Review: 61Prado Guesthouse

[updated July 2019]

So you’re planning a trip to Colombia and need to figure out where to stay in Medellin.

61Prado Guesthouse

During my visit to Medellin, I stayed in the lovely 61Prado Guesthouse. It was not in my Lonely Planet Guide, which is often a good thing. They can only list so many hotels, and while they are often good and affordable, they are usually just too busy, since they are in the ‘travel bible.’

I can’t say exactly how I found 61Prado while trolling the internet, but I’m glad I did. I stayed in this tranquil oasis amidst the chaos of Medellin for five nights.

About 61Prado Guesthouse

The hotel is owned by Luc, a Dutch expat, who bought the building a few years ago and completely gutted and remodeled it.  It has tons of character with brick walls, stone and tile floors, and plants and tasteful art throughout.

There are about ten rooms of varying sizes from a tiny single (COP 40,000/night – about $20) to a huge suite-like room with a flat screen TV, modern bathroom with a glass shower and his and hers sinks (COP 75,000/night – about $40).

My room was a large double with wood-beamed vaulted ceilings and a nice, dark-stained hardwood floor.  It also had a large flat screen TV (quite the luxury for me) and a modern, clean-lined bathroom with dark tiles.

My favorite part was the lobby. Each night the staff would light candles all around giving it a warm glow while soft music played out of some speakers. The low lighting, music, and exposed brick wall made it feel more like an urban lounge rather than an inexpensive hotel lobby.

After renovating the whole building, Luc is still not done. This year he plans to add another floor and then a rooftop garden on top of that. There is roof access right now, with some stunning views of the city and mountains all around.

See a short video clip reel of the hotel here:

61Prado Guesthouse – Medellin, Colombia from Lisa Lubin on Vimeo.

The Good:

• Clean, minimalist design, with great details like modern tiles in bathrooms, large flat screen LCD TVs in some rooms, and a very cozy yet hip lobby
• Tasty breakfast everyday (it’s not included, but at about $3 USD, it’s hard to say no):  three different choices…all good. My favorite was the juevos pericos (scrambled eggs with onion and tomatoes) with toast, coffee, tea or hot chocolate, fresh squeezed fruit juice (typically mango or orange) and fresh cut fruit – usually local papaya (a dad fave) and mango.
• 2 Blocks from the Metro
• 2 Blocks from Exito a large supermarket
• Use of a very large, modern kitchen
• Free wireless internet access in all the rooms (always a plus for me!)

The Bad:

• Noise factor in front rooms: the hotel is on a side street. But it is one-way street going uphill. So this means cars and motorbikes riding by are in a lower, louder gear as they rev up to gain rpms to go up hill. This translates into some unpleasant noise, but usually does subside after 11pm.
• The rooms are clean and modern, but a bit sparse.  They could use a little something to ‘cozy’ them up.  I love clean lines and some minimal décor, but this was a tad too minimal for me. They needed something…maybe a small area rug or a vase or just a bit more on the walls. Or maybe a furry cat purring at my feet.
• The neighborhood: while it is just 2 blocks from the Metro parts of the neighborhood can be a bit sketchy at night. If you want to stay in or near Poblado (expat central) this is nowhere near there. But it is fairly centrally located and easy to get anywhere on the Metro.

2019 Prices:

• Single Room……………60.000 COP (about $20)
• Double Room…………..80.000 COP (about $25)
• Junior Suite……………..90.000 COP (about $30)

Click here for more info or if you are interested in making a reservation at 61Prado Guesthouse.

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary stay at the hotel. As always, my writing is my own and my reviews remain honest and forthcoming.