9 best boutique hotels in Mexico
Every year, Mexico is becoming increasingly popular with travellers and tourists alike. As a result, the Mexican hotel industry is growing rapidly to accommodate more guests. We understand that large hotels might not be to everybody’s liking. With this in mind, we’ve drawn up a list of nine of the best small, boutique hotels in Mexico, stretching all the way from Baja California in the west, covering Mexico City in the centre, and finally, to the Yucatán Peninsula in the east.
1. Casa Natalia, San Jose del Cabo
This stylish, boutique hotel is just over 2km away from the famous Baja coastline in the historical town of San Jose del Cabo. Set in a small, colonial-style building with a modern facade, the Casa Natalia has 17 bedrooms in total, each of which is well equipped with modern amenities and luxurious Italian bed linen. Rooms also have balconies, complete with relaxing hammocks. Upgrade to a suite for a terrace and a hot tub. The hotel also has an outdoor pool, set amongst regal-looking stone décor. There is also a restaurant with a roof terrace.
2. Hotel Casa de la Condesa, Mexico City
Located in a quiet neighbourhood called Roma in Mexico City, this 17-room boutique hotel blends effortlessly into its residential surroundings. It does not feature the usual trappings of a hotel, such as a large, gaudy sign. Instead, guests ring the doorbell to enter. Inside, the hotel is decorated in traditional hacienda-style, with vibrant, earthy colours and the owner’s family personal pieces of art adorning the walls and corridors. Around half of the 17 bedrooms faces toward a quaint, ivy-lined courtyard with a fountain.
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3. Casa Vieja, Mexico City
Centrally located in Mexico City, the Casa Vieja is just a short walk from the Polanco Metro Station. Inside, warm, traditional colour schemes blend with quarry-stoned floors and bare-beamed ceilings to create the best authentic and romantic atmosphere.
There are 10 rooms and suites in total. Because of the building’s traditional architecture, the rooms don’t get much light. However, this detracts absolutely nothing from their comfort and quality! Each room is individually designed and features antique furniture; walls and corridors are adorned with traditional Mexican artwork. The restaurant specialises in local dishes, and the chef changes the menu daily. Dinner can be eaten on the delightful patio.
4. Habita, Mexico City
Located on a tree-lined road in the trendy Polanco District, of Mexico City, Habita is one the largest hotels on this list with 36 bedrooms. As Mexico’s original boutique hotel, Habita attracts guests from all corners of the world. The building was built in the 1950s and since then, has had a contemporary makeover, with a frosted glass exterior. Inside, there are contemporary features, such as a 12-foot long fireplace in the bar, winding spiral staircases and modern art sculptures. Bedrooms are spacious and airy. There is also an outdoor pool and terrace, a luxurious health spa, and a state-of-the-art gym.
5. Mesón Sacristía de la Soledad, Puebla
This charming small hotel is set inside an old 19th-century colonial-style building with a deep purple façade, in central Puebla, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many of the city’s best attractions are within walking distance of the hotel: Zocalo Square is only a five-minute walk away, and the stunning cathedral is less than 700 yards away. Inside, the hotel is decorated in bright pinks, purples and blues. Many of the original features, such as several impressive archways, remain intact.
The five suites are cosy, feature bare-beamed ceilings, and are furnished with antique dark wood Mexican furniture. There is a vibrant courtyard in the centre of the hotel, and the restaurant also runs traditional Mexican cooking classes.
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6. Boutique Hotel des Cortes, Mexico City
Housed in a charming 17th-century former hospice opposite Alameda Park, the Boutique Hotel des Cortes is ideally located 10 minutes’ walk from Palacio de Bellas Artes. A further 1.6km away, is Mexico City’s main square, Zocalo. Inside, the small hotel boasts original Baroque features, which are complemented by modern, chic additions, such as a rooftop bar and an exquisite patio restaurant, which is rated as one of the best. There 17 rooms in total, making this a cosy, personal place to stay.
7. San Felipe el Real, Chihuahua
The only boutique hotel in the city of Chihuahua, San Felipe el Real is centrally located in a 19th-century building, featuring a charming small courtyard. The breakfast at San Felipe el Real is hugely popular. Small touches, like naming each of the eight bedrooms after a different local neighbourhood, and excellent staff give this hotel a friendly and relaxing atmosphere. Inside, the hotel is decorated in creams and whites, complemented by dark wood antique furniture, bare-beamed ceilings and tiled floors.
8. Casa Quetzal, Valladolid
Housed on a quiet, cobbled backstreet near the centre of the colonial town of Valladolid in Yucatán, the Casa Quetzal is a fabulously quaint boutique hotel. Rooms are surrounded by well-kept, verdant tropical gardens, creating a calm and welcoming environment. Outdoor yoga classes are held here during the summer, and there is also a swimming pool. The small hotel itself features just six rooms and suites, which are all individually decorated. Rooms are upscale and warm. Suites come with a fireplace and whirlpool. All the town’s best attractions are easily reachable from the hotel.
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9. La Puertecita, San Miguel
Our last best boutique hotel but by no means least; La Puertecita is a charming small hotel found on top of a hill overlooking the city of San Miguel, three hours north of Mexico City. Lush tropical gardens and waterfalls surround the hotel. There are 24 rooms at La Puertecita, all of which are decorated in traditional Mexican-style, with cathedral ceilings and high, airy windows. Rooms are spread throughout several different buildings that are spread throughout the tropical gardens, which make La Puertecita feel like a much smaller hotel. Rooms have hammocks outside, and the hotel also has a gym.
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