entrancecupolas everywheresitting areas for reading or talking with friendsstairwells reminiscent of colonial historycolonial architectureamazing lightingcourtyard overlooking the restaurantexquisite lightingcandle lit ambiance everywherein the valley of volcanoscandle lit bathroomscolored decorlap poolcupola

in photo: Lindsey Calla
If Lara Stone is the hottest model out there right now, then Panza Verde is the hottest boutique hotel in Antigua Guatemala. Both have unique features, which allow them to stand out from the rest of the commercial crowd. Recently I had the pleasure of partaking of the Panza Verde experience and below recollect some of my thoughts.
No two rooms are the same
Of the 12 rooms in Panza Verde, no two are exactly alike. On a walk through, one room has a custom hammock with it's own private courtyard, another has floor to ceiling colonial window tiles, bedspreads differ in texture and print. Fireplaces are customized, bathtubs range from typical rectangular fashion to unique ovalesque rotunds. Even the key chains are distinct: my suite came with a traditional mini sandal attached to the keys. They say the value of a models beauty lies not in her standard looks, but in what makes her unique and distinct. Like Natasha Poly's instantly recognizable face, Panza Verde's unique attributes make it stand out amidst a sea of commercially available options.
Unique and safe
The staff and service is equally unique. An archeologist works the front desk, an elderly and warm, traditional native Indian serves the continental buffet in the morning. The original chef immigrated from Europe. Everyone here has a story that is unique. The entire estate is locked up at night too, like a medieval fortress to keep safe.
4 star restaurant on estate
That's only the beginning. As Celine may be the current taste maker for clothes and the recent Camel colored frenzy, Panza Verde's restaurant is the tastemaker for food in Antigua. It brings back the basics like Asparagus Milanesa, Carpaccio Pensativo, Steak Dijonaise but reinvigorates them with modern twists, that lure the impulse eater from the heart. Not to mention, the restaurant won the 2008 Tenedor de Oro for best restaurant in Guatemala.
casting for your hotel
While a modern BMW or Mercedes may lurk on the street outside the gates of Panza Verde, it's inside is a like fantasy journey back to colonial times. Everything is unique, the service superb, the attention to ambiance above critique. It's no surprise that Panza Verde attracts in the "beautiful people" from around the world and an elite clientele, for with it's aristocratic attention to detail, Panza Verde offers an intimate boutique experience that will instantly seduce anyone's heart.