Hotel B is the most romantic hotel in Lima and the only member of Relais & Châteaux in the city. It occupies a restored mansion in Barranco, Lima's bohemian clifftop district and opened in 2013 as a boutique hotel filled with art: more than 300 pieces hang in the rooms, corridors and library. The neighborhood outside is full of galleries, colorful old houses, bars and some of the best restaurants in South America.
The hotel is small and personal. Rooms come in three categories, Atelier, Aposento and Alcoba and the public spaces feel like a collector's home: a library for breakfast and afternoon tea, a patio for lunch, a bar beside reception and a rooftop terrace. El Comedor, the restaurant, cooks a fusion menu built on Peruvian ingredients.
It suits couples who want character, art and food in a walkable neighborhood, usually for two or three nights before or after Cusco and Machu Picchu. Couples who want ocean views from the room, a large pool or a full spa should look at the clifftop hotels in Miraflores instead.
Highlights at a glance
- Lima's only Relais & Châteaux hotel
- Restored mansion with more than 300 artworks
- Rooftop terrace, library and courtyard patio
- El Comedor serving Peruvian fusion cuisine
- Walking distance to Central and Barranco's galleries
Why Couples Love Hotel B
Barranco is the reason many couples fall for Lima. It is the city's most atmospheric neighborhood, with old seaside mansions, street murals, small galleries and a wooden footbridge, the Puente de los Suspiros, where couples traditionally make a wish while crossing. Hotel B puts you right in the middle of it.
The hotel itself feels like staying with a friend who happens to own a gallery. Art fills every space from the bedrooms to the library, so you will find yourselves stopping in corridors to look. The B-ART shop sells smaller versions of some of the pieces on display.
Couples in reviews praise the intimate size, the warm service and the sense of being somewhere unique rather than in a chain hotel. Being a Relais & Châteaux member also means consistent standards in food and hospitality.
Rooms to Book
Hotel B's rooms fall into three categories: Atelier, Aposento and Alcoba. Each is individually decorated, with art on the walls, high ceilings typical of the old mansion and a calm, residential feel.
For a honeymoon, ask the hotel which rooms are the largest and most private and request one away from the street and the bar. Rooms in the original mansion carry the most character, while larger categories give you more space to unwind after long days of sightseeing.
The hotel is small, so the best rooms fill quickly in the high season from December to April. Book early and mention that you are on your honeymoon, since the team can arrange small touches such as flowers or a bottle of wine on arrival. From June to October, Lima's coastal fog, the garúa, keeps days gray and cool, so pack a light sweater.
Food, Drink and the Rooftop
El Comedor, the hotel restaurant, serves a fusion menu built on Peruvian ingredients, with seafood, Andean produce and Amazonian flavors. El Patio, the courtyard, is a lovely setting for lunch or a relaxed dinner, while La Biblioteca hosts breakfast and afternoon tea among the books and art.
El Bar, on the ground floor beside reception, is an elegant spot for a pisco sour before dinner. The rooftop terrace is the place for an evening drink when the weather is clear.
But Lima is one of the world's great food cities and you should eat out too. Central, regularly ranked among the world's best restaurants, is a short walk away in Barranco. Book months in advance. Maido in Miraflores is famous for Nikkei, the Japanese-Peruvian fusion. For a casual lunch, find a cebichería and order ceviche with a cold beer.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do in Lima
Start in Barranco. Walk to the Puente de los Suspiros and the Bajada de Baños, a stone path to the sea, then explore galleries such as MATE, the photography museum founded by Mario Testino. In the evening, the bars around the main square come alive.
Walk or take a short taxi to Miraflores along the clifftop parks for sunset over the Pacific. Paragliders launch from the cliffs on good days. Have dinner beside Huaca Pucllana, an adobe pyramid lit up at night in the middle of Miraflores.
The historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has the Plaza de Armas, the cathedral and the catacombs of San Francisco. The Larco Museum in Pueblo Libre holds a superb collection of pre-Columbian art in a colonial mansion with gardens. Use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps rather than hailing cabs on the street.
Getting There
Fly into Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM), which has nonstop flights from several US cities. The drive to Barranco takes about 45 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic, which can be heavy at rush hour. Arrange a pickup through the hotel or use an official airport taxi, especially if you land late at night.
Most couples combine Lima with Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, connecting through LIM with a short domestic flight. Lima makes a gentle first stop at sea level before the altitude of Cusco, or a relaxing final stop on the way home.
In the city, Barranco is walkable and taxis or ride-hailing apps take you to Miraflores and the historic center. Allow extra time for traffic, particularly on weekday evenings.
Is It Worth It?
Yes, for couples who value character and food over resort facilities. Rooms start at roughly $400 a night for two (approximate), which is reasonable for Lima's only Relais & Châteaux hotel in its most romantic district. You get art, intimacy and walks to some of the world's best restaurants.
The trade-offs are real. There are no ocean views from the rooms, no large pool and no full spa and as a small hotel, facilities are limited. Barranco can be lively on weekend nights.
Couples who want sea views and a pool should look at Belmond Miraflores Park, on the Miraflores clifftop. Those who prefer a calm, green neighborhood can stay at the Country Club Lima Hotel in San Isidro. For most honeymooners, two nights at Hotel B is enough before heading on to Cusco.
Insider tips
- Ask for a room in the original mansion away from the street and the bar.
- Reserve Central or Maido months in advance; they book out quickly.
- Walk the Bridge of Sighs and Bajada de Baños at sunset.
- Schedule Lima at the start of your trip to adjust before the altitude of Cusco.
