Towering presence: The Hilton Bogota is one of the newest luxury hotels in Colombia. |
BY MARK CHESNUT
The Hilton name had been absent from Bogota for about two decades, making its return all that more symbolic of Colombia’s fast-growing economy and improved safety. Hilton’s return is one of several examples of the potential of this capital city; indeed, there are more Bogota hotels in the five-star, luxury category than ever before, providing ever-more luxurious choices for anyone planning their own Colombia travel itinerary.
The Hilton Bogota opened its doors in a brand-new high-rise building in late 2011; I recently stayed as a guest to check out the ambiance. Here is my report and my EXCLUSIVE VIDEO REVIEW.
Grand welcome: The lobby at the Hilton Bogota hotel. |
THE ARRIVAL: A two-story lobby with lots of natural light makes for an attractive welcome area. Handsome, contemporary-yet-warm décor with dark shades of brown create a soothing ambiance throughout the property. Original contemporary artwork by Colombian artists grace the walls throughout.
Rest stop: The Hilton Bogota hotel’s king deluxe rooms feature comfy beds. |
THE ROOMS: I stayed in a king suite, which was nicely sized with a separate living room, two large flat-screen TVs (one in the bedroom and one in the living room), and a lovely little outdoor garden that I could view from both rooms. Vintage photo prints of Bogota help to provide a sense of place in all of the guest rooms. The bed, which has Hilton’s branded “Suite Dreams” mattress, was especially comfortable, and I loved the generous number of pillows they provided.
The walk-through closet in the king suite leads to a beautiful bathroom; I especially like the stone shower with rainforest showerhead. In-room amenities are many, including minibar, cordless telephones, safe deposit box, hair dryer and an impressive set of bathroom amenities from Peter Thomas Roth.
I also had access to the second-floor Executive Lounge, a tranquil getaway with great service and free hot breakfast, drinks and hot evening snacks like beef, seafood and cold snacks including ceviche and cheeses (which were actually substantial enough to constitute a meal for me on more than one evening).
Ready to celebrate: The VIP room at the Hilton Bogota hotel’s restaurant. |
ENTERTAINMENT & SERVICES: On-site dining options include La Ventana Restaurant, which serves cuisine with flavors from around Latin America and the Mediterranean. Its VIP Lounge is an impressive spot for private business meetings or special occasions. Café Devotion specializes in Colombian coffee and light meals.
On the hotel’s lower level is a sizeable health club and gym, which opens onto the heated outdoor pool (which is an especially nice feature, since it’s open until 10pm). Also opening onto the pool is Levels Bar, which serves Asian and Mediterranean cuisine and on some evenings has a live DJ who provides a decidedly hip vibe.
Cabrestero, the lobby gift shop, is a lovely little store with museum-quality pre-Hispanic Colombian reproductions in statue and jewelry form; they also stock a nice selection of leather clothing and Colombian coffee table books.
The property also has some 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including eight meeting rooms and a ballroom.
BEST FOR: Located in the financial district, the Hilton Bogota is ideal for business travelers but is also in a central location for upscale leisure travelers looking for reliable luxury, within walking distance of some shopping, dining and offices, and just a few minutes by car from the ever-popular Zona Rosa district.
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