The Belle Of Santiago

The Singular Santiago, Lastarria Hotel stands out in a crowd of new hotels in the city. Designed by celebrated local tastemaker Enrique Concha, the property combines modern comforts with a fresh take on turn-of-the-century elegance. Upon arrival, guests are drawn into a low-lit reception reminiscent of a gentleman’s club from the Belle Époque. This cosseting space features a series of sitting areas furnished with cushioned velvet sofas and nail-trimmed leather armchairs in chocolate and olive hues. Tying the look together are dark walls crammed with an artful collection of framed vintage maps and wildlife prints. It’s an ideal spot to enjoy a classic cocktail or a signature pisco sour, made to order by a tuxedo-clad mixologist in the adjacent bar. The clubby atmosphere extends to the ground-floor restaurant, a sophisticated milieu clad in checkerboard marble floors, gilded chandeliers and dark-wood paneling. Executive chef Hernán Basso flaunts his French training and his deep knowledge of Chile’s homegrown ingredients, which come together in dishes like roasted lamb from Puerto Natales served with pureed pallar, a local bean. Few urban hotels manage to feel so intimate while offering so much. The Singular’s resort-like amenities include a spa with a hydrotherapy room, sauna, and steam bath, a gym open around the clock, and a sophisticated rooftop pool and bar. Everyone converges here during warm weather, soaking up the sun in one of the daybeds, or sipping a glass of Carménère by the outdoor lounge, all while admiring the sweeping views of Santiago’s skyline.

Exploring the lively streets of Lastarria, a rejuvenated historic neighborhood, is one of the pleasures of staying at The Singular. Step out into a scenic environment of winding cobblestone alleys and stately Belle Époque mansions housing art galleries, cafés, restaurants, bookstores, and wine shops. This formerly neglected downtown district came back to life thanks to the arrival of important cultural venues like the Centro Gabriela Mistral, a strikingly modern performance space that became game changer when it opened in 2010. Today Lastarria is the place to be, attracting art and music lovers, foodies, shoppers, and everyone in between. Grab a cortado at one of the area’s leafy coffee shops, then stroll along José Victorino Lastarria Street (named after the Chilean writer and politician who lived there in the late 1800’s) to admire the collection of restored neoclassical buildings. During the first half of the 20th century, Lastarria counted intellectuals, artists, and members of Chilean high society among its residents, many of whom built regal homes emulating Europe’s architectural trends. These developments coincided with the construction of the Museum of Visual Arts, the creation of Forestal Park, a tree-lined park bordering the Río Mapocho, and the restoration of Santa Lucía Hill, a small but steep hill with two forts surrounded by lush gardens. Lastarria may have lost some of its luster in the ensuing decades, when wealthy families decamped to more modern suburbs, but its charming infrastructure remained intact, ready to be rediscovered.