Hotel El Zarzo Medellín

Greenery spills from every window of this boutique hotel in Provenza, giving the brick facade the look of a vertical garden, which turns out to be a design statement rather than an accident. Rooms come in three categories, each named after a cocktail, and the rooftop bar where you'd order those drinks has the view to match. Native wood and slate tile keep things grounded; Marshall speakers and an espresso machine keep them comfortable. The Michelin Guide has it among its Selected Hotels.

One honor, in evidence: