The Lowdown

This 1920s mansion turned 31-room boutique hotel overlooks Quito’s grand Plaza de San Francisco. The guestrooms blend Old World opulence — spacious marble bathrooms, floor-length velvet curtains and elaborate chandeliers — with contemporary furnishings and Art Deco touches. The common areas are just as rich, with a glassed-in patio, a library stocked with Ecuadorian literature, and a lobby outfitted with cushy armchairs and a fireplace. When you’re not out exploring the capital, take a drink on the lovely third-story terrace overlooking the hilly old town, reserve an afternoon coffee or high tea (complete with empanadas and tiny sandwiches), or book a white tablecloth dinner at the hotel — executive chef Andres Dávila gets the ingredients for his inventive Ecuadorian menu from local markets and vendors.

In the Area

Quito — named UNESCO’s first World Heritage Site city, in 1978 — houses one of the best-preserved historic centers in the Americas, and Casa Gangotena puts you right in the middle of those charms. Linger in the morning on the Plaza de San Francisco, a cobbled square anchored by its namesake church, before setting off to wander the old city’s maze of narrow streets. For a splurge-worthy souvenir, visit the Homero Ortega store in Quito’s new town for a Panama hat fitting; the hats actually originated in Ecuador, and the Ortega family has been making the classic straw toppers for five generations.