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Where to Book Your Stay in Mexico City Like a Local

The rooftop terrace at Casa Decu is a relaxing place to unwind after a day of sightseeing
The rooftop terrace at Casa Decu is a relaxing place to unwind after a day of sightseeing | Courtesy of Casa Decu / Expedia

Yearning for an authentic slice of Mexico City? It’s all about finding a hotel where locals hang out. Whether you’re bedding down in bohemian Coyoacán, rubbing shoulders with the residents in La Roma or soaking up a storied mansion in Colonia Condesa, we’ve found places that’ll help you fit right in. From casas in cool ‘colonias’ to on-point apartments and historic haciendas, here are the top spots in CDMX to live like a local – bookable on Culture Trip.

El Patio 77, for a sustainable stay

Bed and Breakfast, Hotel

The Oaxaca room at El Patio 77, with a colorful zigzag rug, wood floors, an old trunk at the foot of the bed and a balcony
Courtesy of El Patio 77 / Expedia
Set in an ornate late-19th-century mansion, typical in Colonia San Rafael, this beautifully repurposed building is a real eye-catcher. The hip, contemporary design and locally sourced, restored vintage furnishings complement the elegant period features. It’s the first seriously eco-conscious B&B in the city, with rainwater catchment and gray-water recycling. Each of the eight suites is themed around a Mexican state and filled with natural light. Breakfast here is worthy of a mention, freshly prepped and different each day.

Casa Decu, for its proximity to boutiques and cafes

Hotel

A light-filled kitchen-dining-lounge area at Casa Decu, with wire chairs, cushioned seating and geometric tile floors
Courtesy of Casa Decu / Expedia

Although part of a small chain of Mexican hotels, Casa Decu feels anything but cookie-cutter. It sits on a quiet street in the leafy-cool Condesa neighborhood, a short stroll from many trendy boutiques and hipster cafes. The decor is an eye-pleasing mix of traditional tiling, mid-century furnishings and art deco flourishes, while the rooms come with handy kitchenettes. You’re even offered some mezcal on arrival to really start your Mexican stay in style.

Ignacia Guest House, for design buffs

Boutique Hotel

The tranquil courtyard at Ignacia Guest House, with seating, a water feature and lots of plants and cactuses
Courtesy of Ignacia Guest House / Expedia

Set in the heart of the trendy Roma district, this transformed turn-of-the-century mansion has drawn praise from many a design buff. It’s an assured marriage of ornate period features and smart contemporary renovation, all fringed by a secluded leafy garden. It houses just five color-themed suites, with luxury-level amenities and impeccable styling. Kitchen ingredients are sourced daily from local markets, resulting in authentic Mexican breakfasts of salsas, juices, tamales and chilaquiles each morning.

H21 Hospedaje Boutique, for a homey vibe

Boutique Hotel, Bed and Breakfast

A modern bedroom at H21 Hospedaje Boutique, with monochrome photos, a terrace and a bed against a green-and-dark-wood wall
Courtesy of H21 Hospedaje Boutique / Expedia

This smart yet homey boutique hotel is on a quiet street in hip, artsy Coyoacán – one of the coolest neighborhoods in Mexico City. The leafy Hidalgo Park and numerous trendy cafes and buzzing bars are within a short stroll, as is the colorful Coyoacán Market. Six individually styled rooms all come with kitchenettes, perfect for throwing together some quesadillas to snack on while you’re out and about. If you fancy chilling out, the bathrobes and slippers will help you feel comfy.

Pug Seal Allan Poe, for art lovers

Boutique Hotel

A brown-and-sky-blue room at Pug Seal Allan Poe, with white decorative elements, a small sitting area and large windows
Courtesy of Pug Seal Allan Poe / Expedia
With a name like Pug Seal Allan Poe, you expect something a little special, and that’s what you get at this quirkily sophisticated 20-room boutique hotel. The feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl makes regular appearances, alongside an eclectic collection of mid-century furnishings and artsy curios. Both the 1930s building and posh Polanco neighborhood feel upscale residential, all just steps from the boutique-lined boulevard of Avenida Presidente Masaryk.

Casa Sauto, for a stay in the historic heart of Mexico City

Hotel

A spacious two-bed suite at Casa Sauto, with wood floors, wood beams and exposed stone
Courtesy of Casa Sauto / Expedia

A stay at this boutique hotel means immersing yourself in the throbbing historic heart of Mexico City. The centuries-old former printing house still reads of its rich past and is a mere amble from most of the main attractions in the city. Each of the five suites has the air of a handsome studio apartment where you can make yourself at home. Some even have spectacular views of the mighty Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral.

Nima Local House Hotel, for an intimate experience

Boutique Hotel

A leafy terrace at Nima Local House Hotel, with green patio bistro sets with parasols and cushioned seating
Courtesy of Nima Local House Hotel / Expedia

In the up-and-coming Roma neighborhood, this renovated mansion feels like you’re staying at a Mexican friend’s home rather than a boutique hotel. Rooms reference past residents, including a famed Mexican art collector and a forlorn Frenchman who fell in love with the lady of the house. Make yourself at home with a drink from the honesty bar before unwinding in the shared courtyard, rooftop garden or library.

Suites Providencia 848 WTC, for extended stays

Suite Hotel

A kitchen-dining-living area in a suite at Suites Providencia 848 WTC, with modern furniture
Courtesy of Suites Providencia 848 WTC / Expedia

There’s no better way to feel like you’re living in Mexico City than by waking up in an apartment, ready to take on a day of exploring (and eating). This all-suite retreat with ice-cream-colored apartments and a neon-lit penthouse is set up for short- or long-term stays, and it offers hotel-style perks, such as daily housekeeping and a gym.

Vasconcelos 65, for a homey getaway

Hotel

A woman sitting on an outdoor sofa on a smart shaded terrace with city views at Vasconcelos 65
Courtesy of Vasconcelos 65 / Expedia

Vasconcelos 65 is all about making you feel at home while traveling in unfamiliar places – you can put your feet up on the couches here without fear of reprisal. This particular outpost housing 16 apartments is tucked taco-style between some of the coolest colonias in the city: hipster Roma, cosmopolitan Condesa and the leafy Bosque de Chapultepec – one of the largest parks in the western hemisphere, with no end of space to pet pups and picnic like a card-carrying capitalino, as the locals called themselves.

Hacienda Peña Pobre, for a tranquil retreat

Hotel

The two-story Hacienda Peña Pobre with heavy wooden doors, plush outdoor seating and lots of greenery
Courtesy of Hacienda Peña Pobre / Expedia

In the leafy outskirts of Mexico City, just near Bosque de Tlalpan, a forested nature reserve, you’ll find this 17th-century historic hacienda. The former farm-turned-hotel remains a place for travelers seeking a tranquil oasis outside the city center. Seek shade beneath an orange tree, take breakfast on the terrace as birds chirp or sink into a leather armchair in the book-lined library. Suites include kitchens for whipping up a meal.

This is a rewrite of an article originally by Allegra Zagami.

About the author

A dyed-in-the-wool Londoner now firmly rooted among the cobbled streets of old town Palma de Mallorca, left a piece of himself in Mexico some time in the last millennium and had a previous existence touring the world with a band you've probably never heard of.

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