The 7 BEST Hotels in Bogotá, Colombia’s Vibrant Capital

Rounds of renovations did nothing to mask the history or beauty of this historic medina in Zona G. Much of Colombian architect Santiago Medina Mejia’s original building details—stone columns, slanted beam ceilings, hand-carved doors rescued from convents—remain, though the 62 rooms have been given the chic Four Seasons lift with Chesterfield sofas, patterned rugs, and mirrored trunks (some suites even have their own fireplaces). The courtyard, newly covered in glass so you can enjoy it even on colder days, connects the original mansion with the neighboring annex and is now the setting for Spanish restaurant Castanyoles. Dig into Iberian ham croquettes, salmorejo soup, and Bilbaína-style grilled fish—but not before a trip to the spa for a Colombian green-coffee body wrap.

Unlike its sister hotel Casa Medina, known for its historic architecture and period details, this Four Seasons is completely new—and completely chic. We’re talking dark leather headboards and woven rugs in guest rooms and an elegant international restaurant along with a more casual bistro. The spa is tranquil, using products from Paris-based Biologique Recherche, and the neighborhood—cosmopolitan Zona T—can’t be beat. Add to that impeccable service (a Four Seasons standard) and you’ve got all the makings for a perfectly modern stay away.

RELATED: The 11 Most Beautiful Places in South America

The W brand has “trendy” down pat, and it’s no different at their Bogota outpost. Smack in the center of fashionable Usaquén, the W Bogota takes a page from the old Colombian legend of El Dorado, decking out its rooms and suites in layers of gold, from throw pillows and drapes framing floor-to-ceiling windows to lacquered sinks, bathroom tiles, and chain curtains strung from the lobby ceiling. The show doesn’t stop there: both the indoor pool and on-site nightclub are as swank as it gets. Thankfully, the lighting is a lot brighter in Market Kitchen, where farm-to-table plates like orange-rosemary Cornish hen and Espelette pepper tagliatelle are served to a stylish crowd.

Is it the coolest sleep in Bogota? You be the judge. “Eccentric” is the perfect word to describe Click Clack, an 11-floor boutique that goes out of its way to surprise you. The experience begins as soon as you turn the street corner and spot its cantilevered exterior wrapped in mesh (look closely and you’ll see it’s a street map of the city). Inside, not even the smallest detail was overlooked: elevators are covered in Space Invaders, door handles are shaped like animals, tissues are scented with Earl Gray, and some balconies have their own fire pits. What’s more, locals are as popular as guests at its rooftop burger bar Apache and ground-floor farm-to-table restaurant, so you know they’re good.

For those seeking Hotel de la Opera’s neoclassical elegance but prefer a more intimate setting, look to The Orchids. In the heart of Candelaria, this townhouse boutique moonlights as its own kind of art gallery—everywhere you look, you’ll find pre-Columbian ceramics, restored 19th-century woodwork, vintage rugs and upholstery, and shelves of leather-bound books enough to fill two libraries. Each of the six suites is named after an opera and individually decorated, so you might find yours comes with a fireplace, a freestanding tub, or even a large writing desk where you can pen letters back home. Don’t miss a turn in the hammam, a vision of tile work.

RELATED: How to Make Your Bedroom Feel Like a Luxury Hotel Room

We couldn’t dream of a more perfect spot for the city’s hottest design hotel than hip Cabrera. In lieu of colonial architecture, B.O.G.‘s glass-and-concrete façade gives way to über-stylish interiors: think utilitarian lines, lots of gold and emerald hues (a nod to Colombia’s precious minerals) in the 55 guest rooms, and plenty of texture in the form of cowhide chairs and natural wood floors courtesy of Portuguese design guru Nini Andrade Silva. When guests aren’t recharging in the subterranean spa, you’ll find guests digging into seasonal Colombian cuisine at lauded chef Leonor Espinosa’s restaurant or rubbing shoulders with the city’s fashion set while watching the sun go down at the swanky rooftop pool and café.

Hotel de la Opera is Bogota’s stately grand dame, a 42-room beauty occupying a pair of colonial homes in La Candelaria. Inside, it’s as elegant as you’d expect—all hardwood floors, high ceilings, and spacious rooms done up with Italian furniture and (in the best ones) balconies overlooking the neighborhood. As such, the hotel draws a sophisticated crowd to its weekend live music shows, spa, and two restaurants. Hit La Scala for elevated Mediterranean or top-floor El Mirador for regional specialties and spectacular cathedral views.