Gay Quito Quito City Guide

Casa Gangotena is the undisputed grande dame of Quito’s Historic Centre—a Relais & Châteaux property occupying a gloriously restored neoclassical mansion right on Plaza San Francisco. Soaring ceilings, plush carpets, Art Deco furnishings, and marble bathrooms set the tone, whilst the third-floor terrace and wood-panelled bar confirm this as a property of genuine distinction. The Cocina Mestiza restaurant serves modern Ecuadorian cuisine, and complimentary evening experiences—chocolate tastings, neighbourhood walks—give the stay an immersive quality that outlasts the visit.

A short stroll away in the bohemian enclave of San Marcos, Illa Experience Hotel offers ten individually designed rooms spread across three floors, each reflecting a chapter of Ecuador’s history—Colonial, Republican, and Contemporary. Heated floors, embroidered linens, soaker tubs, and a wine cellar bookable for private tastings make it deeply indulgent, whilst the daily cultural experiences—Panama hat weaving, watercolour painting with local artists, traditional sweet-making—are precisely the kind of programming that transforms a stay into a genuine encounter with the city.

Just steps from the Presidential Palace, the Carlota Sustainable Design Hotel is Ecuador’s first LEED-certified hotel, conceived by architect Verónica Reed. Twelve individually designed rooms sit within a restored nineteenth-century building where exposed brick, vivid bird-inspired colour palettes, and bespoke tile work coexist with the Golondrina spa, a Bistro serving locally sourced Ecuadorian cuisine, and a rooftop lounge with 360-degree panoramas of the colonial skyline.