In Santiago, Chile, Old World
collides with New at every turn: The soaring peaks of the Andes loom above the
sprawl of the city, whose broad boulevards were built in the 19th century to
mimic the avenues that Baron Haussmann conceived to ease traffic in
Louis-Napoléon’s Second Empire Paris. In certain quarters in Santiago, only the
Andes—and the visual cacophony of billboards and neon signs in Spanish—dispel
the illusion that, at any turn, one might encounter a Parisian sky reflected in
the rippling surface of the Seine. Postmodern steel high-rises in other sections
of the city carry this architectural sophistication into the 21st century,
particularly in El Golf, where Ritz-Carlton chose to locate its first property
in Latin America.
 Like the city itself, the Ritz-Carlton, Santiago is a fine
orchestration of classical and contemporary elements. The stone, brick, and
glass exterior—with its vaulted glass dome that houses the spa and rooftop pool
and affords guests a spectacular view of the mountains—belies the hotel’s
interiors, which recall an English gentlemen’s club. The warm glow of crystal
chandeliers saturates the hardwood paneling, while the graceful
18th-century-style French and English furnishings and Persian wool carpets seem
to float on expanses of polished terrazzo. The serenity of the lobby, however,
gives way to a tropical ebullience in the 205 guest rooms, where saffron,
crimson, and sage create a lively palette.
 The Ritz-Carlton’s spa, beneath its glass atrium, offers a
fitness center, which is fortunate given that guests will want to work out after
trying the hotel’s two unique restaurants. At Adra, chef Tomás Olivera adds
Mediterranean flair to seafood dishes such as panfried congrio with
abalone sauce. As its name suggests, Wine 365, under the direction of sommelier
Magda Saleh, offers a different Chilean wine for every day of the year. Saleh
pairs the wines with an array of eclectic delicacies (duck carpaccio or even a
BLT) that, like the Ritz-Carlton, Santiago, stylishly mingle the conventional
with the cutting-edge.
LOCATION In the financial district of Santiago, Chile. ACCOMMODATIONS The 205 guest rooms include 49 Club Level rooms, three Club Suites, 12 executive suites, and a
presidential suite. FACILITIES The hotel’s financial-district location and ample meeting space
make it ideal for conferences. The Grand Ballroom can accommodate some 350
guests. The Boutique Spa, located on the top floor of the hotel, offers a
fitness center, a pool and Jacuzzi, men’s and women’s steam rooms, and a range
of spa treatments. DINING The formal decor of Adra provides an elegant setting in which to
enjoy the restaurant’s Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, featuring fresh Chilean
seafood. The more casual Wine 365 boasts an extensive Chilean and French wine
list. The Lobby Lounge serves afternoon tea, while the Ritz-Carlton Bar offers
cigars, tapas, and your choice of cocktail, from the traditional pisco sour to
your favorite martini. CONCIERGE RECOMMENDS At Wine 365, sommelier Magda Saleh will create a customized
experience that takes you on a gustatory journey through Chile’s wines and
cuisine, pairing rarities such as Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta with braised lamb
shanks or Sol de Sol Chardonnay with "Trilogy" seviche. RATES From $270 to $2,400.
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