Hotels in Mexico City You’ll Be Talking About Forever

The Gran Hotel Ciudad de México: the perennial recommendation when you ask for a stylish hotel in Mexico City. And it’s easy to see why. Each of the 60 rooms seamlessly combines mod cons with antique decor and style. And there are bonus points for the central location and the stunning glass-ceilinged atrium.

In the fancy, ever-popular Condesa-Roma area, Hotel La Casona is a spectacularly decorated destination if you want a break from ultra-modern interior design. This historic building only has 29 rooms, although each offers something a little different from the last, and the small scale of the place makes the experience just that bit more personal.

Condesa DF is one of those rare hotels in Mexico City that’ll have you coming back for more. Known for hosting quirky cultural events, such as the Ambulante Festival parties, it also has a façade that nods to the art-deco past of the neighborhood, yet reinvents with a modern twist inside. A collaboration between Mexican architect Javier Sánchez and French designer India Mahdavi, it has 40 rooms spread over three floors and a spectacular roof terrace for late-afternoon drinks and cultural conversation. While many people are aware of Condesa DF for its rooftop bar, which offers jaw-dropping views at night and an even better atmosphere, it is also a fantastic place to stay.

One of the best Grupo Habita hotels in Mexico City, Distrito Capital in Santa Fe is ideal if you want a break from the Roma-Condesa crowd. Take a tour of the 30 rooms and you’ll appreciate the understated cool of the hotel; the terraces and fifth-floor pool only add to the charm.

Despite being called a B&B, Chaya is most definitely one of the more spectacular boutique hotels in Mexico City; but book soon, it only has 11 rooms. It’s smack bang in the center of Mexico City, but it’s surprisingly laid-back. A great place to stay if you don’t want to slum it in hostel dorms.

Designed by architect Ricardo Legorreta, Camino Real in swanky Polanco is a mix of historical authenticity and vibrant color that evokes the modernist style of well-known Mexican architect Luis Barragán. In fact, the design is so highly regarded, it’s considered a hybrid hotel-museum. It was built for the Mexico City Olympics of 1968, but feels as fresh as ever, while still giving clever nods to the Mesoamerican past of the country. It’s also ideal for families, with babysitting services, spacious rooms – some with kitchenettes – and lots of outdoor space. What’s more, it’s in prime kid-friendly activity territory, a stone’s throw from the Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Forest) and the Papalote Museo del Niño (Papalote Children’s Museum).

A modern accommodation option pioneer in Mexico City, Hotel Habita has an icy exterior – literally. It looks like a giant ice cube, sweltering in the Mexico City heat, and this metaphorical cool also pervades the interior, which has a stylish boutique vibe throughout with modern art pieces. If you’re into minimalist design, the all-white look of this Polanco hotel will be right up your street. And the decadent rooftop pool isn’t bad either.

Indulge in a special stay at the Marquis Reforma Hotel and Spa, one of the top luxury hotels in Mexico City, and ideally located on Paseo de la Reforma – one of the main boulevards in the city. Art deco rooms feature a mix of mahogany touches and marble bathrooms, while you can take your pick of three restaurants. The real attraction here is the Marquis Spa, where you can relax and rejuvenate in 16,000sqft (1,500sqm) of blissful peace.

In the heart of the historic center, and housed in what was once an Aztec palace, is the aptly named Downtown Mexico. It’s perfect if you’re a foodie, not just because you’re in the middle of the culinary hub, but because the building is also home to chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita’s Azul Histórico. Situated on the ground floor, the restaurant does a gourmet take on Mexican staples. There are also mezcalerías here, chocolate shops and a rooftop bar, so it’s worth a visit even if you aren’t staying.

La Valise, in the upscale-yet-quirky Roma, is a highly exclusive hotel with just three guest rooms. Each has its own individual, luxury charm designed by French-born Roma resident Emmanuel Picault. As you can imagine, this 1920s townhouse isn’t cheap, but it’s one you’ll be talking about for years afterwards. While there, enjoy personalized service from nearby restaurant, Rosetta. For true decadence, book the penthouse suite where you can sleep beneath the stars.

Custom furniture, unique art and a selection of excellently curated antiques make Hotel Carlota an exceptional example of interior decor and design. The strangely concrete-centric construction is beautiful rather than austere, and the central pool-lounge area, with bar and restaurants, is to die for. Plus, this is one of a few pet-friendly hotels in Mexico City.

If prizes were given for names alone, Pug Seal Boutique would win hands down, although the mansion house in which it’s located is spectacular too. Only eight eclectic rooms make up this teeny spot, with old-school charm and modern touches.