Casa Flor

Live the Uruguay coast like a local (VIP)

Montoya, Maldonado

By Karen A Higgs

This is a Guru’Guay Top Pick

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Treat yourself to one of the best hotels in Punta del Este–Casa Flor. A boutique beach hotel whose well-connected owners will introduce you to the secrets of Uruguay’s coastline. Whether it’s gourmet eateries or natural beauty spots. At Casa Flor you’ll have access most can only dream of.

Bathed in natural light, with a lovely central pool, this chic nine-room boutique hotel is a tranquil oasis. Although they opened in 2019, Casa Flor has been featured in design magazines and is being singled out as a the contemporary heir to many of the longer-established luxury hotels in the neighbourhood.

After a year out surfing in Australia and California, childhood best friends, Alfonso and Juan Manuel, built Casa Flor just off Montoya beach. Montoya is minutes from Punta del Este (the most glamourous beach resort in South America–for South Americans especially–for over 100 years) and millionaire beach playground Jose Ignacio. It is also one of Uruguay’s best surfing beaches. When the guys aren’t attending their guests, they’re off catching a wave.

Their families are part of Uruguay’s most well-connected, and staying at Casa Flor you tap into that circuit. What we absolutely love is the owners’ total enthusiasm for making sure you have an amazing time. They know all the best places to eat locally from the trendiest seafood fine dining to the tastiest rustic pizza shack. Grab yourself some of their top of the line bikes and head off into nearby La Barra following their spot-on dining and nightlife recommendations.

What you should know

The standard rooms are on the small side but well-thought out and there’s lots of storage space. On the plus side each room has its own deck with seating and the bathrooms are spacious. The common areas—the pool, the outdoor dining deck and the large living room with an open fire place—are inviting and you’ll find yourself gravitating there.

La Barra is one of Uruguay’s most exclusive resorts and Casa Flor is biking and driving distance to some great restaurants and nightlife. Top resorts like Jose Ignacio and Punta del Este are minutes drive away. So eating out and activities in general are on the high-end price-wise.

Stays open all year round We applaud Casa Flor wholeheartedly for their decision to stay open 365 days a year. This is very unusual on the coast in Uruguay where most hotels and restaurants close down off season and only a handful open for weekends. The guys have all the tips on what’s great and open, so that you won’t go hungry! They also offer simple healthy lunches (they have a kitchen garden onsite) and Alfonso is delighted to rustle up traditional steak sandwiches known as chivitos (here’s Alfonso making a chivito for Guru’Guay!) or an asado on request.

What’s close by

La Barra (2 mins by car, 10 by bike) for great restaurants (like Salón No. 3), nightlife, shopping

Manantiales (9 mins by car, 1 hour on foot) for great restaurants and shopping

MACA the world-class Atchugarry Contemporary Art Museum and Sculpture garden (12′)

The beachtown of José Ignacio (high-end art galleries, shops, restaurants) (25′)

The art and gastronomy village of Pueblo Garzón in summer (25′)

Wine tasting at Altos de la Ballena (35’)

Easy day trips to Punta del Este and CasaPueblo, and Uruguay’s wild Rocha coastline including Cabo Polonio National Park and Punta del Diablo.

Convenient location Under two hours from Montevideo’s Carrasco airport and 40’ to Punta del Este Airport.

Contact

Casa Flor
casaflor.com.uy
9 Explorador Street, La Barra, Maldonado, Uruguay

Check out the Casa Flor website or email info@casaflor.com.uy or call +598 99581280 to find out about promotions off-season (mentioning you read about them on Guru’Guay).

Rates

180 USD weekends and 160 USD weekdays (low season rates) including breakfast.

Photos: Guru’Guay and Casa Flor