Among Quito’s most captivating lodging selections is the former home of an aristocratic family that morphed into the French Embassy’s Center for Arts and Culture.
It won’t surprise you that its name, given that history, is Cafe Cultura.
What will make this a surprising travel find is the quirky nature of the beautifully renovated rooms, the delicious meals, and the standout decorations that adorn almost everything in sight.
Let’s start with the rooms. Suite #25 has a tree growing through it. It’s not quite as clumsy as it sounds, as the renovations carefully allow for the tree’s girth. In other rooms, there are touches such as hand-painted murals and working fireplaces. A side note: although Quito is located immediately south of the equator, it also stands at an elevation of about 9,350 feet above sea level, making it the second-highest national capital after La Paz, Bolivia. There really are no seasons here, but at that elevation every evening actually is rather cool. Fireplace warmth is unexpectedly welcome.
In all, there are 26 rooms, eight of which are considered suites. Each has a unique design and layout. All rooms include wireless internet access at no charge, a work desk, and a shower/bathtub. Remember that in Spanish-speaking countries, a “C” on the shower faucet is short for caliente, the Spanish word for hot. To conserve water, towels here are only replaced on request.
In the main lobby, you can position yourself in the library, in front of a large stone-hearth fireplace, and enjoy the company of travelers from around the world. It’s the kind of setting where you could spend hours reliving someone’s adventures on an African safari or a vicarious excursion deep into the nearby Andes.
Although meals do not come with the rooms, the excellent restaurant on site provides tasty cuisine at reasonable prices. It has acquired a city-wide reputation for its Sunday brunches. There is also a traditional English tea service in the afternoons.
A tip: make reservations for rooms and meals well in advance. This is a popular travel find that fills its limited spaces quickly.
Outside, beautiful gardens and trees create nice alcoves to relax and enjoy weather that is rarely too hot or too cold. Bougainvillea plants frame the front gate.
Cafe Cultura sits in La Mariscal district, which is roughly at the center of Quito’s lengthy north-south footprint. Several restaurants are within a short walk. The Guayasamin Museum and the Museum of Modern Art are both within a 2-mile drive. It’s a prime location for a truly unique dining and lodging experience.
If You Go