Spend The Night In A Giant Tequila Barrel At This Boutique Mexican Hotel

Overindulging in Mexico’s national drink is a common mistake made by visitors to the picturesque colonial town of Tequila. The smartest thing to do in that situation is to spend the night rather than take to the road, and one unique distillery now offers guests the chance to sample their product and then sleep it off in their very own tequila barrel.

Matices Hotel de Barricas is owned by the Hacienda Tequilera La Cofradía, a distillery and boutique hotel found in the heart of tequila country. The perfect place for a weekend getaway, the hotel’s innovative accommodation rests in a tranquil blue agave field.

Situated a short walk from one of the town’s historic distilleries, guests enjoy the fresh air mixed with the rich and distinctive aromas that arise from the production process.

The comfortable wooden barrels at the hotel boast kingsize beds, sofas, air conditioning, and a mini-bar (helpfully stoked with a few bottles of Cofradía tequila). The spacious ensuite bathroom contains a shower and a hairdryer. In short, you are provided with everything that you would expect in a normal hotel, but with the added thrill of enjoying a night’s rest in a tequila barrel.

The hotel opened in September 2017 with 18 barrel rooms, and demand has been so high that they have since expanded to 30 units. This summer, the hotel is opening a swimming pool, and a year later they plan to expand further to 50 barrels.

The surrounding facilities

The expansive, elegant hacienda is just a short walk from the hotel, and you can take a guided tour of the distillery’s functioning facilities here.

Around 3,300 gallons (15,000 liters) of tequila are produced by the distillery each day in an enormous, highly coordinated operation. Helpful tour guides will take you through the entire production process, from the iconic agave fields to the bottling rooms, where you can even let your creative side loose by decorating your own bottle. You can also enjoy tequila tasting sessions and visit the onsite museum, which offers fascinating insights into the town’s history and culture.

Matices Hotel de Barricas has its own restaurant, which serves a free daily breakfast. We also recommend stopping in to La Taberna del Cofrade, the hacienda’s iconic restaurant/bar. Located 15 feet (4.5 meters) underground, this elegant restaurant offers a menu boasting dishes from the five states that are legally allowed to produce tequila: Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán, Guanajuato, and Tamaulipas. There are plenty of highlights on the menu, but the exquisite shrimp medallion with agave sauce should not be missed.