Medellín’s popular El Poblado neighborhood is in high demand among foreign travelers. While there are hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting the neighborhood each year the global hotel brands have yet to make significant inroads in the area. Most of the lodgings available here are smaller, quirky independent hotels, vacation rentals, or hostels. It can be difficult to distinguish among them online. At around $90 a night on Expedia The Art Hotel Medellín is a winning bet for anyone looking to visit El Poblado.
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Art Hotel Medellín Location
El Poblado is a trendy and stylish neighborhood about 3 miles south of the center of the city. The overall vibe is that of a lively college town with hundreds of bars and restaurants along with various co-working spaces, hostels, tour operators, shops and everything else an international traveler could want.
The area around Lleras Park is the center of nightlife activity. It’s cordoned off for several blocks around by the police for security purposes and to keep traffic out. Don’t let that alarm you though, the neighborhood is very safe and comfortable. The Art Hotel Medellín is only one block from Lleras Park, but is outside the cordon and is quiet and comfortable despite being very much “in-the-mix” of the nightlife area.Everything is an easy walk away and using Uber or cabs is extremely easy here. The location is practically perfect.
Property Overview of the Art Hotel
The Art Hotel Medellín is a medium size hotel with 5 floors built around an attractive courtyard, with a bar and restaurant on the 6th floor/rooftop. The lobby is fronted with floor to ceiling doors/windows and does double duty as an art gallery. There was an opening here during my stay which did attract a crowd of people purely to see the art, although the show is very modest in scope with just a few pieces on display.
Beyond the lobby is a small bar that is seldom open, and a lounge area with tables and chairs that actually functions more as a co-working space than a place to enjoy a drink. They would do well to update this space into a dedicated full-time co-working space… and of course to hang a little art back here while they’re at it! Contemporary American indie rock and electropop plays in this area throughout the day.
There’s no concierge here, and no gym or pool or parking, which is common among the hotels in the area which are all small or medium sized. The staff is attentive and the front desk speaks English. The upstairs restaurant is ideal for a traveling couple or for solo travelers who may want to entertain a local while in town. Room service is available 24 hours a day by QR code.
Art Hotel Medellín Guest Rooms
The room itself is essentially a master bedroom you’d find in a stylish urban condo. Large floor to ceiling windows, a nice bathroom, and pass-through closet area between the two. It has a very high-end feel with furnishings and fittings you’d be proud to have in your own home from the basin sink to the custom curtains, solid wood tables and designer lighting.
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It’s a great room but the high end style and feel highlights what’s missing: there’s no coffee. The closet area is all right for one person but two would be living out of their suitcases: there aren’t any drawers. A chair or small loveseat would be a welcome addition to just the ottoman provided. And the television needs to be upgraded. It’s an older LG model that gets very few channels and none in English. Most channels are just a message stating the channel is not available. Housekeeping makes up the rooms daily..
A card key power slot connects only to the lights. The AC and outlets for charging will continue to work while guests are away from the room.
Which Room to Choose?
I booked an Executive Double room for just a few dollars more per night than the Superior Double. The two room types give an impression of being very similar. The king bed in my room was enormous. Possibly the biggest bed I’ve ever seen, and very comfortable. I had a little bit of a nice view but the building is between two others of similar size, with another large building directly behind, so the possibility of receiving a view is limited.
Many of the rooms here have windows (with solid curtains) facing the courtyard and walkways. These are essentially windowless rooms, because you’ll want the curtain closed all the time for privacy. If you’re staying here go ahead and book the nicer room with a view for a few dollars more.
Whichever room you choose, breakfast is included. While it is in the chic restaurant area on the roof, I went up one morning at 8:30 and the offerings looked thoroughly picked-over. You’ll be much better off finding something in the neighborhood or stocking up on some delicious pastries available nearby.
There isn’t any art in any of the rooms. How can you call yourself the Art Hotel and offer guests blank walls?
Choosing a Hotel in El Poblado
The Art Hotel Medellín could be a very high end boutique hotel charging $300 a night. It’s not that, but it could be. The property, location, and furnishings are fantastic. What’s missing is all of the amenities and service of a five star property. I don’t mean to say the service is deficient in any way. When staying here you’ve certainly got everything you need. It’s just missing all those little extras that qualify a property as boutique or luxury. However at $80-90 per night there’s tremendous value here and a stay is worth every penny at that price.
After walking around the neighborhood this hotel compares very well, appearing to be nicer than everything else in its price range and rivaling much more expensive properties for location and appearance. If you’re considering a stay in El Poblado you should book online with confidence and enjoy your stay in Colombia.