Highlights

• Historic mansion with European styled interiors.
• Central location in Quito’s old city.
• Fine dining featuring the local tastes of Ecuador.
• Culturally significant site with close ties to the community.
• Friendly and professional staff.

Background

The site of Casa Gangotena has a remarkable history dating back to pre-colonial times when the Incas built their temples in the area, one used to occupy the very spot the hotel sits on now. Over the years the area evolved into a very lively square where all people came to trade in the open-air market. Eventually great families of the city built their homes around the Plaza San Francisco including the Republican-era presidents until a disastrous fire rolled through the square in 1914. The Gangotena family rebuilt the mansion in 1926 as a landmark in the Plaza San Francisco where it’s been restored and taken on a new life as a 4-star hotel. In 1978 the old city including the mansion was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains the largest and best preserved in the Americas.

Experience

Casa Gangotena is in the heart of the old city and easy to access most sights by foot. As it is on a main road, taxis are also readily available or ask the hotel to arrange one.

The hotel is the picture of elegance. Art deco and art nouveau elements have survived from the original construction in the 1920s and have been beautifully refurbished and incorporated to highlight the Casa Gangotena’s illustrious history. There was also extensive work done to bring the garden back to life and it’s been meticulously tended ever since.

I stayed in a Luxury Room, decorated in rich reds and golds and made to order furniture from local high-end furniture manufacturers. Every effort was made to maintain the intimate feel of all the rooms while still providing all the luxuries such as a work desk, flat screen TV with cable, free wireless internet, international telephone, in-room safe, and air conditioning.

The three-storey hotel has a variety of rooms available; some of the best are on the top floor with amazing panoramic views. Some of the other rooms like the Luxury Plus Room or Junior Suite are painted in beautiful murals which were original to the building. In fact the Junior Suite was originally used by the Gangotena family as the tea room, now it is considered one of the favorite rooms of the hotel.

The Casa Gangotena Restaurant is headed by a young Quito native executive chef on his way to becoming a world-class culinary force, drawing his inspiration from his grandmother’s kitchen. The airy white dining room is splendid with pressed tablecloths, professional waiters, and an impressive buffet style breakfast set up. They also offer Afternoon Tea Time which is served daily on the covered patio or the restaurant and complimentary for guests. Casa Gangotena serves its own special blend of the highest quality coffee to sip on while snacking on light sandwiches, scones, and other fresh pastries. They also serve tea harvested and infused with herbs from the hotel’s own garden.

I was impressed by the attentiveness and passion of the Casa Gangotena staff. It is quite clear every member of the hotel’s team takes great pride in their standards of service. They made every effort to think ahead and accommodate even without me asking. For example, I had an early flight the next day and they set a table in the lobby so I could have a quick breakfast before departure.

The Casa Gangotena offers everything a historic luxury hotel should. Set in the World Heritage setting of Plaza San Francisco, it is a beautiful property designed with a European feel. The restaurant cuisine and service are first rate. The team at the hotel make the stay especially memorable. I highly recommend the Casa Gangotena for luxury travelers on business and leisure.

Contact
Casa Gangotena
Address: Bolivar Oe6-41 y Cuenca, Quito, Ecuador
Telephone: +(5932)4008000
Website: http://www.casagangotena.com/en/
Email: info@casagangotena.com