Hotel B

Hotel B is the place to stay if you want to be in the heart of Barranco, Lima's bohemian and artistic district, in a building with real character. The mansion was first built in 1914 as a summer home for a wealthy Lima family, in the years when Barranco was the seaside retreat of the city's upper class, and it opened as a boutique hotel in May 2013. It describes itself as the only Relais & Châteaux hotel in Lima. The Belle Époque house has fewer than 20 rooms, each individually styled, with marble bathrooms, rain showers and Pima cotton linen.

Art is central to the experience. More than 300 original works by Latin American artists hang in the public spaces and rooms, the hotel runs curated art tours, the B-ART shop sells pieces to take home, and the well-known Lucía de la Puente gallery is right next door, so the house feels as much like a private collection as a hotel. That suits a district that is home to many of Peru's artists, designers and photographers, as well as galleries and the contemporary art museum MAC Lima.

There are four dining spaces. El Comedor is the main dining room, with a Peruvian-Mediterranean menu and private tasting dinners, El Bar, with a 1920s-inspired look, sits on the ground floor beside reception, La Biblioteca is the library, and El Patio provides an outdoor setting. Up on the roof, the azotea hosts the B Brunch every weekend, one of the hotel's regular offers, and the terrace is also the place for sunset drinks with views out to the Pacific, just two blocks away.

The location is excellent for exploring on foot. The Bridge of Sighs, the Bajada de Baños down to the sea and Barranco's central park are all close by, and the Museo Pedro de Osma, Central and Kjolle are on nearby Avenida Pedro de Osma. Casa República, another historic mansion hotel, is a few doors along the same avenue. Miraflores is a short taxi ride to the north.

Hotel B suits couples, art lovers and anyone looking for a romantic, personal hotel rather than a large international property. Reception can be contacted by email or phone, and the website lists special offers, including the weekend brunch.