Hotel Boutique Casa del Coliseo

Unlike many of Cartagena’s boutique hotels that have large interior courtyards, Casa del Coliseo has a tiny, almost claustrophobic entryway. The hotel’s grand front door leads guests through a small, tastefully decorated entry hall to a front desk that seems jammed behind a staircase. After check-in, guests are led upstairs, where the hotel’s grand living spaces are located. Casa del Coliseo’s living and dining rooms are spectacularly designed. Vaulted wood-beam ceilings and imposing chandeliers are lavishly complemented by exposed brick walls, wingback chairs, and hanging black and white photos of the old city. Massive French doors lead to gorgeous balconies that overlook Cartagena’s bustling streets. Aesthetically, Casa del Coliseo is near perfect, but structurally, the 17th-century mansion may cause problems for some guests. The entire building is composed of winding narrow hallways and lots of stairs, which may be an issue for people with limited mobility, as there aren’t any elevators or ground-floor rooms.The majority of guests at Casa del Coliseo are couples, many of whom are honeymooning or celebrating anniversaries. Children are welcome at the hotel, but the quiet, sophisticated atmosphere may not be the best for little ones. 

Casa del Coliseo has a prime location in Cartagena’s historic walled city. The hotel is within walking distance of restaurants, shops, bars, and tourist attractions like Plaza de Bolivar and Torre del Reloj. However, many guests complain of excessive street noise in some of the rooms. For light sleepers, the hotel provides ear plugs, free of charge. Casa del Coliseo is about a 15-minute drive from both Rafael Nunez International Airport and Bocagrande, Cartagena’s popular shopping and nightlife district. Taxis in Cartagena are inexpensive and easy to find anywhere on the streets.  

Each of Casa del Coliseo’s 12 rooms is individually decorated, and features the work of Juan Carlos Arcila-Duque, a highly regarded Colombian designer. No two rooms are alike, but all exude casual elegance. Rooms are homey, in the best sense of the word. Beds are topped with patterned quilts, black and white photographs hang on the walls, and coffee tables are piled high with reading materials. A neutral palette of gray, white, and cream is used throughout, and almost all rooms have dark wood-beam ceilings. Some rooms have gorgeous balconies, which overlook Cartagena’s vibrant city streets. Bathrooms are wonderfully modern, with textured gray tile, vessel sinks, and glass enclosed showers. In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, fully stocked mini-fridges, and electronic safes. Unfortunately everything in the mini-fridge, the and rooms’ welcome bottle of wine, incur a charge.  Though we love every design detail in each of the rooms at Casa del Coliseo, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention how tiny the rooms are. Especially for an upscale hotel like Casa del Coliseo, rooms are exceptionally small. Standard Rooms are almost too small for two people, and even Superior Rooms feel cramped. Suites are larger and feel much more spacious thanks to tall vaulted ceilings. 

Just like a private home, Casa del Coliseo doesn’t have a restaurant, spa, or fitness center, though it does have a rooftop pool. The pool is a quiet oasis with towering palm trees and a wall of colorful yellow flowers. It’s rectangular in shape, and surrounded by a few lounge chairs and umbrellas. The pool isn’t large, but it's rarely crowded. Some guests choose to spend their afternoons by the pool, when the city becomes unbearably hot. There are also two lounge areas on the rooftop, with cushioned daybeds and tables. Unfortunately the rooftop doesn’t offer much of a view, thanks to the hotel’s taller neighbors. Breakfast and Wi-Fi are free for all guests. Breakfast is served daily at a communal table in the hotel’s beautiful dining room. The breakfast menu typically consists of five or six options, ranging from American fare like eggs and omelets to more traditional regional dishes like "arepas con huevo" (fried corn cakes stuffed with eggs).  Large groups, such as wedding parties, extended families, or corporate entities, can rent the entire hotel and use it as a private home with full hotel services. Obviously advanced booking directly with the hotel is required.