A brilliant location, super-friendly staff and roomy bedrooms, but a breakfast I’d had enough of after four mornings: this is my honest Hotel Cumbres Lastarria review, with what I paid, what the rooms are like and who the hotel suits best.
I’d been to Chile three times before I finally spent proper time in its capital. On my fourth trip, in July, Santiago was my first stop, and I booked the first four nights at Hotel Cumbres Lastarria, a four-star boutique hotel in the neighbourhood I’d now point any first-timer towards.
It cost me about US$130 a night, and on location alone it was worth it. I could walk out of the door to some of the best restaurants and bars in the city, and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful. But there were a few small economies that grated, and by the end of my stay I was more than ready for a different breakfast. Here’s the full picture.
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At a glance
- Where: José Victorino Lastarria 299, Lastarria, Santiago
- What it is: a four-star boutique hotel with 70 rooms and suites
- What I paid: about US$130 a night
- My stay: four nights in July, at the start of my trip
- Best for: first-timers who want to walk to the sights, restaurants and bars
- Not for: anyone who likes to lounge in their room, or wants a breakfast with plenty of variety
- My verdict: a well-priced base in a great spot, with lovely staff, let down by a few small economies
The location
This is the hotel’s trump card. Lastarria is a good area to stay in, and if you can, it’s the one I’d choose. Some of the city’s coolest boutique hotels are here, along with top restaurants, bars and a few sights, and it’s in easy walking distance of Bellas Artes and the Centro.
The hotel sits on the corner of Lastarria and Merced, so you’re right in the thick of it. Liguria, where I had my first dinner in Santiago, is on the opposite corner. Bocanáriz, the wine bar I’d recommend to anyone, and the pisco bar Chipe Libre are a few doors down the street. The Gabriela Mistral cultural centre (GAM) is around the corner, and Universidad Católica metro station, on Line 1, is a few minutes’ walk away.
The Lastarria street market is strung along the same street. It’s at its best on Sundays, but there are some stalls pretty much every day of the week, selling jewellery, art, beauty products and clothes from independent makers, and they start thinning out around 7pm or 8pm. It’s great for picking up souvenirs or even (whisper it) a little treat for yourself.
For sightseeing, Cerro Santa Lucía, the hill where Pedro de Valdivia founded the city in 1541, is about a ten-minute walk away, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes is a little closer, and the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, my favourite museum in Santiago, is around a 15-minute walk. You can walk to Bellavista and La Chascona, Pablo Neruda’s house, in about 15 to 20 minutes.
The rooms
The rooms are sizeable and split into two parts: a bedroom with a desk and study area, and a bathroom area behind a frosted glass screen. Mine was modern and comfortable enough, with a good bathroom.
There isn’t a chair for relaxing in the bedroom, though, which I’m never the biggest fan of. If you like to curl up with a book at the end of the day, you’ll be doing it on the bed.
There isn’t much in the way of facilities in the room either. When I stayed, you got one set of water and coffee for the whole of your stay, and after that they charged you. It feels quite churlish for a four-star hotel, especially when you’re spending a few nights. Policies change, so ask at check-in.
Breakfast
I wasn’t a huge fan of the breakfast. It’s a buffet, and it was quite basic and exactly the same from day to day. After four mornings, I’d completely had enough of it.
If breakfast matters to you, compare room-only rates with breakfast-included ones before you book. Lastarria is full of cafés, so you won’t go hungry.
Facilities
The hotel has a small outdoor pool on the roof, with views over the city and towards the Andes, which is more of a draw in summer than in the middle of winter. Its restaurant, Punto 8, is on the top floor and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and there’s a bar on the ground floor. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is at midday.
That said, with so many good restaurants on the doorstep, I’d eat out. For ideas, see my guide to the best restaurants in Santiago.
The staff
The staff were super-friendly and helpful, and they made the stay. The concierge was one of about ten people who told me to book a table at Bocanáriz, and I’m very glad I listened: it was easily one of the nicest meals I had in the city.
They were full of practical advice, too. Like every hotel I stayed at in Santiago, they told me to use Uber rather than taxis to get around outside the metro, which was good advice: it’s relatively cheap, and you don’t have to negotiate the fare or worry about getting ripped off.
Price and value
I paid about US$130 a night, which felt fair for a four-star in this location. Rates have risen since, so check current prices on Booking.com.
It’s worth comparing it with The Singular, a few steps away on Merced, where I stayed at the end of my trip. When I booked, The Singular, a five-star with uber-comfortable bedrooms, a rooftop bar and a spa, cost only about US$10 a night more. Prices move around, so check both for your dates.
Who should stay here
Book Hotel Cumbres Lastarria if you want to walk everywhere, eat and drink well and spend your days out exploring rather than in your room. It’s a good fit for a first visit, and for a few nights either side of a trip to the Maipo Valley, the coast or the Atacama.
Look elsewhere if you want a room to relax in, a breakfast with real variety or the extras of a five-star.
My verdict
Hotel Cumbres Lastarria gets the big things right: a brilliant location, good-sized rooms and staff who genuinely want to help. It’s let down by the small things: no armchair, one set of water and coffee for your whole stay and a breakfast that wore thin after four mornings. For the price, it’s a solid choice, but it’s worth checking what The Singular costs for your dates before you book.
Check rates and availability at Hotel Cumbres Lastarria on Booking.com
Map
Practical info
Getting there from the airport
Santiago’s airport is about 20km from Lastarria. Take an Uber or a pre-booked transfer, and allow around 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic.
Paying for your room
Foreign tourists don’t pay Chile’s 19% VAT on hotel stays if they pay in foreign currency, for example in US dollars or on a foreign card, and show their passport and entry record at check-in. Check whether the rate you’re quoted includes VAT before you book.
More places to stay
If Cumbres is full, my guide to the best places to stay in Santiago covers the best areas and hotels, and my Casa Noble review is worth a look for a smaller boutique option near Bellas Artes.
Read next
- Where to stay in Santiago, Chile: best areas and hotels
- The best restaurants in Santiago, Chile: where I ate on my trip
- Casa Noble Boutique Hotel review: Santiago’s cutest hideaway
- 17 things to do in Santiago, Chile
- One day in Santiago, Chile: my hour-by-hour itinerary
- 13 day trips from Santiago, Chile
- Read all my Santiago guides
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