Hotel B is Lima’s only luxury art boutique and one of the best hotels in Peru. This stylish, five-star bolt-hole offers classic luxury with a trendy and artistic character, fitting perfectly with its prime location in Barranco, Lima’s bohemian art district.
Hotel B in The Heart of Barranco
Having opened in 2013, Hotel B is flanked by of one of the district’s main plazas and is surrounded by art galleries, fashion boutiques and top restaurants. Sitting on the corner of Boulevard Saenz Peña and San Martin, Hotel B boast the perfect Barranco location with the seaside promenade only meters away. Barranco is the former fashionable seaside retreat for Lima’s aristocracy and nowadays one of the most walkable districts in Lima. The nearby attractions of Barranco are all a short stroll away from the property, such as the Main Square, ‘Bajada de los Baños’ leading down to the coast, The Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros) MATE and MAC Galleries. Barranco also has great restaurants to choose from, including award-winning Isolina and Central; the latter is frequently listed in the top 10 restaurants on the World’s Best 50 Restaurants List.
The Hotel
A smart lobby greets you with contemporary art as you arrive at Hotel B, a Relais & Chateaux property. The hotel features 17 elegant suites across three room categories: alcoba, aposento and atelier. The atelier rooms are the highest category, located in the oldest part of the hotel. Each room is kitted out with air conditioning, high-speed Wi-Fi, organic bath amenities and plush pillows. The double and twin rooms have either a rain shower or bath tub, depending on the size.
The bedrooms and common areas in this intimate hotel are adorned with an eclectic collection of contemporary art and sculptures from private collections and galleries. For several years, Hotel B adjoined a contemporary art gallery. The hotel does offer rollaway beds, but this chic boutique is better suited to couples than families with young children. Two ground-floor rooms are specially adapted for guests with disabilities.
The property is relatively small and therefore doesn’t have space for some of the standard facilities of a five-star hotel like a pool or gym.
Dining at Hotel B
While Lima has no shortage of top-quality and itnernationally acclaimed restaurants, Hotel B’s own restaurant is also highly regarded and attracts discerning locals to its restaurant and bar. The menu features Peruvian-Mediterranean flavors and contemporary twists on highly traditional Peruvian dishes – the guinea pig is a delicacy! The kitchen is overseen by renowned Peruvian chef Oscar Velarde. Hotel B’s cocktails are also first-rate – they even run their own cocktail classes which you can optionally take on the rooftop lounge which has views towards the sea. The dining area also features a handful of seats on the small verandas overlooking the street.
Each afternoon Hotel B offers a formal version of lonche, Peruvian tea-time, featuring the likes of fresh fruits, sandwiches, sweet treats and coffee and herbal infusions, which you can take in the library or adjoining outdoor patio.
The History of Hotel B
The historic building, which now houses Hotel B, was designed by French architect Claude Sahut, who was also commissioned to design Lima’s Presidential Palace as well as several theaters and gardens around the city. Originally built in the style of the Belle Époque, the mansion served as a seaside retreat during the presidency of Augusto Leguia in the 1920s. Construction was completed in 1914 and initially showcased imported Italian marble and exotic woods, along with an ornate façade, stratospherically high ceilings featuring teatinas (a unique style of skylight favored locally), open balconies and expansive terraces.
Experiences at Hotel B
Hotel B’s location is perfect for exploring Barranco and its galleries, shops and ateliers. Aracari arranges guided walking tours of this area. Hotel B also offers a handful of in-house activities, like cocktail and cooking classes.
