With its eternal Springtime climate, rolling hills, and endless palm tree canopies, Medellin is a lush destination year-round for every type of traveller. Whether business, friends, adventure or a couples getaway, this city has everything. It also has an abundance of places to stay – from hostels to co-living setups, boutique hotels, Airbnbs, and more established chains. Perhaps the best in the region is the Hotel NH Collection Medellin Royal. Part of the extensive NH Hotel chain with hotels across the world this expansive and well-equipped hotel situated in Medellin’s most premium neighbourhood has everything one would wish for. Well-established in the area for its abundant amenities, the Hotel NH Collection Medellin Royal is your one-stop destination for a comfortable stay in this bustling city.
Situated in El Poblado, nestled in between the financial and business district of Medellin, is the oasis of peacefulness that Hotel NH Collection Medellin Royal occupies. Just a stone’s throw from the nearby Santafe and Oviedo shopping malls, it is ideally located next to Medellin’s nightlife, business, shopping and eating hotspots. Yet the location remains quiet – perhaps the quietest place we had stayed so far in all our time in Colombia – and serene. With its lush gardens and flowing river, the hotel truly felt like an escape.
Despite being tucked away in such a serene spot, the hotel offers everything in the heart of the city. From a heated, large pool, outdoor terrace for dining, indoor restaurant, conference room, 135 beautifully renovated rooms, a bar area and a huge lobby area with a stunning grand piano, it offers all one would need for a comfortable stay. The rooms are elegant and spacious, with minimalist interiors in beige, brown, and soft lighting throughout. Blackout curtains and what felt like quadruple-glazed windows made the rooms extremely quiet and perfect for a solid night’s rest. Offering a buffet breakfast for all guests, it really does offer it all.
My partner and I arrived for a two-night stay towards the end of our trip to Colombia. Worn out and tired from all the digital nomad life, we were excited to have two nights at a seemingly very luxurious hotel to recharge before continuing our travels in Europe. We were not disappointed.
Upon arrival, the staff leapt into the most generous and gracious service we could imagine – from taking our luggage straight from the taxi and into the room, checking us in seamlessly, and ensuring we had everything we needed in the room. The place was spotlessly clean, with calming music and much-needed glasses of fruit-infused water for us to refresh ourselves with before going upstairs. The room itself was vast, with a giant king-sized bed, elegant bathroom and minimalist interiors that gave it a restful feel. We were thrilled at the quiet of the space, something that we had yearned for throughout our travels in Medellin. After recharging a little on the extremely comfortable bed with a nap, we made our way downstairs for dinner.
The terrace was transformed at night, with soft lighting complementing the lush green backdrop typical of Medellin. We were greeted with plantain chips and guacamole, a typical starter here, and were truly surprised and delighted with their impressive flavour. The tuna tataki was another tasty surprise, considering Medellin’s rainy, but landlocked, status in the country’s lush interior. Our steak dinners left us feeling quite content and ready to head back to bed for a food coma, but our server insisted we share the dessert. And what a show-stopper it was. A stunningly beautiful cheesecake accompanied with a fresh Colombian plum, a scoop of velvety smooth vanilla ice cream, caramel drizzle, and crushed chocolate bits. It absolutely floored us with the depth of flavour it offered. It was a fitting finale to our day and had us prancing merrily to our beds.
After a restful night’s sleep, we rolled out of bed and into the spacious showers before heading downstairs for breakfast. The offering was impressive. Sitting on the warm terrace with the other guests, our kind server offered us a hot breakfast to order a variety of omelettes, fried eggs, and other made bespoke options. We both ordered vegetarian omelettes and two coffees. As we waited for these to be prepared, we ambled over to the buffet options inside to take a peek. A sight for sore eyes, we soon found ourselves going back and forth to our table piling our plates with deliciousness. From tasty toasts topped with local ham and cheese to endless exotic fruits, yoghurts, and deli items, to more hot deliciousness in the form of both local and international traditional breakfast items. With so much to choose from, we knew this would keep us going until dinner. The vegetarian omelettes were fantastic, too. The cheese was oozing with creamy goodness, making me vow to try to recreate this at home.
After breakfast, we went for a walk around El Poblado, exploring the neighbourhood. With so many shops, boutique clothing stores, interesting dining options, bars, and energy emanating with life, it was easy to get lost for a few hours taking it all in. After a light lunch, we decided to do something productive and hit the gym. Situated by the outdoor dining area, it offered views outside of the lush garden and pool area. Well-equipped and with lots of room to work out, we ended up going twice. Before we knew it, it was time to leave. Despite feeling sad about our departure, we were grateful for the good night’s sleep, rest, and comfort that NH Collection Medellin Royal gave us. The perfect send-off to our two months in Colombia.
Hotel NH Collection Medellin Royal
Cra. 42 #5 – sur 130
El Poblado
Medellín
Antioquia
Colombia
