The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in Oaxaca, Mexico

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This 10-room boutique hotel in Oaxaca is just a quick stroll from the main square, Zócalo, plus other attractions including the free-to-visit Textile Museum and Benito Juárez Market. Many of the modern suites have kitchenettes, living rooms and private terraces; some even feature multiple bedrooms or a second floor. The outdoor hotel courtyard – designed to remind you of a Zen garden – offers a peaceful moment after exploring the vibrant streets of Oaxaca.

Housed in a restored 16th-century convent in the city center, this luxury boutique hotel has Spanish colonial-style frescoes, historic tile floors, and well-manicured gardens and courtyards. Each of the 91 unique guest rooms features large windows that overlook the gardens or the streets of Oaxaca. There are also an outdoor pool, a gym and three hotel restaurants, among them the candlelit Bar Las Novicias, which offers an intimate atmosphere and live music on weekends.

In a restored 18th-century hacienda in the upscale San Felipe del Agua neighborhood, this five-star boutique hotel in Oaxaca has 17 suites with accents such as white stucco walls, wrought-iron furniture and terracotta flooring. Hotel perks include a heated pool and a Jacuzzi, and the onsite Petit Spa offers massages and other soothing treatments, including traditional temazcal ceremonies. At Los Cipreses restaurant, you’ll enjoy Oaxacan dishes from a patio overlooking the hacienda gardens.

Hotel Dainzu is a quaint boutique hotel located just two blocks from Zócalo. Each of the medium-size rooms features wrought-iron furniture and either a window that opens to the plant-filled central patio and fountain or a small private balcony overlooking cobblestoned streets. You’ll also have access to free onsite parking at this sweet family hotel.

Set within an 18th-century mansion in the historic center, this boutique hotel in Oaxaca has 21 rooms and suites with marble floors and luxurious egyptian-cotton bed linens. In the central atrium, an open-air patio with semicircular stone arches includes an onsite restaurant, appropriately named El Patio. The rooftop has a blue-tiled swimming pool and solarium, where you can take in 360-degree views of the city and the surrounding Sierra Madre mountain range.

This colonial-style boutique hotel in the historic center of Oaxaca features air-conditioned guest rooms with colorful Mexican textiles and intricately carved wooden furniture, including bed frames, mirrors and dressers. The open-air corridors feature warm-toned walls with tiled floors and tall arches supported by embellished stone pillars. Sample local dishes at Asuncion Restaurante, or grab a drink at the bar to enjoy on the sunny hotel terrace.

The 15 rooms at this colonial-style guesthouse feature white walls, painted with colorful motifs, and ornately carved wooden doors and bed frames. Situated in the Barrio de Jalatlaco neighborhood, this family-run boutique hotel features an open-air atrium filled with greenery and a central old-fashioned bar. On the rooftop, a sunny terrace offers a small pool and a Jacuzzi, where you can lounge and enjoy a delicious Oaxacan breakfast à la carte before exploring nearby attractions including the Baroque-style Oaxaca Cathedral.

The open-air atrium at this 19th-century mansion includes ornate stone pillars and arches with original tiles and frescoes, plus a detailed stone fountain in the center. Each of the 21 individually designed guest rooms receives a nightly turndown service with courtesy Oaxacan chocolate. There’s also a spa and an onsite restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner – and the hotel is pet-friendly, so you can bring your furry friends along.

Seemingly unassuming, hidden behind a plain colonial façade in downtown Oaxaca City, the Casa Oaxaca is an enchanting nine-room boutique hotel. Inside you’ll find a miniature swimming pool and a central patio for eating, sipping wine or relaxing with a book. Its restaurant of the same name is directed by chef Alejandro Ruiz and one of the best in the city for traditional Oaxaca cuisine. Chef Ruiz is also available for cooking classes, which can be arranged at the hotel.

In the heart of downtown Oaxaca City, the Casa Cid de León was once a family home and has now been converted into a four-suite upscale boutique hotel. If you want incredible views, reserve the room La Bella Epoca on the top floor, and enjoy the sight of Oaxaca City from its three terraces. Also, don’t forget breakfast: delicious Oaxacan favorites are served daily on the rooftop terrace.

Rented either on a B&B or villa basis, this hotel in Oaxaca City is a beautifully decorated, family-run establishment. Delicious Oaxacan breakfasts are served daily, but you will also have access to the full-service kitchen for cooking your own meals if you are so inclined. Book a temazcal sweat bath, or ask the hotel to book a tour to archeological sites such as Monte Albán, Mitla and Yágul.

Run by the talented Cabrera family, Casa de las Bugmbilias is a folk art lover’s dream. Each room but one has a private terrace, and there is a two-room suite with a sitting area great for families. Their breakfasts are legendary and the family-size vibe enticing if you want to rub shoulders with other travelers. The hotel is right next door to La Olla, chef Pilar Cabrera’s delightful restaurant, which serves gourmet versions of traditional Oaxacan dishes.

With a variety of suite and room types, the boutique Hotel Azul in Oaxaca City has a colonial shell but the heart of a modernist. Clean lines, geometric decor and a minimalist style are their trademarks. Most rooms have art pieces by local Oaxacan artists on display. You can even buy ceramics, jewelry and photographs, created by these artists, in the onsite gallery store. Sip traditional mezcal at the rooftop bar, before sampling top fish tacos at the restaurant.

Lydia Carey contributed additional reporting to this article.
Looking for a unique stay in Oaxaca? Check out our guide to where to stay in Oaxaca, Mexico, for a local experience, bookable with Culture Trip.