Luciano K

What do you have to do to get city streets named after you? The architect Luciano Kulczewski (1896–1972), sometimes referred to in his native country as “el Gaudí chileno” (the Chilean Gaudi), was the creative mind behind several of the city’s most photogenic landmarks. Several buildings around town bear his name, but Luciano K, a chic and charming addition to Santiago’s hotel scene, is one of the most interesting: designed by Kulczewski in the 1920s, it was the tallest building in Chile in its day, and the first to have an elevator and central heating.

The antique elevator is handy, indeed, when you’re arriving with a suitcase containing half your worldly possessions. But otherwise, you might be tempted to take the stairs: they’re made of gorgeous white and gray marble, and bordered with romantic wrought-iron banisters. Indeed, despite renovations, the building’s twenties-era glamour is still very much intact. Luciano K feels like an effortless blend of Art Deco and modern design – two genres that, admittedly, lend themselves to a pairing.

Most of the historic appeal is found on the ground level with its whimsically tiled floors, geometric patterns, glowing lanterns, and high-ceilinged passageways, arching but angular, the octagonal shape calling to mind the facets of a sparkling gem or diamond. Luciano K’s 38 guest rooms are more contemporary, though details like stained glass panels, parquet floors, velvet armchairs, and white marble fixtures evoke a gentler past. In-room amenities include 40-inch Smart TVs, complimentary wi-fi, and soundproofed windows with blackout curtains — a welcome feature if you’re battling jet lag.

Luciano K, it seems, was forward-thinking in every respect. The hotel — as well as the architect’s own home and studio — are located in the neighborhood of Lastarria, arguably the most desirable barrio to stay in at the moment. Centrally located and bohemian, it’s within walking distance of pretty much everything you'd like to do in Santiago.

And so while there’s a sleek cocktail bar and restaurant on the lobby level of the hotel, you’ll want to hit the town. If you only have time for a pisco sour or two before heading out, have it up on the rooftop. There’s a plunge pool, too, but you’re here for the views. And Santiago is all about views. If you want to appreciate the snow-capped Andes from an optimal vantage point, stroll over to the castle-like funicular train station — designed, mind you, by none other than Luciano Kulczewski — and catch a lift to the summit of Cerro San Cristóbal.