12 Best Hotels in Santiago, Chile

This boutique hotel in a red castle just off the beaten path in Bellavista is a step back in time, in all the right ways. Constructed in 1907, it has ornate fixtures, art, and original pieces from the building's 1920s heyday throughout the rooms and breakfast lounge. Adjoining family rooms are available as well as some with views of Cerro San Cristóbal.

From the gorgeous baroque facade with balconies to the original ceiling medallion from which the chandelier in the giant salon and living room hangs, it's clear that Happy House Hostel is something special. Spacious and clean, the remodeled mansion with wooden floors has loads of comfortable common space and a pool in the back with a waterfall. Three dorm-style rooms have six and eight beds each, but the remaining 23 rooms, named for different parts of Chile, are private, with or without bathrooms. A dorm bed costs 12,600 pesos and a private room just 75,000. The real prize is the private double with private bathroom for just 40,500.

Staying in this seven-story hotel across the street from Cerro Santa Lucía is like visiting an elegant old home that has seen better days. Even though the decor is dated and tired, staying here is still a good deal, and if you want a view, the best rooms are those on the upper floors overlooking Santa Lucía Hill, while rooms at the back are quieter. The rooftop restaurant and bar is also a great place to enjoy the view. Most rooms are small, but matrimonial rooms (suites)—those with a sitting area and a double bed instead of two twins—are just a few thousand pesos extra.

On the edge of the quaint Barrio París-Londres, this hotel has rooms that, although small, are airy and attractive. Amenities include a small indoor pool and a spacious café with checkered floors, wrought iron, and a glass roof. This hotel also has business on its mind, so there are plenty of meeting rooms with the latest equipment. Make sure to take a stroll on the iron bridge across Calle Londres that links the hotel's two halves.

This well-placed and well-run design hotel with a personal touch has expansive views over Parque Forestal and a rooftop pool from which to enjoy it. Chairs designed by Cristian Valdes are parked at the desks in the minimalist but comfortable rooms with high-end furnishings, and throughout the property, walls are adorned in native materials such as wood and textiles. There's a 3-D map of the city's comunas (districts), which you might mistake for abstract art. It's worth the extra expenditure to get a park view. The one suite on hand makes you want to move in forever, if you could afford the rates long-term.

Located on the main road out to the mountains, Hotel Kennedy with its glass tower is popular with skiers who prefer to make the 45-minute journey each day rather than pay higher hotel prices up by the slopes. Ask for the quieter rooms, which are comfy and spacious if a little tired around the edges, design-wise, on the side away from Avenida Kennedy. There also are 10 suites.

Across from Iglesia San Francisco, this sophisticated business hotel has everything traveling executives need: spacious rooms with large beds and double-paned windows to keep out the downtown noise, a sparkling indoor pool, a fitness club, and even an art gallery. With its wood paneling and brass details, the hotel has a more regal, traditional flavor than some of the other downtown hotels.

This colonial-style building, adorned with a bullet-shaped turret, sits in the heart of the charming Barrio París-Londres. Rooms here are spacious, filled with comfortable modern furnishings, and have plenty of windows—ask for one of the two double rooms with a sitting room inside the turret, for a view of gently curving Calle Londres. The hotel also rents apartments, for a maximum of three people and minimum of three nights, in a newer nearby building.

This historic house nestled between Bellavista and Recoleta neighborhoods has a great location and yet isn't close enough to hear any of the noise. The bright, airy hotel has 24 rooms, several public lounges, and a great rooftop deck with comfy furniture and a grill. The hotel has simple design elements, with mostly wood detailing. Four suites are available. Ask for a room with a balcony looking over the patio with orange trees.

It's hard to beat the location of this business traveler--minded hotel, which is close to Cerro Santa Lucía. Rooms, which vary in quality (the top floors have renovated rooms), are sleek and somewhat minimalist looking, and a 2014 face-lift refurbished the hotel's terrace, pool area, and other common areas. There are conference rooms and Wi-Fi throughout. Great discounts are sometimes available for rooms booked more than 30 days in advance.

One of the city's favorite luxury boutique hotels, this hotel was formed in 2009 when two 1920s mansions next to Cerro San Cristóbal were joined together, giving it ample outdoor space, including a pool and an indoor-outdoor patio bar. The exterior is impressive, built in a revival of the Spanish Colonial Mission style, with arches and columns throughout, while contemporary touches inside include designer Valdes chairs on private terraces in the lobby. Most rooms enjoy an airy open plan concept and are bespoke designed, sporting vibrant hues and textiles.

This luxury lodging in Lastarria is a smart spot that's well furnished, with a modern, mainly European style. The rooftop bar and deck (with a pool) are the envy of all who spy it from Cerro San Cristóbal, and the suite is particularly large, at more than 800 square feet. You can enjoy homemade breakfast on the outdoor patio or in a comfortable dining room, where lunch and dinner are also served. Treat yourself with a spa session.