Mansión Alcázar Hotel Cuenca — Hotel in Cuenca

Mansion Alcazar is the first historical boutique hotel in Ecuador. While it is situated in the perfect location for exploring the cultural sites of Cuenca, its lush courtyard garden makes you forget you are in the heart of the city. It is a special place.||We booked a “Traditional Suite” months in advance of our arrival, and in that interim received excellent service from Veronica in arranging airport transfers, restaurant reservations, and a private driver to bring us to Guayaquil at the end of our stay.||The check-in process was welcoming and efficient, and we were grateful someone was waiting to assist us with bringing our (very heavy) luggage to the second floor. Surprisingly, at 9PM when we checked in, the bar was closed (and remained closed/empty for the duration of our stay), so we did not receive the advertised welcome drink.||Our suite was spacious and charmingly appointed with an eclectic array of antique furnishings and accessories. We had to call the front desk for more hangers, but there was enough closet and drawer space for us to store away all of our clothing—but not all of our shoes, unfortunately.||There was a welcome note with a little crystal dish of enormous and delicious strawberries, as well as a couple of Pacari chocolates (be sure to visit them across the street). Bathrobes were provided (but not slippers), and we were pleased to find L’Occitane amenities in the bathroom. ||The bathroom was a little small for a suite, with just a walk-in shower and a single vessel sink mounted on an antique dresser. The towels provided were not very plush and appeared to be years-old.||We slept reasonably well in the king-sized bed, but we were disappointed but the poor quality of the linens and pillows (thin and lumpy, with a synthetic fill). The mattress was a little on the firm side.||Also disappointing was the included breakfast at La Cocotte restaurant (it is no longer “Casa Alonso”). As other reviewers have noted, the offerings were rather meagre: some chopped fruit, yogurt, cold meats and cheese, a couple of Ecuadorian hot dishes, room-temperature French toast, and some very bland breads. Some mornings the juice was fresh-squeezed, others it tasted like a watered down concentrate. The coffee and cappuccinos were very good. ||Unlike the breakfasts, the room service food we ordered was delicious! The baked chicken was especially memorable—so juicy and flavourful, and a huge portion. Service was impressively prompt, and the prices were quite reasonable.||We also made use of the tiny gym, although it was sorely lacking in equipment: one treadmill, three bicycles, a couple of free weights, some yoga mats, and a couple of stability balls. This could be improved.||The central courtyard garden is lush, beautiful, and a delight to stroll through or relax in with a glass of wine. The flowers bloom in abundance, and there are frequently exquisitely hued hummingbirds darting about. One night we witnessed an elaborate marriage proposal take place in the garden. Another night we saw the conservatory transformed into a romantic dinner space for two, with dozens of candles, roses, and twinkling lights. Our suite overlooked the courtyard, but it was always quiet enough at night for us to sleep with the window open. I was surprised, however, that the hotel does not provide turndown service.||Overall, we really enjoyed our three-night stay at Mansion Alcazar. It’s a handsome hotel in a perfect location, and the staff is so friendly and hospitable. I appreciate the building’s heritage, and the charm of the antique furnishings, but most of them now need to be reupholstered. It is also time to replace and upgrade the mattresses, pillows, bedding, and towels. And for a hotel with such an impressive garden, I was disappointed to see so many dusty old artificial floral arrangements (some vases still had price stickers on them!) in the common areas and in our suite. There should be fresh flowers everywhere. ||With a little more attention to detail, the lovely and unique Mansion Alcazar could be a true 5-star hotel. It is the most charming and interesting...

I think this place was gorgeous and the wait staff courteous. The only thing was that I was there for an event in the center lobby of this former centuries old Spanish Colonial style mansion. They didn't have enough tables and chairs. I had to balance an hors d'oeuvres plate and a wine glass at the same time, which was very uncomfortable. Why couldn't they have the singers in the restaurant? Lobby acoustics? I asked for a menu from both the bar and the restaurant and they didn't bring me either! I waited for 90 minutes. Luckily, the people that were early shared their old, cold, dried out hors d'oeuvres with me, which were nonetheless, excellent in spite of them being old. The waiter wasn't sure of the kind of wine they had. So I asked for a Chardonnay. He came back to tell me all they had was a Pinot Grigio so I said yes to that. He refilled my very large glass three times, without my asking, which was good service. I paid for nothing, as the promoter of the event paid for it all. At the end, I tried to once a again ask for an actual menu, to eat a meal and I was blocked again as the promoter insisted on paying for yet another starter plate and he chose for me empanadas (nice but also pretty annoying as I wanted a nice salad and was ready to pay for it myself!). So I'm not sure what was going on there.. but the wait staff listened to this guy instead of me, their (potential long-term) customer. I have a feeling though that the restaurant is excellent. Maybe I'll go on a non-event day to actually SEE the menu and possibly get some water (wasn't offered!) and an actual table to set my food and wine down on. The atmosphere was laid back in spite of this enormous place being a super high priced (overpriced, maybe?) hotel as well. Prices range from a single bed at $152.50 to $488.00 for a Deluxe executive suite. All includes English Tea Service, Breakfast Americano style, parking, internet and taxes. (For this price, I hope bacon and eggs are included and...

Rude staff upon check-in. They did not have the rooms our family had reserved ~7 months in advance and the manager challenged us after we showed him the reservation confirmation in person. Went on to say “send me the entire WhatsApp conversation so I can verify for myself” and “I did not make the reservation so I don’t know what you were offered”.

More importantly, I’ve traveled around the world and I can tell you wholeheartedly that this is the creepiest looking hotel I’ve ever had to stay in overnight. They claim to be the “house of angels” and have multiple crosses, 19th century statues/furniture, old garments & relics hung up, in-room mirrors straight out of a twilight zone episode, etc. all over the property. Particularly, if you’re staying in the main courtyard area. Does that not creep anyone else out? All the other reviews talk about the food and the garden which is nice, but the overnight hotel experience was just not there for me whatsoever. Would not recommend or...