"Why book? This former artist’s estate is now the leading luxury boutique hotel in Antigua, the vibrant colonial epicenter of Guatemala . Set the scene: Set on the outskirts of Antigua’s cobbled downtown, this elegant 15-room boutique hotel offers a picture-perfect view of Volcán de Agua, one of three volcanoes that frame the colonial Guatemalan town . Even though it’s a restored hacienda, the property feels like a modern and contemporary sanctuary—especially with its nearly six acres of verdant gardens and walking paths, which includes a bamboo forest and a private outdoor pool dotted with blue-and-white parasols. The property’s upscale, refined appeal makes it a popular site for weddings, as well as getaways for couples and families. In the cozy ground-floor living room, guests can browse a selection of framed Guatemalan textiles, some over 100 years old, or enjoy afternoon tea on a plush sofa set before a white-brick fireplace. The backstory The property was first a private artist’s estate, which went into disrepair. Claudia Bosch, the president of the hospitality group Grupo Alta, saw the property as an opportunity to create a more luxurious offering in Antigua. The multi-year restoration project included renovating the original hacienda-style property and its six acres of gardens. The architecture and interior design firm Paliare Studio led the redesign of the original home, as well as a reconfiguration of the rooms to include 15 suites. The rooms: Every room is a suite at Villa Bokéh, most with private balconies or enclosed gardens with fire pits. Most also come with sweeping views of Volcán de Agua, one of three volcanoes that hug the town of Antigua. Each room has made-in-Guatemala artworks, ranging from black-and-white portraits by the photographer Mitchell Denburg to early 1900s tapestries curated by the Guatemalan textile expert and collector, Violeta Gutiérrez Caxaj. Food and drink: During a stay, guests can dine at the property’s greenhouse-style restaurant, run by Guatemalan chef Marco Saenz. His dining program centers around elevated presentations of regional and Indigenous Guatemalan ingredients , with a keen focus on supporting and uplifting local purveyors in the Mayan community. Highlighted ingredients include chipilin, a perennial legume native to Central America; loroco, an edible vine and seasonal delicacy; and native herbs like hierba mora, or amaranth seed. The neighborhood/area: The estate is set on the outskirts of Antigua, the most colorful colonial town in Guatemala. It is much more of an upscale, residential area (it’s an estate, after all), but you can still walk to the more central area of Antigua from the hotel. The service: The property is part of the Relais & Chateaux group; as such, the service is more concierge-style and upscale. Anything left to mention? Don’t miss trying some of the hotel’s unique experiences, from an elevated tasting journey of local varietals of maíz to a natural dyeing workshop with the local textile studio, Luna Zorro." - Michaela Trimble
