can make for chilly evenings. Wi-Fi is included. What struck me most about the rooms are the intricate wall moldings, stained glass windows in the bathrooms, and patterned wallpaper behind the beds. The closet in the rooms has a safe, an umbrella, hangers, slippers and extra pillows.
Something that caught my attention in the lobby is the shear number of roses everywhere and it is because roses are the national flower of Ecuador. In the reception area there are huge bouquets of flowers and on each floor in the corridors and in the elevator you can also find a display of beautiful roses.
We had a very relaxing stay at Casa Gangotena with the friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere. It truly felt like our home away from home at the heart of downtown Quito.