The Best Hotels to Book in Quito for Every Traveller

Budget travellers will love the Masaya Quito in the Old Town, a cheap hostel in Quito is housed in a striking colonial-style building. As well as private rooms the size of small flats with wonderfully high ceilings, there are bunks available in four-, six- or eight-bed dorms, each of which has a privacy curtain, reading light and charging socket. Meet other backpackers over discounted mojitos during happy hour or during the daily activities, starting with yoga on Mondays and culminating with a movie screening on Sundays. Plaza San Francisco, one of the central spaces in old Quito, is a five-minute walk away.

Individually themed rooms and suites are named after paintings at Casa Joaquin, a friendly boutique hotel in Quito just a few metres from Plaza Foch in La Mariscal. The selection of tours and day trips on offer at reception is impressive: the Mindo bird sanctuary (40km/25mi north of Quito); the Quilotoa Lake (170km/106mi southwest); and Cotopaxi, one of the tallest active volcanoes in the world (80km/50mi south). Closer to home is a colourful artisan market and the National Museum of Ecuador, both of which are within walking distance.

The Ikala occupies three historic properties in La Mariscal, a neighborhood popular with backpackers thanks to a lively bar scene. Rooms at this Quito hotel range from standards to individually themed suites, with furniture and wall art inspired by the history of Ecuador. Common spaces comprise the basement Cava Bar – an intimate drinking den in a former wine cellar – and a restaurant where cooking revolves around fresh, local produce. Plaza Foch, the central hub of La Mariscal, is a seven-minute walk away.

For longer stays, check out Old Town Quito, a collection of one- and two-bed apartments in a traditional townhouse. Decorated with reclaimed furniture painted by the owner and retro artefacts found at flea markets, this budget hotel in Quito has attractive original features such as bare brick walls, hardwood floors and sturdy wooden beams. You’re self-catered, but not alone: a daily breakfast is served in-room and you receive a welcome pack of wine, fruit and cupboard essentials. The apartments are in the historic barrio of San Blas, opposite the disused bullring.

Classy Carlota occupies an early 1900s townhouse in central Quito. Contemporary furnishings and bold murals contrast with unchanged aspects such as exposed brickwork, wooden shutters and chunky vaulted ceilings. Each room is individually themed around a species of native bird, and nightly charges include a complimentary breakfast and a transfer to or from the airport. Eat at restaurant Bistro, where Ecuadorian classics are seen through a modern lens, and drink signature gin-based cocktails on the roof terrace – try the cilantro and chilli version for a real treat.

There are sweeping views of the mountain-encircled capital from pretty much every spot in the Vista del Angel, but be warned – you have to earn them with a steep climb up to the property. Perks once you’ve done so include a gloriously secluded terrace with sun beds, a sauna and a jacuzzi (massages are also available for an additional fee). A good-quality breakfast is included in the nightly fee and the three-course lunch and dinner menu is changed every day. It’s just over a 10-minute walk from the reception to the finest church in Quito, the 16th-century Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús.

In the central yet quiet neighborhood of La Loma, practically at the feet of the Virgen del Panecillo, is Mama Cuchara, one of Quito’s best luxury hotels. It’s a great choice for foodies, as restaurant La Plaza focuses on the cuisine of a different region of Ecuador each day. In keeping with the features of the colonial, Unesco-protected building, the rooms feature warm colors, hardwood floors and ornate, carved-wood headboards, with windows opening to the most historic quarters in Quito. Upon arrival, you’re handed a complimentary welcome drink to enjoy on the rooftop terrace.

This award-winning luxury hotel in Quito is found in the historic neighbourhood of San Marcos, five minutes’ walk from plazas San Francisco, Santo Domingo and Grande. Occupying a graceful townhouse dating from the early 18th century, it has 10 rooms split over three floors, each of which takes inspiration from one of three epochs of modern Quito – Colonial, Republican, contemporary – and offers views either of boisterous Junín street below or the statue on Panecillo Hill. Get stuck into Quito street culture via activities from the Illa Moments programme – ask at reception for details.

This hotel in Quito only has six double rooms, so reservations are a must at this historic residence just down the road from the Teatro Sucre in the historic district of Quito. The property was built during colonial times, but has since undergone modern restorations that retained classic elements including hand-hewn wooden beams and ornately carved balusters along the stairway.

The carefully restored Hotel Boutique Portal de Cantuña was originally built in 1863 close to the Plaza San Francisco, the heart of the historic district. The Sanchez Family has retained a baroque-style decor with carved pillars, ornamented with gold leaf, and furniture to reflect the era. The grounds include an interior courtyard with well-manicured gardens.

La Casona de la Ronda, a home with colonial ties, retains an original interior courtyard with rooms on the upper levels. The beds are modern while other furniture and adornments reflect the long history of this establishment. This historic home turned hotel in Quito is ideally situated to explore the cobblestone streets of historic Quito by day and enjoy the restaurants and bars along the Calle La Ronda by night.

Perhaps the most renowned hotel in historic Quito, the neoclassical Casa Gangotena stands out on Plaza San Francisco. This former mansion has spacious rooms overlooking the plaza or the interior courtyard. It’s also gracefully decorated in an art deco style and exudes luxury: promising the elegance of a bygone era. Unwind and relax in the gardens and spend the evening at the renowned restaurant.

This hotel lies at the heart of quaint San Marcos, a hidden treasure within this Unesco World Heritage city. The residence retains many of its colonial roots including a hand-carved ceiling built of exotic hardwoods, which was created without using a single nail. Make time to visit the traditional coffee shop here, which serves the flavors of Quito from breakfast until dusk.

A relatively new edition to the boutique hotel scene in Quito, Cultura Manor has a long history in the Mariscal neighborhood. The current owners spent four years renovating the historic building, which was formerly used as a gathering place for the movers and shakers of Quito. The ambiance in this hotel is luxuriously stylish, with a mix of tradition peppered with contemporary touches, .