Lima has long been known as the gateway to deepest, darkest Peru, yet slowly but surely the city is becoming a destination in itself.
With internationally famous Peruvian chefs steadily taking over the city’s culinary scene, and emerging neighbourhoods like Barranco evolving into cultural epicentres, now is the time to head over to Peru, making Lima your first port of call.
Hotel B, located in bohemian Barranco, encompasses everything about the enigmatic country of Peru that might attract you in the first place – exploration, gastronomy, and colonial charm to name a few things. Accept a complimentary glass of Cava upon check-in, and begin to wander the property’s corridors, enjoying over 300 pieces of art in what is truly a unique arts-boutique hotel. If, by evening, you find yourself in the hotel’s library, attracted by its enchanting, romantic lighting and opulent decoration – follow the captivating vibes through to the patio where you can savour a dinner of exceptional quality, made from a combination of local, Mediterranean, and Asian ingredients. Alternatively, Hotel B’s dark, sultry bar offers a divine selection of South American wines, Peruvian piscos, and fresh seafood: both are perfect spots to kick off your gastronomic adventures in Peru.
Once you retire for the evening, you’re in for one for the top 3 most comfortable nights of your life – you’ll sink into the plushest of down sheets so fast that you won’t even have time to roll around and enjoy the vast space of your glorious king sized bed. For extra comfort (if humanly possible), ask for the pillow menu or cuddle up with the hot water battle you’ll find in the bathroom – a lifesaver for Lima’s cold, damp winters. If lugging suitcases to the other side of the world has got your back aching, the hotel’s wonderful staff will also come down on request and run you a relaxing bubble bath if your room has one, and even give you an in-room massage – bliss!
All 3 room categories – Alcoba, Aposeto and Atelier – are decorated with dark wooden fixtures which fill the space with a perfect French country house aroma to compliment this classic Belle Époque mansion, originally designed by the famous French architect Claude Sahut as a seaside retreat for a wealthy Peruvian family. In true mansion style, the rooms have high ceilings, yet surprisingly, there is little space for unpacking (at least in the case of the Alcoba room). There is some hanging space in the bathroom’s old-worldly wardrobe, but aside from this there is a distinct lack of surface space and shelves for clothes and more importantly for bathroom/beauty products. The bathroom, albeit large, is a cold, white, and unpopulated space, reminiscent of the hospital wards you might see in period dramas. On the plus side, there are full length and makeup mirrors with acceptable lighting, a spacious rain shower, and a standard hotel hairdryer, as well as plush towels and Geisha-esque robes that will actually fit petite travellers and won’t scratch you to death post-shower. If hospital bathrooms sound scary, go for the Atelier room – the contrasting wooden floors make all the difference and the extra space and bath are always welcome.
Come sunrise, Hotel B’s rates also include a lovely breakfast buffet offering everything from classic French pastries to garlicky quinoa creations, and if you’re up early enough to be the first down, you’ll feel like the owners of the mansion, enjoying the peaceful luxurious setting all to yourself. Additionally, much to the delight of Citizen Femme travellers, Hotel B includes daily afternoon tea which consists of a large buffet of excellent quality sweet and savoury bites and cakes – this is tough to find anywhere in the world and even more so in Latin America! For those steering clear of cakes, there is also an in-room juice and smoothie menu, put together by Fernanda de la Puente, a nutrition coach and food psychologist. The menu includes a great variety of detoxifying and energizing combos, and smoothies are made with vegan milk only – another pleasant surprise for Latin America!
Undoubtedly, Hotel B is the perfect glamourous base for Citizen Femme wanderlusters; wake up refreshed, eat amazingly well, and jump on one of the hotel’s bikes to get exploring!
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