Tcherassi Hotel & Spa

Colombian Silvia Tcherassi has drawn on her inspirations as a fashion designer (rock star ballerina) and her memories of visiting Morris Lapidus’ DiLido hotel in Miami as a child to create the sexiest hotel in Cartagena.

• The rooftop pool and cabanas
• De-humidifiers in every room
• Silvia’s own richly scented bathroom amenities

The original owner of this 250-year-old colonial mansion could never have imagined what it would become in the hands of Colombian fashion designer Silvia Tcherassi. Namely, a sexy seven-room hotel where the owner’s singular, shimmery sense of style rules starting with the gold-dusted iron gates at the front of the hotel which allow passersby to catch a nearly irresistible glimpse into the cool, all-white courtyard, interior pools and living wall covered in more than 3,000 plants. The hotel now also includes a 42-room modern addition located two blocks away with reciprocal access at both.

Each of the open design rooms is named after one of the designer’s favorite fabrics. Bedspreads and massive canvases on the walls are covered with gold fabric Silvia Tcherassi clothing labels. Showers are glassed in and every detail seems to have been chosen for tactile appeal, including the bedside lamps, which look like synthetic feather dusters. If you don’t share the designer’s taste, however, rooms can feel a bit like the inside of an exploded prom dress and some of the furnishings and facilities are beginning to show signs of wear and tear.

Don't missVera, the hotel’s 40-seat Italian restaurant where well-heeled locals and guests mingle under the arches in the main courtyard.The petite Aquabar is nestled between the two courtyard pools, one of which is covered with thick Plexiglas and set with a table and chairs. A one-room spa is located next to this pool and a second more private pool is located on the roof. It’s a private club atmosphere that feels more modern Miami than historic Cartagena.

At the Hotel & Spa addition, the rooms are modern and sophisticated, with a large pool and lush hanging gardens.

Style chasers, couples.