Mexico City’s lodging options include everything from centrally located budget chains to upscale neighborhood boutique hotels.
Mexico City’s size lends itself to all sorts of options, and that’s true whether one’s talking about activities to enjoy, places to eat or lodging. Travelers looking for a safe, comfortable place to sleep have no shortage of choices in Mexico’s capital. Regardless of your budget, you can find a hostel, a high-end chain hotel or a quirky boutique hotel to satisfy your expectations during your Mexico City vacation.
Here are six of my favorites:
Located in the hip Condesa neighborhood, this property was converted from a colonial apartment building into a boutique hotel. Everything about Condesa df is perfect: the rooms are spacious and comfortable, equipped with all sorts of amenities that make your stay more pleasant (you can even request an iPod). But as comfortable as the rooms are, you’ll want to explore the hotel itself, as well as the neighborhood.
The rooftop bar at Condesa df—Area Bar and La Terraza—is one of the very best places to get a sense of the city’s size and density (and the drinks, food and atmosphere are all praiseworthy, too). [Read more about Area Bar and Mexico City’s Nightlife.] The hotel’s restaurant, on the ground level, serves dinners to die for. And the hotel is bordered by a neighborhood park—you can rent bicycles for free here with photo identification and a refundable deposit. Explore Condesa by bike, stopping to peek in local boutiques or recharging with an espresso at a neighborhood café. Rates start at US$175 per night.
Avenida Veracruz N. 102, Colonia Condesa. Tel. +52-55-5241-2600. www.condesadf.com
Habita, another boutique hotel, is located in the upscale neighborhood Polanco, home to Mexico City’s equivalent of New York’s Fifth Avenue. The rooms here are intentionally minimalist in style, but that’s good—the neighborhood is so interesting you don’t want to spend all your time in your hotel room.
Like Condesa df, Habita has a rooftop bar, this one with two levels, a fireplace and a pool. Be sure to catch an evening drink up here, preferably around sunset. The hotel has its own restaurant, but there are plenty of options to taste your way through some of the city’s best menus just steps from the hotel’s doors. Rates start at US$179 per night.
Avenida Presidente Masaryk 201, Colonia Polanco. Tel. +52-55-5282-3100. www.hotelhabita.com
If you’re looking for something more personal or quirky, the Red Tree House (RTH) may be for you. This seven-room guest house is in a 1930s home in the Condesa neighborhood, and visitors have consistently praised the RTH’s owners for their warmth and the property’s creative vibe. It’s not really a tree house, but in a city of such magnitude, you’ll be surprised how private and even pastoral this property feels—particularly if you enjoy its wonderful garden. The Treehouse room starts at US$70 per night based on single occupancy; add $15 per night for one additional person.
Culiacan 6, Colonia Condesa. Tel. +52-55-5584-3829. www.theredtreehouse.com
Mexico City’s W hotel upholds the same standards of service and luxe trendiness you’ve come to expect from this chain’s properties in other cities. It’s located in Polanco, so in addition to the hotel’s offerings, you’ll have world-class cuisine, shopping and activities just beyond the hotel’s threshold. Rates start at US$349 per night.
Campos Eliseos 252, Colonia Polanco. Tel. +52-55-9138-1800. www.starwoodhotels.com
Condesa Haus, a luxury boutique bed and breakfast and a newer lodging option in the city, is intended to appeal to the youngish jet set seeking comfortable hospitality where art and technology are equally valued amenities. WiFi? Check. Flat screen TV? Check. Local cell phone? Yep, that’s included, too. Take advantage of all the technology surrounded by modern art. Breakfast is also included here. Rates start at US$110 per night for a double.
Cuernavaca 142, Colonia Condesa. Tel. +52-55-5256-2494. www.condesahaus.com
If Embassy Suites evokes the words “predictable” or “boring,” check those assumptions at the door. First, this hotel’s location—on the city’s principal avenue of Reforma—is ideal for those travelers who want to be within walking distance of such must-visit spots as the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Second, the hotel’s lobby, while small, is stunning—a Chihuly-inspired glass chandelier cascades down from the ceiling, illuminating an enormous bouquet of fresh cut flowers. Third, transportation, restaurant and activity options around the hotel abound.
The hotel’s own restaurant, the Argentinean inspired Evita, offers exquisite cuts of beef accompanied by perfectly cooked side dishes at reasonable prices. And if all that isn’t reason enough to stay here, the hotel’s concierges are consistently friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Rates start at US$184 per night.
Paseo de la Reforma 69, Colonia Tabacalera, M. Tel. +52-55-5061-3000. www.embassysuites1.hilton.com
Destinations: Mexico City
Themes: Urban Endeavors
Activities: Sleep
