7 stylish boutique hotels in Mexico City, from historic former palaces to beautiful b&bs
Art and design are taken seriously in this megacapital – home to some of the most impressive art galleries in the Americas, a world-class archaeological museum, stunning contemporary architecture, and thriving nightlife. And because there are so many hotels, architects are employed to make them stand out from the crowd. A couple of the city's best boutique hotels are owned by a small local hotelier which, when they opened some two decades ago, put the residential districts of Condesa and Polanco on the tourist map; now both areas are hot spots for shopping and dining. In trendy Roma, our pick has just three rooms and is the ultimate bolthole for those who don’t want crowds – which, after a day in this city of nine million souls, might just be you.
La Valise
Mexico City, Mexico
8Telegraph expert rating
Elegant, discreet and ultra-tranquil, this early 20th-century French-style hotel is decorated with beautiful Mexican furniture and art. It has the feel of an exclusive private mansion. On arrival, guests are offered complimentary mezcal shots – it’s that kind of hotel. In-room massages can be arranged and the hotel offers discounted access to a local gym. The three large, luxurious bespoke suites are the main sell here. Polished wood floors, artwork, bold hues and vintage panelling create an atelier atmosphere. Read expert review From £177 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Condesa DF
Mexico City, Mexico
8Telegraph expert rating
Taking her inspiration from famous Mexican architect Luis Barragán (whose modernist and Mexican-style house is a Unesco World Heritage site), designer India Mahdavi has curated interiors that are modern, sleek and sophisticated – with a hint of fun. The 40 rooms feature moss green, cream, and chocolate brown hues, alongside bright white walls, vintage lamps, and hand woven rugs from Oaxaca. Each one opens out onto treetop-shaded wooden terraces. The hotel's ultra-cool spaces for hanging out include the central covered patio on the ground floor and the rooftop terrace – which features a bar and spa area with hot tub, hammam and gym. Read expert review From £140 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Hotel Carlota
Colonia Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, Mexico
7Telegraph expert rating
Mexicans like modernism, and the designers who refurbished and renamed this funky neo-industrial designer hotel in Colonia Cuauhtémoc have a particularly minimalist – almost brutalist – take on it. The 23 Standard rooms are basic, with minimal furnishings; and the six Deluxe rooms all have terraces. One-off pieces of Mexican art feature throughout the hotel. There's a very attractive library/lounge space and an ultra-thin courtyard swimming pool, as well as a long bar on the first floor that serves a good range of Latin American (including Mexican) wines, local beers and tequilas. Read expert review From £77 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Chaya Bed & Breakfast Boutique
Mexico City, Mexico
8Telegraph expert rating
This stylish and friendly b&b in Mexico City’s Centro Histórico feels like it was designed for hostel fans who are ready to lay their head somewhere more sophisticated, but don’t want to lose the charm and conversations that they are used to. Rooms are pretty uniform in style – with potted plants, minimalist white and grey walls, wooden desks, clothes rails, wicker baskets, woven rugs, and embroidered cushions that bring a pop of colour to the crisp white bed sheets. The centrepiece is the pretty rooftop terrace, which is lined with hammocks. Read expert review From £84 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Downtown Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico
8Telegraph expert rating
This neo-industrial hotel is managed by the successful Habita group. Its combination of lofty, pared-down rooms, cool communal spaces and a very central location is already drawing overseas travellers away from Condesa and Roma and back to Mexico City’s renascent historic heart. Read expert review From £121 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Las Alcobas
Mexico City, Mexico
9Telegraph expert rating
Discreetly luxurious hotel on a chic avenue in the upmarket Polanco district. Las Alcobas is a member of Starwood’s Luxury Collection, but the intimate service and high design values set it apart from other chain hotels in Mexico City. Read expert review From £237 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Hotel Habita
Mexico City, Mexico
9Telegraph expert rating
Wrapped in a glass skin that completely reconfigures the original Fifties building, Habita (which claims to be Mexico City's first boutique hotel) is an impressive architectural landmark. Its interiors are equally grand, with white dominating most spaces and original features stylishly contained within contemporary layouts. Modern art, floor-to-ceiling windows, and striking Artemide and Flos lamps generate an arty and meditative ambience. The 36 rooms are all designed with a minimalist ethos – so expect clean white walls, empty space, and plenty of natural light. Read expert review From £161 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Additional contribution by Lizzie Frainier
