Restore to remember

Mama Cuchara Hotel, located in the Loma Grande neighborhood of Quito’s Historic City Center, offers a luxury accommodation in a renovated house typical of the colonial surroundings.

The hotel is part of a new chain of luxury boutique hotels in Ecuador that plans to extend its reach in restoring old and historic mansions throughout the country, turning them into inns that offer a different kind of experience that combines antique, classic and modern styles to create an exclusive luxury package.

It was with this goal in mind that the owners ventured to restore an old colonial Spanish-style mansion, decking it out with everything today’s travel market demands in terms of comfort and style. On the one hand, they took the care to perform the renovation without removing the original structure’s stately personality, and on the other, they sought out magical spaces where past and present come together to smoothly and perfectly provide the best of two eras.

Location is everything for Hotel Mama Cuchara, since the hotel chain’s main goals include providing the visitor the opportunity to interact with the local culture, to experience its idiosyncrasies, traditions, and art. The group chooses iconic and representative areas in Ecuador’s most interesting cities; in this case Quito, the nation’s capital.

Absolutely unique, Hotel Mama Cuchara offers both first-class cuisine and the exclusivity of a limited number of rooms, allowing guests to experience exclusive and personalized service.

The culinary side is in the hands of the renowned Executive Chef Henry Richardson, who invites diners to take a gastronomic trip through the flavors of Ecuador’s provinces. The results are presented in a way that lets the diner try a bit of everything. Guests choose between two appetizer options, two protein alternatives with their respective side dishes for the main course, and a dessert. The wide range of flavors becomes a tour of tastes starring typical food from provinces including Guayas, Manabí, Esmeraldas, Cotopaxi, Loja and El Oro.

The hotel always has cultural activities available between 5:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. It is a unique experience for locals and international travelers who want a different kind of night in the city center. Music, art exhibitions, Ecuadorian chocolate tastings, plays, and tales of local legends are just some of the delightful alternatives available.

The Hotel has focused on details, which are clearly shown as a result of the hard work and effort demanded in its restoration, which began in 2015. The Hotel officially opened its doors in 2017, reflecting great pride in Ecuadorian heritage. It is not only the privileged service that its guests receive, but also the atmosphere of yesteryear that is reflected in the hotel’s structure, with bohemian tones springing from the inspiration of local artists who exhibit their works inside, and the geographically magical location that allows each view to tell a different slice of the city’s history.

It is clear that the house’s owners took advantage of the opportunity to renovate an old mansion in a way that, while applying a new concept, was able to bring back memories of the past, extolling Ecuadorian roots while inviting locals and foreigners to live a unique experience in Quito’s Historic Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.