Casa Zinc

Rooms

All 6 bedrooms are adorned with carefully selected vintage gems from the 1890s to the 1940s, from laboratory lamps to old desks. Modern amenities feature too, so no need to fret: you won’t miss out on plasma screens. High ceilings, large windows and whitewashed walls lend all rooms a fresh and airy quality, and the posada’s location on a quiet street guarantees a peaceful night’s sleep, as do the soft, queensize antique beds. Bathrooms impress with their repurposed porcelain pedestal sinks and free-standing iron bathtubs.

Cheapest are the standard rooms (Patio on the ground floor and Mirador on the first floor), both of which have views of the pretty patio and the 4-tonne olive tree. We stayed in Mirador and found it very sleek; we loved the modern/vintage blend (the iPod dock, mixed with the salvaged windows and rustic bathtub). Next up are the Estudio rooms. The clue's in the name for Biblioteca, on the ground floor, which is kitted out like a library and has a small private garden with views of the petanque court. The other Estudio room - Diseño - is on the first floor, and is furnished with original Art Deco pieces. It looks out over the patio below.

Proving this is a family-friendly posada, there’s a triple room designed especially for little ones, resembling something between a classroom and a college dorm, and appropriately called Back to School. We loved the blackboard and geometry triangles, and as there's a double and a single bed, it's perfect for parents plus a child.

Pick of the bunch, though - and the most expensive - is Arquitecto. Made to resemble an architect’s office from the 1940s, this loft-style bedroom boasts gorgeous large windows overlooking the patio and garden, and has a walk-in closet and kingsize bed.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Minibar/fridge
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast (served 'til an incredibly civilised 4pm!) is a hearty spread of yogurts and cereals, orange juice, fresh fruits, ham and cheeses, corazanes dulces (sweet croissants) and eggs if you want.

There’s no restaurant at Casa Zinc, but they offer a tasty homemade snack which changes daily. Expect something light, along the lines of a vegetable quiche with a rucula salad. For something more substantial, head down the road to the delightful El Chanco y La Coneja. By night, pretty fairy-lights illuminate the leafy outside terrace of this cosy restaurant, which serves up good-value tacos and the most wonderful fish dishes. Leave room for dessert, as temptation will surely strike when browsing the long list of sweet treats. For other dining options, from sushi to American-style burgers, head to La Barra’s main strip, a 5-minute drive away. Café Flo is a particularly popular restaurant, serving up exotic salads, pastas and fresh fish to a classy, 30-something crowd.

Or, with a little advance warning, foodies can take over Casa Zinc’s kitchen and rustle up a home-cooked meal to eat outside on the patio under a starry sky. There are grocery shops close by.

Features include:

• Minibar/fridge
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Take it easy at La Barra’s pretty beaches, lined with elegant eateries. Once you’ve ‘done’ La Barra, head to chi-chi Jose Ignacio, just 30 minutes away by car, to sunbathe with the rich and famous
  
  
• Tone those muscles with a surfing lesson at La Barra’s popular surf school, Bagus School, or pair up for a game of tennis at Club de La Barra. Those in search of something more relaxing can book a yoga lesson at Casa Zinc - the helpful staff will arrange it
  
  
• Choose from cross-country rides to the beach and Laguna Garzón, or full-moon rides with the Jose Ignacio horse-riding company Haras Godiva
  
  
• Go for a bike ride around the tranquil streets surrounding Casa Zinc. The property has around a dozen mountain bikes for guests to use free of charge
  
  
• Challenge your partner to a game of petanque - a French game similar to boules. Casa Zinc has its own court
  
  
• Nightlife is a big attraction in La Barra, Jose Ignacio and Punta del Este; ask staff which bars and clubs they recommend
  
  
• The neighbouring resort city of Punta del Este is rather big and brash (a concrete canyon of high-rise apartment buildings and mammoth casinos), but you'll probably want to check out its chi-chi hangouts, hip boutiques and the famous Bikini Beach

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Horse riding
• Nightlife
• Sailing
• Surfing
• Yoga

Kids

From 1 Feb-21 Dec, children of all ages are welcome, but from 22 Dec-31 Jan (peak and high season), only 7+ year olds are allowed. This works well, though. February and March are more tranquil times to take children to La Barra, when the party season has dwindled out, and children can have fun on bikes and horses, and play on the beach. Extra beds can be added to most rooms, but there are no baby cots.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Back to School is a triple room. Diseño, Back to School and Biblioteca can all fit 1 extra bed; Arquitecto can fit 2 extra beds.

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The hotel is set in La Barra, 15 minutes from Punta del Este, in the Moldonado region of southern Uruguay.

By Air
Fly to Punta del Este (30km away) or Uruguay's capital Montevideo (145km away) - click on the links below for more information.

From the Airport
A taxi will cost around US$40 from Punta del Este and US$225 from Montevideo (prices correct in 2011).

By Car
Car hire isn't necessary if you're planning to stick to La Barra’s beaches as you can make use of Casa Zinc’s bicycles, but if you want to explore further afield (e.g. Jose Ignacio), you might want a car; see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Uruguay and getting around.