A vibrant property which transforms you into someone much hipper upon check-in? Dilvin Yasa signs up.

Some hotels are less about a stay and more about an experience which begins from the moment you step out of the airport. nhow Lima Hotel makes no apologies about being the latter, announcing to the world that you have arrived (in more ways than one) by way of a colourful yellow and burgundy patterned vehicle and a heavily tattooed driver who hands me a phone. “We’re keen for you to enjoy a colourful and unconventional stay," explains the guest relations coordinator on the other end. “Mission accomplished," I reply.

The arrival makes sense; after all, nhow is personality-led, each property inspired by the city it’s located in. Now that parent company Minor Hotels has opened this, their first Peruvian property, the question is: what to expect?

Location

On paper, nhow Lima Hotel – located on the corner of Jose Pardo Avenue and Atahualpa Street, in tourist-friendly Miraflores – is around 13 kilometres from Jorge Chavez International Airport. In reality, it’s an hour-long bumper-to-bumper grind, allowing for plenty of time to sightsee through the window. It’s not as tedious as it sounds; there’s plenty of people-watching at every corner, and when you finally pull up at the property, you can rest assured that you’re only steps away from some of Lima’s top attractions, including John F. Kennedy Park (famous for its street cat population), Larcomar shopping centre, and the Mario Testino Museum.

Style and character

Nothing can prepare you for what you’ll find once you push the button for level 5: the foyer. Sure, I have paperwork which tells me that the building was designed by renowned architecture studio BakpakArchitects, with further interiors the work of Capella Garcia Arquitectura. But then you’re greeted with a shady-looking llama wearing sunglasses and under all the warmth of the flashing neon, you realise this is unlike any other hotel you’ve ever stayed in.

Here, interiors pulse with bold, geometric patterns and neon lighting in hallways, and communal spaces with a riot of colour which scream, ‘screw minimalism’. A sense of place is anchored with Inca-inspired artworks (even if they are juxtaposed with quirky pop culture references) and every corner of the property is seemingly designed for social media photo shoots.

While hip locals sip cocktails by the spaceship-like lobby bar as a DJ plays a set, I spend 20 minutes wandering the halls feeling like I’m in a fever dream. Do I take the glass elevator up and down multiple times to marvel at the scene playing out before me? It would be rude not to.

Rooms and suites

Home to 243 rooms and suites across 13 floors, ranging from a 26sqm nhow Room to a Penthouse suite complete with sauna, I’m ensconced in a fairly sedate (comparatively) nhow Premium Room which has a king bed with no fewer than six pillows, a sitting area with sofa, workstation, coffee machine, Smart TV and a red bathroom which could do with a brighter light or two. The minibar? It’s more extensive than most and I’m so comfortable that I sleep for 10 hours straight.

Interestingly, I’m given a security card with instructions detailing how to keep safe in and around the city with information on everything from valuables storage and taxi cons to common tricks crims might use on the street to relieve me of my wallet. It’s worth its weight in gold.

Check-in is from 3pm while check-out is at 12pm.

Facilities

Nothing says ‘made for the grid’ quite like an atmospheric rooftop pool, and nhow Lima Hotel delivers in spades, serving handcrafted cocktails at the rooftop bar Pagano beside a mosaic tiled pool overlooking the city.

A gym and business centre remain relatively quiet during my stay, but it’s busy at (24-hour) reception where plenty of pooches – and their humans – are waiting to check in. Pets under 25kg (both cats and dogs) can enjoy a nhow Lima Hotel experience for an additional charge of $US35 per day. Service dogs can stay free of charge, but there is a maximum of two pets per room.

Airport transfers, too, can be arranged at a cost of $US40 each way.

Food and drink

Zönico, the fine dining restaurant located on the third floor, is difficult to miss since it looks exactly what I’d imagine Beyoncé’s dressing room to look like. Plush, red and caramel seating and gold curtains for days, the space is as decadent as it is inviting – and that’s just aesthetics.

Although the menu has been designed to offer a culinary experience which celebrates the regional ingredients and traditions of the countries connected by the Amazon River, it isn’t just for show. My waiter Manuel takes care to enthusiastically explain every single ingredient in every single dish he presents and he doesn’t hold back with his opinions. “No, the steak is too big for you to eat on your own, so I’m suggesting you order the tenderloin – trust me," he says. I become so infatuated with the ceviche and the tenderloin that I end up ordering it for just about every meal.

The breakfast buffet is just as rich, platters and platters of cold cuts, sandwiches, fruits, cheeses, pastries laying in wait while locals dance (literally) as they heap generously onto their plates. Hot dishes made to order are also available.

As mentioned, there are several bars on offer, from the lobby right up to Pagano on Level 13.

Is nhow Lima Hotel family-friendly?

The property welcomes children of all ages, offering a children’s pool and babysitting services on request. That said, the vibe is distinctly adult and the common areas loud.

It’s a better fit for teens than it is for younger kids.

Does nhow Lima have access for guests with disabilities?

It sure does. The property offers accessible rooms and has facilities to support guests with disabilities and mobility issues, including wheelchair access, accessible elevators and ramp access to the property.

Details

Best for: Younger couples and solo travellers keen to immerse themselves in Lima’s hypnotic music and lifestyle scene.

Address: C. Atahualpa 155, Miraflores 15074, Peru

Price: From $269 per night