Superstar Colombian chef, Juan Manuel Barrientos Valencia, or ‘Juanma’ as he likes to be called, has expanded his hospitality empire into the hotel industry with the opening of El Cielo. Quickly establishing itself as one of the finest boutique hotels in the ultra-hip city of Medellín, we sent LLM travel writer Baldwin Ho to find out more about how this hidden treasure expertly blends style, comfort and gastronomy in an upmarket neighbourhood in affluent El Poblado.
Hotel
Situated in a residential neighbourhood of the city but within a few walking blocks away from upscale shops and restaurants, the hotel blends in seamlessly with the high-end condominiums on the street, but once your car arrives, the personable service is instantly noticeable. The doorman deftly handles all your luggage as you are swiftly directed to the lifts and led to the top floor for check-in.
Thoughtful design is evident throughout a building that is limited in space. Verdant greenery sets the scene as soon as you enter the building including a very impressive living wall. Mundane activities such as checking in are tucked away higher up in the club room space of the hotel. From here, you will also observe an eye-catching spiral staircase that leads up to the rooftop bar area and pool deck and, from this vantage point, you’ll get impressive views of the skyscrapers of Medellín.
Room
With only 28 suites, guests can be assured that privacy is paramount. There are four suite categories: standard, junior, luxury and presidential, all of which include king-sized beds with fine Egyptian cotton linens, elegant wood veneer walls, polished marble floors, automated lighting and blackout curtains. Private bathrooms have separate bathtubs and showers, including rainfall showerheads and the fluffiest of towels, while in some categories, like the junior or luxury suite, you might find an Italian-style bathtub in the main bedroom area by the window.
The presidential suite comes in at a spacious 62m² making for a great space for two couples sharing or a family of four, as there are two bathrooms, double vanities and considerable wardrobe space.
Food and drink
El Cielo’s gourmet restaurant offers a tasting menu that offers at least 15 courses, or ‘moments’ as they like to describe it; this is where the hotel truly excels. Chef Juanma offers a gastronomic journey through the different regions of Colombia, for example, for their fish course, diners can expect to sample arapaima, the largest freshwater fish in the world, which is found in the Amazon River. The dish is presented with burning charcoal and the arapaima has a rather firm texture reminiscent of cod.
Unlike some stuffy Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants, the experience at El Cielo is always light-hearted and playful. For one of the earlier courses, you’ll experience ‘choco-therapy’ where you’ll be crushing a chocolate truffle ball with your hands before enjoying the delights without the use of cutlery. It will bring back innocent childhood memories when dining was less rigid and formal.
Spa and wellness
Whilst the hotel doesn’t have space for their own spa centre, they do offer an in-room treatment service. There is an extensive list of options available from their masseurs and their knowledgeable concierge team is always on hand to curate unique and memorable experiences.
The rooftop swimming pool might not be the largest in Medellín, but it does offer an eye-catching glass bottom, where you can see all the way down to the ground floor and can spot diners enjoying their breakfast in the bistro area. Head to the sun deck area for peaceful moments, it’s a quiet urban oasis and a great spot for reading or relaxation.
To do
With balmy temperatures and renowned natural beauty, Medellín is one of the most popular cities to visit in Colombia. There is always plenty happening around the city and El Cielo’s concierge team is a fountain of knowledge.
If you want a quirky experience, do check out Casa Museo Pablo Escobar. This former home of drug lord Pablo Escobar is now run by some of his family members and on the guided tour, you’ll find out that this is only one of dozens of homes owned by Pablo throughout the city. They’ve managed to secure numerous items back from the government including an assortment of money safes, bullet-ridden retro-cars and even a flight simulator to showcase.
You can only visit the museum through guided tours, which are run in both English and Spanish. It does add colour to the experience with outrageous tales from Pablo’s eventful life.
In a nutshell
If you want an upscale, trendy place to stay in Medellín, El Cielo is just the place for you.
Factbox
El Cielo offers rooms from $239.84 per night.
Address: Cl. 7D #43c36, El Poblado, Medellín, El Poblado, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Phone: +57 604 4482396
Email: icomercial@elcielohotel.com
Website: elcielohotel.com
