Cornflower blues, terracottas and ochres frame the cobbled streets of Antigua, Guatemala. One of the first cities in the world to be named a Unesco World Heritage site (the name translates as ‘ancient’), it has become a beloved stop on the country’s tourist trail, blending its storied history with the new.
Enter Villa Bokéh — a former artists’ residence-cum-haçienda that feels like a modern, Italian-style oasis. With lush gardens, water fountains tinkling in front of the city’s majestic volcanoes, and thunbergia jade draping from its vine arches, every corner whispers calm.
Where is it?
The 16th-century colonial town is around an hour’s drive from Guatemala City. A combination of volcanoes — Fuego, Acatenago, and Agua — remain in view wherever you are in Antigua; Villa Bokéh, a Relais & Chateaux hotel, is set around a 20-minute walk from its centre — a welcome balm from the bustle.
Style
Modern Mayan, with a European twist. Designed by Katina Jongenzoon in collaboration with Paliare Studio, think cool whites and soft colours, given an added pop with artworks curated by Guatemalan textile expert Violeta Gutiérrez Caxajear and photographs from Mitchell Denberg.
There are little nods to the country’s heritage all around, like the Worry Doll — a local legend delivered to guests’ bedrooms at night, to whom you’re instructed to whisper your concerns before placing her under your pillow, and the palo santo (or white sage, also known as ‘Mayan incense’) provided to give the place an extra tranquility boost and cleanse. The grounds — of which there are some six acres — are nothing short of stunning: sipping a coffee in the morning with the lake and volcanoes before you, greenery all around, feels like heaven.
Facilities
A pool with its own bar, and jacuzzi; walkways in its beautiful gardens (beware landing helicopters), which frequently host weddings and special events. The hotel also offers a range of add-ons, including the Notebook Experience, in which guests can do their best Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams on its lake, hat-decorating workshops Sip and Paint, where you customise headgear (while being topped up), and romantic dinners with private piano accompaniment. All of the rooms have a garden or firepit, meaning you can cosy up with a volcanic view as the nights draw in.
Extracurricular
If you’re hankering to get closer to Antigua’s volcanoes, strap in: for hard-out hikers, the overnight trail up Acatenago is a must-do. Those looking to exert a little less can go for Pacaya, which involves roasting marshmallows on the embers of lava still bubbling at its peak (both are available with Voyageur Tours; cometoguatemala.com). If you’d rather not venture too far, walking up to the viewpoint in the Old Town provides a panoramic view of them all, with Fuego dutifully erupting every 15 minutes.
Food & drink
Local ingredients take centre stage at 3.1, Villa Bokéh’s upscale restaurant. The menu is a playful take on local cuisine; there’s milpa, where roasted squash, pinto beans, and pickled corn make for a seasonal salad; chipilín, a native legume, and loroco, an edible vine, also feature on the menu, along with native herbs including amaranth seed and hierba mora. Portions are on the lighter side, but a wedge of their cheesecake will finish the job.
Which room?
Villa Bokéh has 15 suites, each with a different colour palette. There’s Onyx, where monochrome is king, the green-ceilinged Olivo, and a rash of blues in Indigo, which also boasts handcrafted woodwork and local textiles. Whichever you choose, you’ll receive a nightly delivery of tea (there are five herbal blends to try), essential oil diffusers, and a warm eye mask to ensure a restful sleep, as well as a morning drop-off of juice.
Best for...
Romantic escapes — you’ll easily feel like you’re in a romcom (with or without the rowboat). Or family get-togethers; the suites have plenty of room to go around, after all.
Price
Rooms start from £338 per night, including a light continental breakfast; villabokeh.com
