The three-story Casa Gangotena Boutique Hotel is host to 31 rooms with unique Art Deco-inspired interiors, eye-catching antique furnishings, and quintessential technological conveniences. This eclectic boutique hotel invites guests to relax in their atrium-like Loggia, fountain-adorned garden, wood-paneled bar, and panoramic rooftop terrace. The spectacular orchids, plants, and flowers arranged throughout many of the spaces in Casa Gangotena are typical of Ecuador.
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Beyond its doors, the wonders of Quito await! From where the hotel is situated in the iconic San Francisco Plaza, guests can head out to explore cobblestone streets, ornate churches, plazas, shops, cafés, and markets. Views of the Andes Mountains accompany visitors around every corner.
The hotel’s guest-exclusive activities feature after-hours visits to the nearby San Francisco Church Bells and Choir, Carmen Alto Museum, and San Francisco Inner Courtyard and Brewery. Additionally, the hotel offers a pair of tastings, Chocolate Quiteño (traditional hot chocolate), and Café Quiteño. These are presented by the team of chefs, whose Cocina Mestiza celebrates the nation’s indigenous roots and Spanish heritage, with a modern take on traditional Ecuadorian fare, served at the hotel’s very own restaurant.
Casa Gangotena’s History
Casa Gangotena has played an important role in Quito’s rich history. Over the past few centuries, wealthy families aimed to build their homes in the vicinity of the plaza. The earlier incarnation of Casa Gangotena served as a residence for several Republican-era presidents until 1914, when disaster struck and the structure succumbed to a calamitous fire.
The reconstruction project was led by a pair of architects, two Italian brothers, Antonino and Paolo Russo, between 1918 and 1926. The Gangotenas, being a rather prominent family comprised of industrialists, politicians, and landowners, spared no expense when it came to the new mansion, bringing over inlaid flooring from France, and commissioning the city’s first oak door, which, to this day, welcomes guests to the hotel.
Exploring Quito - The First City Named a World Heritage Site
In 1978 Quito was declared the first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The declaration states: “Quito forms a harmonious ensemble sui generis, where the actions of man and of nature are brought together to create a work unique and transcendent of its kind.” It is still considered the largest, most well-preserved historic center in the Americas. In the immediate years following the pronouncement, Casa Gangotena was included on the city’s cultural heritage inventory list.
In recent years the city has focused on recovering the Old Town’s elegant public spaces, its grandeur, and its legacy. Security has improved greatly, and traffic has been rerouted in an effort to promote a more pedestrian-friendly setting. This gem within the larger municipality will soon be serviced by Quito’s Metro, which is expected to open late 2020.
