Hotel B, Lima, Peru review: B hotel belongs on the A-List

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This was published 7 years ago

Hotel B, Lima, Peru review: B hotel belongs on the A-List

By Craig Platt
A-list: Hotel B.

A-list: Hotel B.

The place

Hotel B, Lima, Peru

The location

The hotel lobby.

The hotel lobby.

Hotel B sits in Peru's well-to-do neighbourhood of Barranco – a seaside district where some of the city of 9 million's wealthiest inhabitants live in grand old homes that seem more like museums than private residences. There are plenty of real museums and galleries here too. There's also a bohemian vibe: the district is popular with artists and musicians. As a result, there's a lively nightlife.

The place

Hotel B is a boutique hotel inside one of these former grand homes. The corner building with its ornate, white facade was built in 1914 and originally served as a seaside retreat for the president. French architect Claude Sahut designed the mansion after success remodelling the Government Palace.

The hotel bedrooms feature striking artworks.

The hotel bedrooms feature striking artworks.

But despite the age of the building, the interior design has a distinctly modern edge. There are more than 200 modern art pieces of art throughout the hotel, including paintings, prints, photographs and sculptures. The entryway greets visitors with a Picasso-esque four-sided naked woman. Hotel B was named the second-best city hotel in South America by respected US magazine Travel + Leisure in 2016.

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The bar and restaurant are popular with both guests and locals alike. The place is packed when I arrive (late on a Friday night) but the hotel has clearly taken care to ensure the noise levels in the room are minimised (I can't hear a thing from the bar below).

The room

The courtyard at Hotel B.

The courtyard at Hotel B.

Classic grand hotel design meets modern art in a seamless blend. This may, in fact, be one of the prettiest rooms I've ever stayed in. The ceiling is extremely high and vaulted by beams that double to give the large bed a four-poster feel. Of the 200-plus artworks in the hotel, I feel like half of them are here in my room. There is a series of abstract photos, an oil painting, an engraving, and in the bathroom a large, subversive image of a devilish Mickey Mouse gazes down at the bath.

The furniture takes a more antique feel with dark wood and plush cushions. The bathroom is very big with a separate toilet and the shower is, in essence, a room unto itself.

Despite the mix of styles it blends together beautifully, from the oversize bedside lamps to the tilting bathroom mirrors. Each element feels deliberately chosen with a particular effect in mind. Even the room key is a an oversize piece that feels like it came straight out of a fairytale. To announce "do not disturb" you hang a knotted black tie over the doorknob. To top things off, I also have a small balcony.

The food

Breakfast, served in the atrium, offers a buffet selection plus a range of egg options from the traditional scrambled to more exotic tastes (I opt for the Peruvian eggs: poached and served with Hollandaise and minced huachana sausage). The restaurant with a menu from renowned Peruvian chef Oscar Velarde is a mix of small, inventive dishes and more traditional fare.

Stepping out

The area is filled with interesting museums and galleries but it would be remiss of any Australian to visit here and not go to the gallery called Mate. Actually, it's pronounced mah-tay. The gallery is home to legendary fashion photographer Mario Testino, who permanently exhibits his own work along with a rotating exhibit of young Peruvian artists. Testino, whose photography regularly graces the covers of Vogue and Vanity Fair, features his work with the likes of Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and the Rolling Stones. Most famously, however, Testino was the last photographer to do a shoot with Princess Diana, who gets her own gallery. See mate.pe/en/

The verdict

This hotel is a class act and perhaps a good representation of modern Peru. Up and coming and modern, yet with strong links to its past. Despite its name, this is an A-grade place.

Essentials

Rooms at Hotel B start from $US275 ($358) for a twin room, including breakfast. See hotelb.pe

Getting there

LATAM flies from Sydney to Santiago, Chile with connections to Lima. See latam.com/en_au

See and do

The South America Travel Centre can create tailor-made itineraries including accommodation, transfers, activities and domestic travel across the continent. See southamericatravelcentre.com.au

Highlight

The design of the room is beautiful.

Lowlight

Service at breakfast was a little slow and occasionally forgetful.

Craig Platt travelled as a guest of the South America Travel Centre and LATAM.

Follow the writer on Twitter and Instagram.

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