Review: The Aubrey, Santiago

Eccentric luxe – is there such a thing? A stay at The Aubrey in Santiago’s bohemian barrio of Bellavista proves that there might just be… By Tatyana Leonov

I like quirky.

Quirky bars hidden in laneways where the bartenders know more about fashion than fashionistas, unusual interiors in hotel lobbies that are more works of art than standard decoration, food combinations where odd flavours and interesting textures are fused.

I’m not the only one into quirky – travellers are booking everything from the wonderfully wacky to the beautifully boutique in search of something a little beyond the norm.

So for me, a stay at The Aubrey while in Santiago was a given. Every fashion photographer in town is begging to borrow a room for a shoot, so I go one step further and book two nights.

It’s the first boutique hotel in Santiago (though now there’s a flurry of copycat hotels around) and it’s won numerous awards, including a Condé Nast Traveller Hot List award (2010) and The Globe and Mail Architectural and Design award (2010).

The Aubrey was listed as one of the top hotels in Chile by National Geographic in 2011.

After my dismal arrival into Santiago I’m in need of a treat. As an Australian I need a visa, but I don’t realise this and spend an hour in the wrong line.

When I finally do get to the baggage carousal I’m relieved my lonesome backpack is still there, but am then stopped at customs (forgotten Peruvian porridge mix in my bag).

Two hours later I’m out and enter Chile to a crowd of people clapping, cheering and waving flags around – mistaken for a soccer hero.

There’s something a little bit special about being greeted like that by an impatient crowd, though they don’t seem too impressed (perhaps they realised I’m not after all a hero) after I’m ushered into a cab…

The Aubrey is in a top spot – Santiago’s hipster hangout Bellavista, where youngsters spill out of grungy bars, cigarettes and drinks in hand. It is the epicentre of trendy Santiago and The Aubrey is a street away from the bustle, at the base of Santiago’s Cerro San Cristóbal. As far as location goes, The Aubrey gets a tick.

Diago from Portugal (I soon learn it’s a very multicultural office) meets me at the front desk. He’s polite, friendly and nothing is too difficult for him. He’s also keen to show me… everything.

Diago explains that it took the owners, Australian Mark Cigana and Londoner William Martin, three years to restore and redesign the space.

The building was once an abandoned and decaying mansion and the boys preserved the charm of the 1927 architecture through a lot of hard work (re-wiring, re-plumbing, replacing the roof, and doors and much more).

In fact to immerse themselves in Chilean culture and the restoration, the boys lived on site for a significant part of the restoration, working closely with the architects. The result is an eclectic mishmash of old and new which works well in the bohemian neighbourhood.

The interior space blends muted colours with soft browns, beiges and crèmes, immediately creating a sense of peace and tranquillity.

Unusually angled chairs and stools surround a grand piano in the lounge, a sumptuous set of sofas take centre in the lobby, little nooks and crannies lead to more rooms, more staircases, more surprises – it’s a labyrinth of design discoveries.

Outside an eclectic mix of chairs and tables are strategically placed around the fern-filled cobbled courtyard, where guests holding all kinds of colourful cocktails are starting to gather.

It’s kooky cool and I’ll be back for a drink later tonight, maybe after a dip in the elevated swimming pool which has everything you need; soft towels, two types of citrus-flavoured water, and heaters… OK I’m a little bit impressed.

The Aubrey has 15 rooms. Some feature imposing wood detailing, others have original parquet flooring.

But all the rooms are furnished lavishly (Tom Dixon lamps and comfy leather chairs), with unique views. I’m staying in the Mannarelli room, located in the art deco part of the building. I enjoy hanging out on my cute Spanish balcony, which overlooks… more Spanish balconies.

It’s lovely to get a glimpse into the real local life from your own verandah.

The bathroom is huge and lavish; a toilet roll is bound by a black satin ribbon, the Aubrey-branded towels are luxurious and the products are all natural and organic.

Maybe it’s the Australian in me but I’m a little disappointed there’s no kettle (though all guests are welcome to come to the dining room for tea at any time, and in the afternoons, tea is accompanied by delicious complimentary desserts).

There are also no cookies. And no iron. Diago is happy to organise for my clothes to be ironed (free of charge). The clothes are brought up to my room and are left folded on the bed as opposed to being hung up – so still end up with creases.

Trivialities aside the magnificence of The Aubrey is not in the rooms (though they are fantastic), but in the overall design aesthetic of the place, the staff, and the breakfast.

The two mornings I spent here were the highlight of my stay. Breakfast was truly heavenly. The waitress, Rachel from Somalia, had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen, and for her, everything was sheer delight – seriously.

From the moment she asked me how I like my eggs, to when she saw me sneaking in a third crème brulee (yes desserts for breakfast – amazing!), she did not stop smiling.

The breakfast smorgasbord was bountiful – filled with panacottas, fruit salads, banana bread, other sweets and treats that I can’t even name. This is where I discovered dulce de leche, an oozy, gooey confection derived from caramelised sugar (prepared by heating condensed milk).

I don’t get to the restaurant for dinner (Bellavista beckons) but the Chilean fusion menu looks enticing, and from what I’m told the executive chef, Hector Fonseca, does a pretty good job of making it taste that way too.

At checkout the staff see me off like a friend. But when I think back they acted like that all along.

The space is gorgeous, and the atmosphere terrific, but The Aubrey’s great milieu is thanks to the Diago’s and Rachel’s, and all the others who I didn’t get to know on a first name basis.

They are the ones that bring life a fabulous boutique stay.

The Details

The Aubrey
Constitución 299 – 317
Bellavista, Santiago
+5 629 402 800
theaubrey.com
Tatyana booked directly, paying $304 per night.

The IT Verdict
Tatyana who paid her own way and visited anonymously, says:
“A design haven for the design savvy. For everyone else – a splendid stay amongst Santiago’s flourishing art scene and pumping nightlife."

3 More Great Santiago Hotels

W Santiago
The panoramic backdrop of the snow-capped Andes is just one of the awesome things about this 196-room hotel. It’s also located in a top spot in a trendy enclave of Santiago, and all rooms feature the signature W bed. Nice. Isidora Goyenechea 3000 Los Condes. +55 2 2770 0000. starwoodhotels.com

Le Rêve Hotel Boutique
It’s a home away from home. The staff make your stay feel as comfy as possible, with fun additions like an honesty bar and midnight snack room. Orrego Luco 23. +55 2 757 6011. lerevehotel.cl

Lastaria Boutique Hotel
Another mansion revamped sitting in a bohemian borough, this boutique stay also has a pool and a restaurant – with a lovely selection of Chilean wines available. Crnel Santiago Bueras 188. +55 2 840 3700. lastarriahotel.com

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

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It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The Details

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