Luxury hotel blending industrial history with stunning fjord views
5 Norte S/N, 8F48+M9 Km 5, 6160000 Puerto Bories, Natales, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena, Chile Get directions
"Reborn from a 1915 agricultural building, the Singular embraces its past with austere, dramatic design and hulking machinery left in public spaces, contemporary guest blocks with massive windows framing Ultima Esperanza Sound, regional lamb and seafood on the menu, and adventure-focused excursions from Torres del Paine hikes to fly-fishing and horseback riding." - CNT Editors
"The southern Chile hotel served as one of the luxury accommodations on the itinerary and is noted as rating highly on Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards survey, positioning it as a premium base for exploring nearby Patagonian landscapes." - Chris Dong Chris Dong Chris Dong is a travel reporter, editor, and strategist. He covers everything from the latest luxury hotels to the nuances of credit card rewards programs. Previously, Chris was a reporter and newsletter editor at The Points Guy. His work also appears in Lonely Planet, AFAR, The Washington Post, and Business Insider, among others. Chris lives in Los Angeles after spending nearly a decade in New York City. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A hotel with a restaurant that highlights Patagonian ingredients—dishes have featured local guanaco, scallops, and rhubarb—making it a recommended spot for a higher-end taste of regional flavors while visiting Torres del Paine gateway town." - AFAR
"While other luxury lodges in Patagonia are purpose-built, the Singular has a less glamorous history."
"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe? The exposed pipes in brick reception area and the funicular that take you down to the main building feel steampunk without the whimsy. The surrounding landscape is windswept and harshly gorgeous. There's an honesty to the whole place. This hotel doesn't apologize for having once been a slaughterhouse, but instead mixes a dose of morbid fascination in with stark natural beauty and excellent service to yield an atmosphere that's not unctuous or fussy but forthright, almost tough. Even though the luxury is real, enough industrial spaces are left intact that you have a sense of camping out somewhere forbidden, of being in a secret world. What's the backstory? There are two Singular hotels, this one and a newer sister property in Santiago. They are privately owned. The main structures were built as a sheep-processing plant in 1915 and continued to function as such into the 1970s and then with limited capacity until the early 1990s, when they were abandoned. A descendant of one of the founders bought the property with the intention of preserving it as a museum (it was declared a national monument in 1996), but then an investor from Santiago came on board with the idea to convert it into a hotel. Information about the owners is scant, and I haven't encountered anything about famous past guests. Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book? My room had two queens, as I was traveling with a friend. It was extremely comfortable but simple, with the main feature being a wall-sized window looking out onto Ultima Esperanza Sound. The bathroom was spacious and lovely. The tech was fine, as far as I can remember. All the rooms have the same view (the setup reminds me a little of a driving range), so I think any of them would be equally stunning. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi? It was included and was good. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at? The restaurant focuses on local proteins: lamb, guanaco, king crab, conger eel. It's good . . . Chilean food is not my favorite. The dining room's physical space is massive (and two-story) but broken up well enough not to feel overwhelming. Nice views onto the sound. The bar opens onto the dining room and is clubby and pleasant with great pisco sours. Breakfast (a very nice buffet) is included with the basic rate, and there are also half-board and full-board options with more meals included. And the service? Seamless. Everything was easy. The hotel offers a fairly extensive menu of excursions: for example, a 12 hour trek to the base of the Paine Massif or kayaking on the Sound or a cooking class with the executive chef. What type of travelers will you find here? Patagonia-wearing, Patagonia-curious elegant adventurers. Many guests I saw were Latin American. There were families and also couples ranging from 30s to 60s. It was a younger and more active clientele than at most luxury hotels I've seen. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene? The hotel sits in grand isolation, all alone on the waterfront with a dock dating back to the sheep-processing days. You can easily ride a bike (provided by the hotel) into Puerto Natales, which is a pleasant little town, largely a staging area for people going to Torres del Paine. There are upscale outdoor gear and handicraft shops, restaurants, cafes, and a lively microbrewery. The Singular is by far the most spectacular option in the immediate area. Is there anything you'd change? I might spice up Chilean cuisine in general, but that's not specific to the Singular. Any other hotel features worth noting? The pool is indoor/outdoor—you can swim under a giant window looking out onto the Sound and be outside in the wind. The spa is also very lovely, and the sauna has the same spectacular view. Bottom line: Worth it? Why? Yes—it's just so unexpected. The roughness of the design and the ruggedness of the setting amplify each other. Staying at The Singular feels like an adventure in itself, which is a nifty trick, since it is fundamentally a luxury hotel." - Maggie Shipstead
