Hotel B Barranco

The Hotel B is set within a grand Republican-style townhouse, just four blocks from the centre of Barranco. Once a fashionable seaside retreat for Lima’s elite and later abandoned during a period of urban expansion in the 20th century, in recent years Barranco has developed into the home of Lima’s arts community. An area of cafés, restaurants, art galleries and artisan sellers, it is south of Miraflores and around a thirty minute drive from Lima’s Plaza de Armas.

Despite its renovation, the hotel has largely retained the style and layout of the original building with a large entrance hall and lobby on the ground floor, which leads off to a cosy restaurant and bar looking out towards the street. Another set of doors leads to a library and interior patio where breakfast is served in the morning and is converted into an events space in the evening. Guest rooms are spread between 3 floors and are either located in the old part of the house or in the modern extension.

The hotel’s 17 rooms are chic and elegant with high ceilings, parisian-style bathrooms and carefully selected furniture and art pieces throughout. The four superior Atelier rooms in the original part of the house are the most spacious and come with a foyer or private balcony with street or courtyard view. The remaining rooms are located in the modern wing and are divided into Chamber Rooms with king beds or studio rooms with queen-size beds. All come with satellite TVs, iPod docking stations, laptop-size safes and complimentary laundry service.

Features at the hotel include a cosy bistro-style restaurant serving Peruvian-Mediterranean style dishes and cocktail bar, serving a selection of small plates and desserts. Afternoon tea or “Lonche” is complimentary for guests and is served in the dining room or on the hotel’s interior courtyard. There is also a roof terrace on the top floor of the hotel, which is sometimes used for events or yoga classes. For those keen to explore more of Barranco, there are also free bikes to use on request.

It’s worth bearing in mind that Hotel B is also a popular spot for sociable Limeños and events are regularly held at the hotel. While guests are invited and this lively and buzzy atmosphere is what makes the hotel unique, it may not be to everyone’s tastes. Although we didn’t find any problems with noise when we were there, given that ear plugs are supplied in every room, we probably wouldn’t recommend it for light sleepers.