By Alexander Britell

The Condado neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico has quietly become one of the Caribbean’s capitals of cool in recent years, with a diverse but uniformly sophisticated hotel offering and a modern, urban energy that’s largely unique in the Caribbean.

And now, the husband-and-wife team that helped turn the area into a hotspot are at it again with a truly gorgeous new property.

Loisse Herger and Fernando Davila, who opened the stellar O:Live Boutique Hotel back in 2012, have debuted their new 26-suite stunner: the O:LV Fifty Five.

Just steps away from the original O:live, it’s a remarkably designed, new-build property “designed to make you feel the energy of creative cities worldwide like Amsterdam, London, Copenhagen and Hong Kong,” Herger says.

A suite at the new O:LV.

The 26 suites, most of which feature “L” shaped oversized balconies with panoramic views of the Condado Lagoon, feature black and white marble floors, film-noir art and a sophisticated, forward-thinking aesthetic.

“Guests will be wowed by O:LV Fifty Five,” said Herger, the founder of O:live Hotels. “We love so many of the features, from the jaw-dropping, two-tiered rooftop, the design of the suites, the custom made ebony and brass furnishings to the surprising artwork — resulting in the feel of staying at a designer’s home.”

The amenities are vast, led by the aforementioned rooftop with a climate-controlled infinity pool and a solarium with a modern jacuzzi.

It’s a huge new addition to Puerto Rico’s fast-expanding hotel sector — particularly as the island continues its post-Maria recovery.

“We take how Puerto Rico is presented to the world very seriously,” Herger says. “Following the recent disaster with Hurricane Maria, the opening of O:LV Fifty Five has taken on a bigger role in our hearts; it represents resiliency, pride, bold new moves and the love for what we do here on the island.”

It’s a voluptuous, modern version of a grand European hotel.

It’s another sign of just how far Condado has come — and how, in many ways, it’s now a full-fledged destination in its own right.

For more, visit O:LV Fifty Five.

— CJ