Casa Gangotena

Timeless elegance on Plaza San Francisco

Overlooking Plaza San Francisco in the heart of Quito’s historic centre, Casa Gangotena occupies one of the city’s most distinguished historic mansions. Step outside and some of the Old Town’s most beautiful churches, museums and colonial streets are quite literally on your doorstep.

Inside, the atmosphere changes completely. Light-filled interiors, high ceilings, elegant furnishings, fresh flowers and a peaceful inner courtyard create a wonderful sense of calm in the middle of the city. The building combines its historic character with refined contemporary comfort, while the service remains warm and remarkably personal.

I have stayed at Casa Gangotena many times during my visits to Ecuador and it remains one of my favourite hotels in Quito. There are grander details everywhere you look, but it is the feeling of being genuinely welcomed and looked after that I remember most.

Rooms and suites

Casa Gangotena has just 31 individually designed rooms and suites. High ceilings, tall windows, rich fabrics, carpets and Art Deco furniture reflect the character of the historic mansion, while the rooms themselves are spacious and exceptionally comfortable.

Some rooms overlook Plaza San Francisco, with views across the square towards the church and convent, while others look towards the gardens or El Panecillo. The historic architecture means that no two rooms are quite the same, adding to the individuality of a stay here.

For families travelling together, connecting rooms can also be combined to create considerably more space.

A place to slow down

One of the pleasures of Casa Gangotena is that you do not always need to go out to enjoy Quito.

The glass-roofed inner patio, filled with plants and flowers, is a lovely place to sit after exploring the Old Town. Settle into one of the comfortable chairs with an Ecuadorian coffee or enjoy Café Quiteño, Casa Gangotena’s interpretation of afternoon tea, with local coffee, herbal infusions and sweet and savoury treats.

Upstairs, the rooftop terrace offers an entirely different perspective. From here, the churches, domes and rooftops of historic Quito spread out around you. It is particularly beautiful towards the end of the day, when you can linger over a drink while the lights begin to appear across the city.

Ecuador on the table

The restaurant at Casa Gangotena celebrates Ecuadorian ingredients and culinary traditions through its own cocina mestiza. Indigenous and Spanish influences are combined with contemporary techniques, drawing on ingredients and flavours from different regions of the country.

Breakfast is also something I always look forward to here. The elegant dining room overlooks the historic surroundings and makes for a wonderfully relaxed start to a day exploring Quito.

Whether you stop for breakfast, afternoon tea, cocktails on the rooftop or dinner, food is very much part of the Casa Gangotena experience rather than simply an addition to your stay.

A mansion with a story

Casa Gangotena’s location has been important for centuries. Plaza San Francisco was already a significant place before the Spanish conquest and later became one of the principal commercial and religious centres of colonial Quito. The Gangotena family acquired their mansion on the square in the eighteenth century. After a fire destroyed the house in 1914, it was rebuilt as an elegant European-inspired residence.

Today, the restored mansion forms part of Quito’s extraordinary historic centre. Its architecture and interiors retain the feeling of a grand private residence, while outside lies one of the most fascinating parts of the city.

And that location really matters. La Compañía church and the Casa del Alabado museum are only a short walk away, while the streets surrounding Plaza San Francisco invite you to explore Quito’s artisans, churches, courtyards and small shops on foot.

Why we choose Casa Gangotena

Casa Gangotena is undoubtedly one of Quito’s more luxurious hotels, but for us its appeal goes beyond beautiful rooms and elegant interiors.

It is the combination of its extraordinary location, history and genuinely personal hospitality that makes it special. You can spend the day exploring one of Latin America’s most remarkable historic centres and then step back through the doors into a peaceful mansion where everything feels calm again.

Having stayed here many times ourselves, it is a hotel we know well and one we particularly like to recommend when the hotel itself should become part of the Quito experience.