If you're seeking a luxurious resort-style hotel in Chile's busy capital, look no further than the Mandarin Oriental Santiago-an urban oasis offering unparalleled comfort, convenience, and elegance.
The first (and only) Mandarin Oriental to open in South America features Santiago's largest pool, surrounded by lush landscaping and several modern on-site restaurants offering Italian and Nikkei cuisine.
I chose the Mandarin Oriental to close out our two-week trip to Easter Island and Chile in style, using my American Express Platinum card to get us some additional perks (more on those later).
The result was a relaxing two-night stay that helped us wind down before an overnight flight to Panama City (and an equally long flight to Austin).
Table of Contents
Mandarin Oriental, Santiago
History and Design
The 361-foot-tall cylindrical hotel tower was built in the early 1990s and operated as a Grand Hyatt from 1992 until August 2017, when the Hong Kong-based Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group took over.
The hotel's interiors, including 297 guest rooms and suites across 24 floors, were fully renovated in the following years. The rebranded Mandarin Oriental, Santiago, opened in 2019.
One of the luxury hotel's most striking features is its soaring atrium, visible from the lobby and every floor above. Glass elevators glide up and down this impressive space alongside a glass wall stretching from the lobby to the highest floor.
The result is an atrium filled with natural light during the day, allowing guests to glimpse the city on their way to and from their rooms. The curves and concentric floors reminded me of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.
The hotel's circular design also ensures that every guest room has views of Santiago and the surrounding Andes mountains-those with a pool view benefit from attractive landscaping in the foreground to complement Santiago's skyline.
Location
The Mandarin Oriental Santiago is in the Las Condes neighborhood on the eastern side of Santiago. It's in a somewhat isolated spot at the confluence of several highways.
While researching where to stay in Santiago, this gave me pause, as the other hotels we'd chosen for the trip were in more pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods.
While the highways cut off the hotel, you don't have to cross one to reach the massive Parque Arauco, a luxury shopping mall a few blocks away.
And, if you plan to include dinner at Borago during your stay, as we did, it's only a 10-minute taxi ride away (in the adjacent suburb of Vitacura).
Other points of interest include:
- Araucano Park (two blocks): A green space within walking distance of the hotel.
- Sky Costanera (2.5 miles): The tallest skyscraper in South America features a rooftop observation deck.
- National Museum of Fine Arts (5 miles)
- Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (17 miles): About a 30-minute drive without traffic.
Booking Our Stay
The Mandarin Oriental, Santiago, is a member of the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program; therefore, booking our stay on my Platinum card afforded us the following benefits:
- Noon check-in (when available)
- Guaranteed late 4 p.m. checkout
- Room upgrade (when available)
- Daily breakfast for two
- $100 experience credit
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- $200 AMEX statement credit
The early check-in was helpful since we were transferring from another hotel in Santiago. The late checkout was valued because our departing flight didn't leave until 12:30 a.m.
After checking out, we stored our bags and relaxed in the comfortable lounge, where we had dinner before taking a rideshare to the airport at 7 p.m.
We used the $100 experience credit toward food and beverages during our stay (it must be used before checkout). Plus, AMEX Platinum cardholders receive a $200 statement credit once per year when booking a stay of two or more nights at a Fine Hotels + Resorts property.
The total cost for our two-night stay was $458; however, when you factor in the annual credit card statement worth $200, it was $258.
Check-In
After spending the morning sightseeing in a historic area of Santiago, Kel and I switched hotels. We arrived at the Mandarin Oriental, Santiago, at about 12:30 p.m. on a Friday and were able to check in promptly.
I had called earlier that morning to confirm that early check-in was available. As is tradition at Mandarin Oriental hotels, we were given glasses of cold tea and wet towels to cleanse our hands.
I was happy to receive a confirmation letter listing the benefits we'd enjoy during our stay. The attractive room keys are made of wood, which speaks to the luxury hotel brand's attention to sustainability. They also feature custom artwork.
Deluxe Room
When I entered our split-level Deluxe room, I was delighted to see it looked exactly as shown on the hotel's website. To our right was a bathroom with a well-lit marble vanity, a walk-in shower with a rain fixture, and a water closet. Directly ahead were three oversized windows offering a view to the north.
The room's upper level was carpeted, with a king bed and floating nightstands. A closet held bathrobes and slippers. The lower level had wood flooring, two leather chairs, a coffee table, a desk, a flat-screen TV, and a mini-bar. A Bluetooth speaker was available for guests to use on the desk.
A card in the bathroom highlighted recent sustainability efforts by the Mandarin Oriental, including a solar-powered high-rise garden used to cultivate vegetables and an apiary to produce honey, a plastic-free mini-bar, and the elimination of single-use amenities.
Deluxe rooms on the first fifteen floors are the more budget-friendly option. For those seeking extra space, the suites offer features like a separate living room or a private outdoor terrace. Additionally, bathtubs are only available in the suites.
Related: Nayara Hangaroa Resort on Easter Island
Dining
When booking our stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Santiago, I was especially drawn to the on-site restaurants. I knew we'd be a bit worn out by the end of our trip, and I wanted to make our lives a little easier. This approach was similar to our stay at the InterContinental Westlake Hanoi as our Vietnam vacation ended.
Atrium Lobby Lounge
The spacious Atrium Lobby Lounge offers guests a view of the outdoor terrace, pool, and gardens. The wall of windows also fills the space with light, even on overcast days.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available here. The menu offers casual fare, including artisanal pastries, sandwiches, and desserts. Coffee, tea, and mixed drinks from the hotel bar are also available.
After checking into our room, I had a ham and cheese toasted sandwich with sweet potato fries for lunch. On our last night, the cheeseburger hit the spot. Sandwich prices range from 9,000 to 16,000 pesos ($9 to $16).
La Boutique Pastry
One of my favorite food offerings at the Mandarin Oriental was the fancy pastries from La Boutique Pastry. A tempting display case was at one end of the Atrium Lobby Lounge, near the entrance to the Senso restaurant.
Here, hotel guests and visitors could select from various sophisticated pastries. You can also order them while dining at the hotel's restaurants or via room service. We tried three during our stay:
- Chocolate: a multi-layered chocolate mousse and caramel pastry.
- Blue and White: milk chocolate mousse with a pistachio praline center. This limited-time pastry came with a gift: a small bottle of Moroccan essential oil.
- Tulip: a Mother's Day trompe le monde of chocolate mousse with a peach and mango center on a lemon and poppy breton (a French salted butter cookie).
The pastries were 9,000 to 10,000 pesos ($9 to $10) each, but the quality was well worth the cost. Had we stayed longer, I would've tried a few more!
Senso
Senso is the Mandarin Oriental's Italian restaurant. It serves the hotel's daily buffet breakfast. Indoor seating is available, and a glass-enclosed (and heated) patio offers views of the palm trees and lush gardens outside.
Breakfast
We took advantage of the breakfast buffet before our day trip to Valparaiso and the following morning, as it was included with our booking. The usual assortment of fruits, yogurts, pastries, meats and cheeses, bacon, sausage, and juices was available.
I've got to shout out to the bakers, as there was an enticing assortment of cookies, donuts, chocolate truffles, and croissants on offer, so much so that I permitted myself to eat a cookie each day with breakfast.
Fresh honey dripping from a section of honeycomb from the hotel's bees was also available. Additionally, eggs could be made to order. On the second morning, I got a big ham and cheese omelet.
Dinner
Kel and I went to Borago for dinner on our first night at the Mandarin Oriental, so I wanted to stay in on our second night and try Senso for dinner.
The menu begins with three Caesar salad options, prosciutto, oysters, and seafood dishes like marinated octopus. Most appetizers were priced around 15,000 to 18,000 pesos ($15 to $18).
I was more interested in the fresh pasta. I settled on the ricotta sorrentinos with Osetra Caviar, lemon zest, and a grated cured yolk in a Parmesan cheese sauce. Kel ordered the potato gnocchi with camembert cheese. Both were quite rich and delicious.
The total cost for both entrees, a dessert from the pastry boutique, two bottles of water, and a standard 10% gratuity was 67,000 pesos (about $67).
Matsuri
Matsuri, the Mandarin Oriental's other restaurant, offers Nikkei cuisine for lunch and dinner. The seafood-oriented menu features tiraditos, ceviches, sushi and sashimi, the traditional Peruvian lomo saltado, and a handful of vegan dishes.
We didn't dine at Matsuri, so I can't offer any firsthand commentary on the food quality. The recent Google reviews are mixed.
Prices are similar to Senso, with most dishes falling between 15,000 and 25,000 pesos ($15 to $25). An omakase special on Tuesdays includes eight cuts of sashimi, eight pieces of maki, four pieces of nigiri, and two glasses of your choice between the cocktail of the day, wine, or sparkling wine for 45,000 pesos ($45).
Origen Bar
We did, however, grab a drink one night in the hotel's Origen Bar, located inside the Matsuri dining room. This felt awkward, as the lounge seating lines one side of the room, meaning we watched others eat while sipping our shared cocktail.
I ordered the Summer Madness with Grey Goose La Poire (pear-flavored vodka), elderflower liquor, mint liquor, clarified lime juice, and simple syrup. It arrived with a crystal-clear sphere of ice, which I appreciated.
The following night, while passing time in the Atrium Lounge before leaving for the airport, Kel ordered the Express Yourself made with Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale gin, homemade blueberry syrup, and a splash of San Pellegrino soda. Signature cocktails at the Origen Bar cost 10,900 to 15,900 pesos ($11 to $16).
Pool and Spa
The Mandarin Oriental, Santiago, is known for its beautiful outdoor pool with a waterfall and lush gardens. Although our trip coincided with autumn in Chile, and the pool was closed, I still enjoyed the atmosphere and views. The waterfall does well in creating noise that helps mask the sound of nearby traffic.
The spa offers facials and massages at viable rates for guests looking to unwind. A standard one-hour Harmony massage costs 66,500 pesos ($67), while one-hour facial treatments cost 80,000 pesos ($80).
Guests can use the fitness center with cardio machines and weights, or request that a yoga mat and light weights be brought to their room for a more private workout. Personal training, yoga, and pilates are also available on request.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we appreciated the unique architecture, modern rooms, services, and conveniences of our stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Santiago.
The on-site restaurants and pastry boutique ensured we ate well. The customer service was terrific, from welcome tea at check-in to the gift box of chocolates at checkout.
Staying at our first Mandarin Oriental property was the right choice for our last few nights in Santiago, Chile. I left a fan of the brand, and look forward to staying at more of their hotels.
Learn More
- MandarinOriental.com
- Booking.com - read customer reviews and see more photos.
- American Express Travel - cardholders can take advantage of special deals.
