Mandarin Oriental, Santiago

The Mandarin Oriental in Santiago is an outstanding place to stay. We were there for three nights, treating ourselves to the club room. The staff couldn't be more accommodating to fit in vegetarian options for us. The breakfast, tea, canapé options were outstanding. The chef even made delicious vegetarian Sushi for us which was outstanding! Unknowingly we arrived there just before the Independence day celebrations when practically everywhere touristy was closed! But with guidance from the staff there we were able to make a few of the destinations we wanted to get to like the Funicular, Santa Lucia hill, (steep climb but worth it), Plaza de Armas and some of the local fairs in a park near our hotel. So a huge thank you to the wonderful Chef whose sushi we will never forget and also Noah, Florencia, Arantza, Diego, Joaquin, Soledad & the Club Lounge Team.

The hotel is beautiful and the staff are great. Enjoy the garden area for tea or coffee. The Italian restaurant was delicious. The area around the hotel has a mall and a nice safe park. The only negative was the room was warm and there was no sheet.

We arrived in the afternoon and stayed in a terrace suite for $1,450 a night. The room was a nice size, but there was no hot water, so we couldn’t shower. We essentially lost a day, and when we complained, we weren’t believed — we had to wait for a manager to come test the water temperature himself before he’d accept that it wasn’t hot. Having just stayed at the Fairmont and Rosewood properties in Brazil, where we had a great experience, this was a real disappointment. We couldn’t even go out to dinner without showering first, so we effectively lost an entire night. After we pushed for compensation, they offered $300. It’s a nice-looking property, but this isn’t close to a 4-star hotel. They have serious issues with their hot water, and management isn’t up to the standard you’d expect for the rates they charge.

My wife gifted me a trip to Santiago for my birthday, and both the city and the hotel made a lasting impression on us. We had a spectacular view of the Andes directly from our room. The room itself was very spacious and elegantly furnished. The breakfast buffet was a great pleasure every single day, and the staff was always attentive and friendly. The hotel is also located in a very convenient area, so we could easily walk to large parks and excellent local restaurants. A very special thank you goes to Guest Manager Florencia. She beautifully decorated our room for my birthday and took the time to help plan our city excursions. Her exceptional care made our stay an unforgettable personal experience.

Sometimes you stay at a hotel for a week and leave thinking, *"That was nice."* And sometimes you stay for **one night** and immediately start wondering how soon you can come back. Our one-night stay at the **Mandarin Oriental Santiago** in September 2025 was very firmly in the second category. In fact, this is easily one of the best hotels I've stayed at in Latin America. It’s difficult to pick a single highlight. Was it the enormous room? The spectacular mountain views? The fantastic breakfast? Or the genuinely outstanding service? Honestly, it was probably all of the above. A Hotel That Makes an Entrance The hotel has a distinctly modern feel, but it's far from boring or clinical. The architecture and design give it plenty of personality, particularly the spectacular atrium lobby with its huge glass dome. The lighting around the bar area is another standout feature and gives the hotel a sophisticated atmosphere, particularly in the evening. Even though we were only staying one night, the hotel immediately gave us the impression that **these guys know exactly how to do luxury hospitality**. And then there was Florencia. A Special Anniversary Welcome I have to give a huge shout-out to **Florencia Crippa from Guest Relations**. Her communication with me started before we even arrived, and she continued to make an effort throughout our stay. She even came over to say hello personally while we were having breakfast — a small gesture, perhaps, but one that says a lot about how seriously she takes looking after guests. We were also celebrating our **one-year anniversary**, and Florencia arranged a truly wonderful surprise waiting for us in the room. I won't spoil it by describing everything — the photos really do tell the story — but it was incredibly thoughtful and completely unexpected. Florencia, thank you again for making our stay so memorable! This is exactly the kind of personal service that separates a good luxury hotel from a **great** one. Our Room Was HUGE The first thing you'll notice about the room is the **size**. It was enormous. There was even a small set of steps leading down to the separate seating area, giving the room a slightly unusual but very appealing layout. There was plenty of space to relax, and the overall design was modern, comfortable and suitably luxurious. But for me, there were two clear highlights. The first was the incredible anniversary surprise Florencia had arranged. The second was the **view**. From the windows, we had fantastic views towards the mountains surrounding Santiago. There's something particularly special about being in a city and still having such dramatic scenery right outside your window. It was one of those views that makes you stop what you're doing and take another look. Breakfast Worth Getting Up For Breakfast was another highlight. There was an excellent selection, the food was great and — importantly for a hotel review — the service was fantastic. And it was during breakfast that Florencia came over to say hello, which was a lovely way to round off what had already been an excellent stay. It's amazing how much better breakfast tastes when you're sitting there thinking, *"Why am I only staying here for one night?"* Would I Stay Again? Absolutely. In fact, my biggest complaint about the Mandarin Oriental Santiago is that we only stayed for **one night**. For such a short stay, the hotel managed to leave a huge impression. The room was exceptional, the mountain views were beautiful, the architecture was impressive, breakfast was excellent and the service was genuinely outstanding. But what really elevated the experience was the attention to detail — particularly from Florencia and the Guest Relations team. I've stayed in some fantastic hotels during my travels, and I would comfortably put the Mandarin Oriental Santiago **among the best I've experienced in Latin America**. I really hope I get the opportunity to return one day — although next time, I'm going to need more than one night! **Verdict: One night wasn't nearly enough. Spectacular rooms, mountain views, exceptional service and a genuinely memorable anniversary surprise — this is luxury hospitality done properly.**