Casa Gangotena
The historic Casa Gangotena mansion has been restored as an elegant boutique hotel. Lying a stone’s throw from the gilt Jesuit church of La Compañía de Jesús, the Museum of the City, Plaza Santo Domingo, the Presidential Palace, cultural centres and bustle of Quito’s Old Town, the Casa Gangotena enjoys an incredible location as it occupies a pivotal place in Quito’s historic heart.
A member of Relais and Chateaux since 2019, the hotel’s culinary and service offerings are a testament to Ecuador’s heritage. Their innovative restaurant demonstrates a commitment to the country’s flavours and techniques as well as a drive to elevate their offerings into the realms of true world-class. It stands as one of the best dining options in the capital.
Casa Gangotena
Casa Gangotena occupies a space at the heart of the world’s first and one of the most well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its surroundings brim with marvellous, historically important buildings and churches, while the streets swim with culture and Ecuador’s ancestral heritage. Quito’s Old Town is one of the largest and best-conserved historic centres in all of the Americas. Gangotena is the perfect base to explore this wonder from a bygone era, right within reach of the museums, exhibitions and markets that make up the city of Quito.
- Number 1 hotel in Central and South America
- Indoor and outdoor lounging areas
- Afternoon tea with infusions made with fresh herbs from the hotel’s orchard
- Ecuadorian coffee blend roasted exclusively for the hotel
- Speciality restaurant
- Renaissance-inspired building combines neo-Classical elements over 3 floors
- Old Town has the largest and best-preserved historic centre in the Americas
- Third-floor terrace and with unrivalled views of the majestic mountains and volcanos
Each of Casa Gangotena’s Luxury Rooms enjoys a splendid view – either of the Calle Cuenca, towards the garden or sights such as the Virgin of Quito. Luxurious upholstery, thick carpets and fine furnishings distinguish these rooms as peaceful, sumptuous retreats. A generous floor space of over 36 square metres lends itself to relaxation and an air of class.
A range of amenities are included, such as desks, armoires, tables, armchairs, air conditioning and heating, free wi-fi and cable TV. All bathrooms have separate bathtubs and showers.
11 of the rooms have two full-sized double beds, while 9 have king-sized beds. One room has been adapted for guests that use a wheelchair.
The Luxury Plus room is located in the building’s southwestern wing and boasts neo-classical columns and ornate stucco. An Art Nouveau floral frieze runs around the cornicing while a mural of an Italian landscape covers the entirety of a wall, and the gorgeous bathroom features large windows and columns.
As with the Luxury Rooms, this room enjoys plush carpets and fine upholstery. It has a floor area of 29.4 square metres and a king-sized bed. Amenities include desks, armoires, tables, armchairs, air conditioning and heating, free wi-fi and cable TV. All bathrooms have separate bathtubs and showers.
The Junior Suite was formerly the tea room of the Gangotena family, where the women of the house would entertain guests. An original 360-degree mural depicts a hunting scene, while the suite’s windows overlook the Panecillo hillside and Gangotena’s garden.
As with the Luxury Rooms, this room enjoys plush carpets and fine upholstery. It has a floor area of 48.8 square metres and a king-sized bed. Amenities include desks, armoires, tables, armchairs, air conditioning and heating, free wi-fi and cable TV. All bathrooms have separate bathtubs and showers.
This is one of Gangotena’s most romantic suites, with a first-floor balcony over the hotel’s garden that looks out to the Virgin of Quito. Neoclassical stucco columns are found within, as well as black and white marble flourishes that complete the classically elegant atmosphere. The bathroom opens up to the beauty surrounding the hotel with large windows.
As with the Luxury Rooms, this room enjoys plush carpets and fine upholstery. It has a floor area of 29.4 square metres and a king-sized bed.
Amenities include desks, armoires, tables, armchairs, air conditioning and heating, free wi-fi and cable TV. All bathrooms have separate bathtubs and showers.
The suites sit in the western wing of the property and consist of two interconnected luxury rooms to provide greater space for families or visiting dignitaries. The first room has a king-sized bed while the second can be furnished with additional beds, sofas, desks or other furniture as required. Amenities include desks, armoires, tables, armchairs, air conditioning and heating, free Wi-Fi and cable TV. All bathrooms have separate bathtubs and showers.
As with the Luxury Rooms, this room enjoys plush carpets and fine upholstery. It has a floor area of 73 square metres.
As the name suggests, these rooms look out on the San Francisco Plaza – ideal for guests who enjoy the buzz of city culture nearby. The morning sees the Plaza View Rooms bathed in light. Tall french windows are ideal for watching life go by in the square below. Two of the Plaza View Rooms feature two full-sized beds each, while the remaining six have king-sized beds.
As with the Luxury Rooms, this room enjoys plush carpets and fine upholstery. It has a floor area of 31.9 square metres.
Amenities include desks, armoires, tables, armchairs, air conditioning and heating, free Wi-Fi and cable TV. All bathrooms have separate bathtubs and showers.
Casa Gangotena explores the rich breadth of Ecuadorian cuisine, ranging from ancestral cooking techniques to innovative experimentation with local flavours. This is a unique and high-class dining experience. The restaurant is open from 7 am to 10 pm every day, and serves breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch and dinner. Café Quiteño (high tea) is served on the patio, consisting of Ecuadorian coffees, teas and infusions – several made fresh from the garden – and mouth-watering pastries and sandwiches.
The Crimson Room provides an intimate space for dinners or small celebrations with up to 25 people. This luxuriant space once served as the Gangotena family’s ballroom.
Guests can also enjoy tea or other drinks in the walled garden, which is filled with trees, flowers and a tranquil fountain.
A sanctuary for travellers, this exquisite bar features leather chairs, wooden banquettes and oil paintings for refined evenings over a drink. A variety of comfortable spaces suit all manner of guests and make this the ideal place to enjoy a speciality cocktail, take part in world-class gin tasting or simply sit back with a cool beer.
The third floor is home to the hotel’s rooftop terrace, with panoramic views of the city. Stop and pass an hour or two to enjoy a coffee and watch the world go by, or sample a vintage wine. There are fantastic sights to spot, from the neo-Gothic Basilica and Quito’s churches to the Cayambe Volcano.
Casa Gangotena offers several guided experiences around the building and in Quito. You will be accompanied by one of the hotel’s knowledgeable hosts who will share the tales and histories of the places you visit. Tours include The Secrets of Quito tour, Quito from the Terrace, and The History of Casa Gangotena.
Join Casa Gangotena’s chef for a lesson in Ecuador’s cuisine, as you explore the ingredients and culinary traditions that have shaped the country’s rich cultural heritage. You’ll learn to make ceviche de camarón, or a vegetarian version using Ecuadorian heart of palm.
Experience the flavour of one of Ecuador’s tastiest gifts to the world in an experience all about chocolate. Enjoy a traditional Quito-style hot chocolate, which includes fresh cheese, as well as a selection of chocolates from the Amazon and the coast.
Since 2009, the hotel has financed the maintenance of the San Francisco Plaza’s public toilets in conjunction with the Casa del Alabado Museum. The hotel also began engaging with neighbourhood projects in that year, such as the initiative Heritage Guardians, which emphasizes the coexistence of local ways of life and tourism as well as the preservation of local heritage.
Everything that the restaurant uses in its meals outside of protein is purchased within six blocks of the hotel. This not only supports local businesses but reduces the environmental impact of the food they offer. This doesn’t apply to proteins as the hotel’s policy requires a strict cold chain.
Casa Gangotena employs various features to reduce its impact on the environment. Movement sensors and solar panels minimise energy usage and the hotel participates in local recycling schemes.
Everything that the restaurant uses in its meals outside of protein is purchased within six blocks of the hotel. This not only supports local businesses but reduces the environmental impact of the food they offer. This doesn’t apply to proteins as the hotel’s policy requires a strict cold chain.
Casa Gangotena is a refined and high-class hotel, but children are very welcome. Extra beds may be added to rooms and dishes from the menu can be adapted for children.
