Elcielo Hotel

Elcielo Hotel is the hotel of Juan Manuel Barrientos, the Medellín-born chef behind the Elcielo restaurants in Medellín, Bogotá, Miami, Washington and New York, and it is one of the Medellín hotels selected by the Michelin Guide, which has awarded it one Key. The guide describes it as a very special stay in El Poblado, the district it describes as the city's liveliest upscale enclave.

The building is modern and striking, and the Michelin Guide classes its atmosphere as cutting-edge and happening. Full-length windows are screened by articulated metal panels, and the interior is organised around a green atrium garden. There are 28 suites, which the Michelin inspectors describe as ultra-modern and tasteful, with contemporary furniture, hardwood panelling on the walls and travertine bathrooms. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, a gym, a bar, a library and a business centre, as well as room service, a concierge and a 24-hour front desk, and the whole hotel is non-smoking. A doctor is on call.

For most guests the restaurant is the main attraction. Elcielo serves the hotel's breakfast and, in the evening, its elaborate tasting menus, which the Michelin Guide describes as an extravagant 17-course experience every bit the equal of its sister restaurants abroad. Menus have included The Experience Menu, The Journey Menu and the Taste Me Menu, and if you plan to dine there during your stay, it makes sense to book your table when you book your room. The concierge can also arrange visits to Barrientos's other restaurants in the city.

The hotel suits couples, food-focused travellers and anyone celebrating a special occasion. Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out is at 12:00. Children aged three and under stay free when using an existing bed, while older children pay a supplement. Colombian residents pay 19 per cent VAT on the room rate, while foreign tourists travelling for leisure can be exempt on presenting a passport with the appropriate entry stamp.

The hotel is on Calle 7D in El Poblado. Rates on the Michelin Guide are quoted in US dollars without taxes, so check the final total when booking, and contact the hotel directly through the Elcielo website for current offers.