Set in a 1914 Republican-style mansion in Barranco, Hotel B has been restored with the kind of restraint that lets the bones of the building do the talking. The collection of over 300 pieces of Peruvian art woven throughout (paintings, sculpture, ceramics from the 20th century onward) makes a curatorial statement. It’s decidedly high-end, and the only Relais & Châteaux property in Lima, but the whimsical color combinations and art from various periods keeps the property feeling unstuffy.

When

The best time to visit Lima is December to April for sunny skies and beach-day temperatures hovering in the 70s. The shoulder seasons (April to May or October to November) are also pleasant as they avoid peak summer heat and the midwinter coastal fog (garúa).

Where

The hotel is in Barranco, where broad avenues lined with stately villas give way to steep streets that stretch down toward the Pacific. Characterful galleries, cocktail bars, and long-established cafés coexist with reminders of the neighborhood’s past as Lima's favorite seaside escape.

The Proprietors

Hotel B is privately owned by eight Peruvian art collectors, including the Mulanovich family. Its parent group is involved in the local contemporary art scene and operates adjacent galleries.

Design

Originally a Belle Époque mansion by French architect Claude Sahut, the 1914 building underwent a conversion in 2013 into an arts boutique hotel. The project was led by David Mutal Arquitectos, with interiors by Jordi Puig and Sandra Masías.

The Crowd

A stylish mix of couples, solo travelers, and groups of friends fills Hotel B, joined by affluent Limeños stopping in for drinks, dinner, and cultural events. Expect an international, design-conscious crowd that values art, architecture, and good food as much as polished service. It's a fit for travelers who prefer boutique hotels with a strong sense of place.

Rooms

Rooms build on the mansion's original architecture, which gives the property an aristocratic, lived-in character. Spread across three wings, the spaces have lofty ceilings, ornate moldings, tall windows, and layouts that vary considerably from one room to the next. Original works from the hotel's Peruvian art collection hang throughout to the backdrop of warm neutrals, aged wood, brass accents, and vintage-inspired furnishings.

Service

The predominantly Peruvian staff are warm, attentive, and forthcoming with recommendations, making the concierge particularly useful for clinching restaurant reservations or planning time around Lima. Stays include afternoon tea, nightly turndown service, complimentary pressing for up to five garments, and even shoe-shining and hiking boot cleaning.

Dining

The Dining Room offers refined Peruvian-Mediterranean fusion, while the B Deli and a daily buffet breakfast, with Andean eggs and fresh ceviche, are more dressed-down. The renowned Bar at B is famous for its pisco sours and gin cocktails, and at check-in, you’re welcomed with a pisco sour (on the house) and Hotel B martini glass.

Beyond

Barranco hums with restaurants, bars, galleries, and independent boutiques, all within walking distance of the hotel. Reserve a night for culinary revelations at experimental fine dining Kjolle or Central, settle in over seafood and cocktails at Siete, or keep things casual with lunch at La Perlita before an evening pisco at the century-old Juanito. Between meals, browse local designers at Dédalo or the more tightly curated Las Pallas and Escvdo, then arrange a private studio visit with artist José Carlos Martinat. (Take a deeper dive into Lima’s freshest boutiques and makers here.)

Drawbacks

Room location matters more than usual here: Noise can come from outside traffic and events or from the hallways within. It’s worth requesting a specific room type if quiet is a priority.