Casa Flor Hotel Boutique

A few minutes up the coast from Punta del Este, the natural setting is no less spectacular, and the atmosphere is a good deal more tranquil. It’s here, in the seaside town of La Barra, that you’ll find Casa Flor, tucked between the forest and the sea, in a residential neighborhood a block from the beach at Playa Montoya. This is about as low-key as a boutique hotel can get — it’s got the atmosphere of an exquisitely designed private home, and with just nine rooms and suites it’s not easy to imagine it ever feeling busy.

The units themselves are decked out in heavenly white-on-white, and are decorated with surf-inspired paintings by the local artist Nicolás Caubarrere. The style is a little bit modern and a little bit rustic, polished but not too polished; same goes for the comforts, which are substantial but far from ostentatious. And if you can get the Master Suite it’s worth splashing out; there’s a private terrace facing the hotel’s outdoor pool and an ocean view. The restaurants and nightlife of La Barra are just a few blocks away — Casa Flor itself remains a quiet, private refuge.