The Singular Santiago is the hotel to book if you want Chile's capital to feel like a walkable, slightly bohemian European city rather than a business trip. It sits in Lastarria, the old quarter of cobbled lanes, bookshops and wine bars a few minutes on foot from Cerro Santa Lucía, Parque Forestal and the Gabriela Mistral cultural center. The building looks like it has been there for a century, with neoclassical lines and dark wood. Inside it is newer and more playful than it lets on.
The draw for couples is the roof. A bar up top looks across the city to San Cristóbal Hill, with the Andes behind when the air is clear. An outdoor pool on the ninth floor opens in summer. There is a spa with a dry sauna, a restaurant that cooks Chilean ingredients with French technique and enough character in the rooms that you will not mind a slow morning.
It suits couples starting or ending a bigger Chile trip, such as Patagonia, the Atacama or the wine valleys, who want two or three nights of good food and evening walks. Couples after a resort with grounds and a beach should treat Santiago as a stopover and save their splurge for later.
Highlights at a glance
- Rooftop bar facing San Cristóbal Hill
- Ninth-floor outdoor pool in summer
- Walkable Lastarria location
- Chilean ingredients with French technique
- Spa with dry sauna
Why Couples Love The Singular Santiago
Location does a lot of the work. Step out the door and you are in one of the few Santiago neighborhoods built for wandering, with cafés spilling onto the sidewalk, small galleries and restaurants that stay busy late. You can walk up Cerro Santa Lucía at sunset, cross Parque Forestal to the fine arts museum and be back for a drink without calling a car.
The hotel itself has a moody, intimate feel. Public rooms lean on rich wood, art and low light, so it reads more like a private club than a chain hotel. Staff tend to know the neighborhood well and will steer you to wine bars and dinners rather than the usual tourist list. It is also the Santiago sibling of The Singular Patagonia in Puerto Natales, which makes it an easy pairing for a two-stop honeymoon.
Rooms and Suites to Book
Rooms mix neoclassical touches with contemporary furniture. The categories are easy to read.
- Singular King rooms run about 36 square meters with one king bed. They are comfortable and the best value.
- Singular King with Balcony adds a little space, about 40 square meters, plus somewhere to sit outside with a glass of wine. For a honeymoon this is the sweet spot.
- The Lastarria Room and the Classic Room are individually styled options, the latter quiet and full of natural light.
- The Singular Suite is about 80 square meters with a separate living room, which makes sense if you are staying several nights or want room service in comfort.
Ask for a higher floor when you book. Lastarria is lively on weekend nights. A room away from the street is quieter.
Food, Drink and the Spa
The restaurant takes Chilean produce, from Pacific seafood to lamb and seasonal vegetables, then cooks it with French technique. It is a good place for a first-night dinner when you are tired from the flight and want something polished without crossing town.
The rooftop bar is the hotel's best room. Go up around sunset for a pisco sour or a glass of Carménère and watch the light change on San Cristóbal Hill. In the warmer months the ninth-floor outdoor pool is open, which is a real luxury in a city that gets hot from December to March.
The spa uses organic scents such as eucalyptus, lavender and orange. It also has a dry sauna. Book treatments ahead, since the spa asks both hotel guests and outside visitors to reserve.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Walk first. Cerro Santa Lucía is a short climb with terraces and city views. Parque Forestal follows the Mapocho River past the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. Cross the river to Bellavista for La Chascona, Pablo Neruda's house, then ride the funicular or cable car up San Cristóbal Hill.
Food lovers can spend a morning at the Mercado Central and La Vega, then book a tasting menu in Providencia or Vitacura for the evening. Wine country is close: the Maipo Valley is under an hour away, while Casablanca sits on the road to Valparaíso, so a day trip combining vineyards with the coast's painted hills works well. In winter, the ski areas of Farellones and Valle Nevado are about two hours up the mountain road.
Take registered taxis or ride-hailing apps at night. Keep phones out of sight on busy streets.
Getting There
Fly into Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL), which has nonstop service from several US hubs, often overnight, so you land in the morning. The drive to Lastarria takes roughly 30–45 minutes, longer at rush hour. Book a transfer through the hotel or use an official airport taxi or app rather than accepting rides from people in the arrivals hall.
Once you are settled you will barely need a car in the city. The metro's Universidad Católica and Bellas Artes stations are close. Much of central Santiago is walkable from the hotel. Rent a car or hire a driver only for wine country or the coast. If you are continuing to Patagonia, domestic flights to Punta Arenas leave from the same airport.
Is It Worth It?
For a city stay, yes. The Singular costs a lot less than big luxury hotels in Las Condes, yet it puts you in the most atmospheric neighborhood with a roof, a spa and a kitchen good enough to eat at more than once. Expect rates very roughly in the $250–400 range for a standard room, approximate and higher in peak season.
It is not a resort. The pool is seasonal and modest, the neighborhood can be noisy on weekends and some rooms are on the compact side. Couples who want a big gym, a large year-round pool and quick access to the airport may prefer the eastern districts, where the Mandarin Oriental and other large hotels sit. Couples who want to walk out to dinner and come home to a rooftop drink should pick The Singular.
Insider tips
- Book a Singular King with Balcony for outdoor space without paying suite prices.
- Ask for a high floor away from the street on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Reserve spa treatments before you arrive, since walk-ins are not accepted.
- Climb Cerro Santa Lucía at sunset, then come back for a drink on the roof.
