Sitting pretty at the heart of the World Heritage Site and harbour city of Valparaiso, the Palacio Astoreca is something of a brightly coloured gem. Take a suite with a terrace or balcony to enjoy the views over Valparaiso Bay, but all the rooms here are intensely attractive, and if you’re not overlooking the water, the city is full of interesting activities and colours to gaze at. Gleaming wooden floors, feature walls with dramatic wallpaper, and a light and bright ambience lend further charm, as does the artwork by local painters.
There’s a small but perfectly formed spa with slate walls and floors, a heated pool and hammam and traditional hot tub. A charming terrace provides the perfect place to indulge in a sundowner while taking in more of those exciting views, all boats and bustle.
The restaurant, Alegre, overlooks the Pacific and is raved about far and wide, for good reason, with an outstanding chef, who sources most of the ingredients from nearby Mercado Cardonal, and is innovative and imaginative. Dinner could include saffron scallops with bacon foam or fine local beef with chimichurri. The wine cellar is almost as impressive, stocked and stacked high with the best Chilean labels and a fair few from Europe too. After dinner, sit fireside in the graceful piano lounge or intimate library – all is soothing behind that intense-pink façade.