Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogotá

Casa Medina is one of Bogotá's best-known hotel buildings and a good choice for travellers who want luxury with a sense of history. The building was designed by the architect Santiago Medina Mejía and completed in 1946 as an exclusive enclave of apartments. It was designated for its architectural heritage in 1984, converted into the Hotel Casa Medina in 1988, when it became a favourite of the city's elite and international visitors, and restored and refurbished again before reopening as a Four Seasons hotel in 2016.

The interiors are the reason to stay here. During restoration, elements salvaged from demolished colonial convents were built into the hotel, including stone columns, floors, hand-carved wooden doors and wrought-iron details, so the public spaces feel closer to a historic house than a modern tower. There are 62 rooms and suites in total: 43 guest rooms and 19 suites.

The restaurant, Castanyoles, serves Mediterranean cooking, with seating indoors, in a covered outdoor area and on a covered terrace, plus a private dining room. The hotel has a full-service spa with locally inspired treatments and international therapies, salon services, and a gym open 24 hours a day. There are also meeting rooms and a ballroom for events, and the hotel takes part in the Four Seasons for Good sustainability programme.

Casa Medina suits couples, business travellers and anyone who values character and service over size. The Zona G location, the city's gastronomic district, puts many of Bogotá's best restaurants within a short walk or taxi ride, and the hotel is convenient for Chapinero Alto, where El Chato and Leo are located. Travellers who prefer a more contemporary style can look at the sister property, Four Seasons Hotel Bogotá, about 15 minutes away.

The hotel is on Avenida Carrera Séptima at Calle 69A, about 40 minutes by car from El Dorado airport depending on traffic. The historic centre and the main museums are a taxi ride to the south, while the Parque de la 93 and the shopping streets of the north are a short drive away. Booking directly with the hotel is the simplest way to arrange airport transfers and spa appointments in advance.