I may be biased, but after living in Medellín’s El Poblado for a few months as a digital nomad, I can tell it is one of the coolest neighborhoods in Latin America. Moreover, it may be among my favorite districts in the world.
And what would drive me to make such a strong case for El Poblado? You may ask. Well, this chic barrio is Medallo’s shopping and nightlife area par excellence. So, in this neighborhood, you will find some of the city’s top shopping centers, bars, clubs, and, of course, hotels.
Likewise, El Poblado hosts some of this Colombian city’s must-see attractions, like the Castillo Museum and the Museum of Modern Art of Medellín (MAMM). Hence, it is a fun place to be at all hours. The cuisine in El Poblado is also unmatched. You can find all kinds of food here, from typical Colombian dishes to Asian, Spanish, Italian, and Mexican delicacies.
Being such an essential neighborhood for the city’s economy, there is plenty of accommodation in El Poblado. In this district, one of the best areas to stay in Medellín, you can pick among budget-friendly hostels, charming guesthouses, and luxury, 5-star hotels. However, for the sake of this post, I will be focusing on the top 11 coolest hotels in El Poblado. To choose what makes the list, I’ll consider the hotel’s overall decor, vibe, facilities, amenities, and ratings. Please keep reading to discover our favorite hotels in El Poblado.
Top 11 Coolest Hotels in Medellín’s El Poblado
1. 23 Hotel Medellin
This hotel may have a 23 in its name, but make no mistake—it is number one on our list.
The 23 Hotel Medellín is only a 5-minute walk from El Poblado Park, one of the neighborhood’s most famous squares. So, staying in this beautiful boutique hotel, you will be close to the area’s most visited bars, restaurants, and clubs. Its facade combines the typical concrete walls of brutalist architecture with wood accents and green, lush, hanging tropical plants. The resulting image is immediately eye-catching.
However, there’s plenty to do inside the hotel’s brutalist-meets-industrial interior so that you don’t experience any FOMO if you decide not to go out. 23 Hotel has a restaurant called Cala Roca that serves a delicious fusion of Mediterranean and tropical food. Some of the must-try dishes on the menu include burrata cheese, classic Carbonara pasta, pizza, and Crème brûlée.
But what makes the 23 Hotel Medellín one of the coolest hotels in El Poblado is, without a doubt, its stunning rooftop. The hotel’s rooftop features an always summer-ready outdoor jacuzzi pool with 360º views and a bar with a bottomless brunch service. Thus, this accommodation is the perfect spot for pre-gaming before a wild night out in the city.
2. Hotel Marquee Medellín
Hotel Marquee Medellín stands out for having a speakeasy called Z Jazz Bar that gives it a sophisticated, timeless vibe. So, if you’re a live music fan looking to paint the town and all that jazz, this luxury hotel will hit all the notes for you (see what I did there?)
This accommodation is only a few steps from Parque Lleras, one of the city’s nightlife epicenters. This square is surrounded by venues that range from LGBTQIA+ clubs playing pop hits to Latin, techno, and typical Colombian music-themed clubs. Therefore, booking a room here will provide you with an excellent opportunity to dive into the different clubbing scenes available in Medellín.
Besides the mentioned speakeasy, the hotel offers a top-rated Italian restaurant with locally sourced ingredients and a rooftop bar with a swimming pool and a jacuzzi. The views from the rooftop are also stunning, as you can see below:
The hotel’s exterior and interior are sleek, with 1920s influences, window walls, and gold finishes. To keep it short, it wouldn’t look out of place in The Great Gatsby and is an excellent choice for a first trip to Medellín.
3. Versus Hotel
Versus Hotel may be the most Instagram-friendly accommodation on this list. Its common areas and rooms combine striking colors with neon signs, books, and other curious, seemingly random but carefully placed objects, making it always picture-ready. Likewise, a shop inside the hotel sells unique souvenirs inspired by the brand and beautiful, curated items.
This hotel is also near Parque Lleras and Provenza, one of Medellín’s best areas for foodies. Yet, you don’t have to leave to have a well-balanced meal. Its cafe prides itself on perfectly balancing wholesome and indulgent dishes. These juxtapositions are a constant in the hotel, hence the name.
But, if anything makes this one of the coolest hotels in El Poblado and Medellín, it is its “wholeness floor.” In this part of the Versus Hotel, you will find an indoor pool, sauna, and meditation rooms, allowing you to unwind and unplug without leaving the city for a spiritual retreat. To enhance this mental health focus, the hotel also hosts events like sound healing sessions with music and vibrations that promise to boost your well-being.
And, if you’re a digital nomad working remotely, you’ll also appreciate the fabulous coworking spaces in the hotel.
4. Wellcomm Spa & Hotel
Another accommodation that focuses on well-being and relaxation is the 4-star Wellcomm Spa & Hotel, AKEN Mind Collection. Inside this hotel, you will find a terrace with training areas to stay in shape while basking in Medellin’s beautiful views and sun. There is also a juice bar where you can enjoy healthy snacks and drinks.
Wellcomm Spa & Hotel has a bathhouse and spa that offers services like Chromotherapy, also known as Color Therapy. This non-invasive technique that allegedly balances your energy using lights and colors to enhance your mood. You can also get massages with essential oils and other popular treatments at the spa.
This hotel is only a 15-minute walk from Parque Lleras and Parque del Poblado. It is also an eco-friendly accommodation that uses as little plastic as possible, reuses water, and has a restaurant with natural, local ingredients.
The retrofuturistic design of the rooms and spaces, with a lot of natural light and plants, only adds to the hotel’s overall coolness.
5. The Click Clack Hotel Medellín
The Click Clack Hotel Medellín is a stunning 5-star accommodation in Provenza, near El Poblado Park. This hotel stands out among the many options available in the neighborhood because of the experiences and events it hosts. From pajama-themed game nights to creative workshops and multisensorial food tastings, this hotel is among the best in El Poblado if you want to see a different side of Medellín.
The Click Clack features several restaurants and bars with different themes and inspirations. For example, Egeo is a restaurant that serves a delicious combination of Greek and Turkish cuisine. Another hotel restaurant is MEKONK, which specializes in Thai food. So, you can go on a food tour worldwide without leaving Medellín or even the hotel.
Besides its gastronomic offers, the hotel has an outdoor pool, gorgeous suites in different sizes, some of which have several rooms and balconies, and a garden. The Click Clack’s building features native, tropical plants against its black, modern industrial design. This dark color in the whole hotel seems to represent Medellín’s dark and complicated past, especially with its large windows that let in the light predominant in the city nowadays.
6. The Charlee Hotel
Having a club inside should be reason enough for The Charlee Hotel to make this list, but there are many other things this 5-star hotel has going for it. For starters, every room in this accommodation has excellent views of El Poblado. Plus, its location near Parque Lleras means that you’ll have several other clubs within walking distance party like a paisa.
The Charlee Hotel also has a swimming pool on its rooftop and a gym with steam baths and massages available.
Meanwhile, the rooms showcase retro decor, including vintage-inspired furniture pieces mixed with a modern flair. The elevated deluxe rooms also feature grills for a tasty Colombian-style barbecue and balconies with hydromassage bathtubs.
If you’re looking for more than partying in Medellín, you can also attend art shows and exhibits at the hotel. Likewise, the Santa Fé shopping center is nearby for impromptu retail therapy sessions. You can also book luxury Colombian experience packages at the hotel.
7. ANTIPODA HOTEL Boutique
ANTIPODA HOTEL Boutique marries greenery with concrete in a modern, minimalistic design that matches its peaceful environment perfectly.
This boutique-style accommodation has a terrace with a cute outdoor swimming pool and a garden that will make you feel zen. Some of the somewhat modest rooms feature a patio with views of the garden, while all are full of light.
Like most hotels mentioned, ANTIPODA is near Lleras and El Poblado Park. So, while staying here, you will be near the best restaurants, clubs, bars, and shops in Medellín. Likewise, there is an a la carte breakfast available at the hotel.
8. Celestino Boutique Hotel
The Celestino Boutique Hotel is only within a block from Lleras Park and has a beautifully lit spa with a sauna, a jacuzzi, and a pool. Like other hotels on the list, all these fantastic facilities are on its rooftop, so you also get the added value of a great view. The spa offers hot stone massages, among other relaxing treatments.
Celestino Boutique Hotel also has a bar with incredible attention to detail on its jungle-themed decor. This style is also present in the lobby and rooms, where hints of animal print, textures, and tropical plants add personality to its wooden furnishings. Some of the rooms have balconies overlooking the cities with super comfortable poufs to sit and take in the scenery.
The restaurant Azul Selva (Blue Jungle) gets much credit for its breakfast and brunch options, including blueberry pancakes, delicious Colombian coffee, and eggs.
9. Elcielo Hotel & Restaurant
Elcielo Hotel & Restaurant is genuinely heaven on earth—in Medellin, to be exact. This hotel is near most of El Poblado’s popular spots: El Poblado Park, Lleras Park, and Linear Park President. It features a gorgeous outdoor pool, sleek decor, and a bar for snacks and drinks.
However, as its name suggests, the hotel is mainly known for its restaurant. The restaurant combines traditional Colombian cooking techniques with top-notch, avant-garde methods. It doesn’t feature a traditional menu but rather dishes that change constantly and try to involve all the senses. Its branches in Washington and Miami have been awarded Michelin stars.
You will also find a fitness center at Elcielo.
10. Selina Medellín
The Selina Medellín is between a hostel and a hotel, with private and shared bedrooms. Yet, it makes the list of the coolest hotels in El Poblado because of its festive and friendly atmosphere.
This hotel, part of a chain, has a restaurant and a lively bar that regularly hosts concerts, performances, and events. Overall, the crowd at Selina is young and hip but welcoming, so it is an excellent accommodation if you want to meet people when you visit Medellín. Likewise, you’ll fit right in if you love happy hours and game nights. Plus, you will be within walking distance from El Poblado’s popular bars, clubs, and restaurants.
Selina’s decor features metal, exposed bricks, and wood from industrial architecture, but local artists cover it with colors and murals. The hotel also houses coworking spaces that promote collaboration and brainstorming across industries, entrepreneurs, and students. These spaces include screening, meeting rooms, and, of course, desks.
11. Refugio del Jaguar
Lastly, you should stay at Refugio del Jaguar for a more budget-friendly option, which translates to ‘Jaguar’s Refuge.’
This hotel has private rooms, but you could also get a bed in a dorm with a shared bathroom to save some money. Plus, Refugio del Jaguar doesn’t sacrifice coolness because it is cheaper. This charming accommodation has rooms with access to a patio and decor that pays homage to Colombian culture, folklore and local traditions.
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