Fodor's Expert Review Plaza Gallery Hotel & Boutique

Historic on the outside—that’s all that’s allowed in the center of town—but surprisingly modern inside, this lodging just off the cathedral plaza manages to pull off its un–San Cristóbal style. Warm earth tones and polished contemporary furniture, art, and lighting populate the rooms of this 1940s neoclassical building that once housed several stores. All rooms have a small terrace or balcony and views of the main plaza; ask for a room on the second floor to avoid street noise. An on-site restaurant and spa rounds out offerings. The "Plaza Gallery" sign on the corner of the building is easy to miss; look instead for the elongated, stylized P and G in front.