Casa Fayette
Calle Miguel Lerdo de Tejada 2308, Lafayette, Guadalajara, Jal. 44160, Mexico
Why We Like It
It’s a spotless, chic, and friendly boutique hotel that reflects the city’s new hip, trendsetting personality, and acts as a hub of activity for the local scene. The semi-residential, greenery-filled neighborhood, while packed with drinking and dining options, has none of the congested hustle and bustle of the more touristy areas, and gets practically zero street noise at night. The rooms are stylish and comfortable. The pool terrace and spa areas are fab.
If you prioritize being a short walk from the major tourist sites, you’ll want to try a different option closer to El Centro. If, however, you want to live like a stylish, design-minded, art- and food-loving local, look no further.
Fodor's Expert Review
Guadalajara’s first design-led boutique hotel, this gracious 1940s mansion topped with a glass tower artfully mixes modern and Art Deco touches, with an occasional Asian twist. The buzzy surrounding neighborhood draws a creative crowd with contemporary art galleries and some of Guadalajara’s hottest new restaurants and bars. A pool terrace and spa roof deck provide chic outdoor lounging opportunities.
Tip Casa Fayette set out to be a gathering place for its hip, artistic neighbors, and it has succeeded, so you may find yourself walking through a fashion shoot or a post-art gallery opening party in the lobby at any given time.
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Room
Compact, sleek, stylish, with concrete floors, a wall of windows, and a dramatic Mondrian-esque steel and glass wall closing off the bathroom. The bed, puffed up with spotless white linens, is as inviting and comfortable as a cloud. A lacquered room divider conceals ample closet space and a dangerously loaded mini bar.
Bathroom
Tight on space, but attractive and modern in feel, with marble top to toe and a rain fall shower with good water pressure. Perks include generous samples of house-branded, honey-scented bath and body products, a shoe cloth, shower cap, and sewing kit, along with plenty of towels—but not a single surface on which to perch your toiletries.
You Should Know The steel and glass partition gives a unique boost of industrial chic design, but not all the glass panels are frosted, so privacy can be an issue, and the sliding door can be heavy.
Lobby
The feel of a private home remains, with a series of small indoor and outdoor rooms (one with a fireplace, another with a small bar) rather than a single central lobby, decorated with quirky, sophisticated furnishings.
Pool
Like the downstairs public areas, the second-floor, outdoor poolside space includes a variety of smaller shelters and nooks, giving it the feel of an exquisitely-designed private home. The pool itself is stylish enough to pose beside and long enough to get in some abbreviated laps.
Spa
The top floor spa offers a range of massages and facials, and has a roof deck with expansive views.
Dining
The onsite restaurant mixes urban and tropical vibes and offers an impressive breakfast bar. The regular menu focuses on fresh Mexican ingredients and “American comfort food” dishes, including a cheeseburger rumored to be inspired by In N Out Burger.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
Unless you are a big walker, your best bet is a taxi or an Uber. Guadalajara is crowded with buses so cheap they’re practically free, but you’ll need the help of a local to navigate the system (and frankly even the locals can’t figure it out half the time). If you are a big walker, your most likely routes--east towards Chapultepec and onward to El Centro--are safe day and night, and the best way to take in the sights and some more local, less-touristed neighborhoods. If you’re a confident city bicyclist, hop on one of the hotel’s vintage-style bikes.
Restaurants
You’ll have to get to Café Pal Real (5-minute walk) early to beat the local crowds for one of the best breakfasts in town; be sure to buy a bag of their celebrated coffee on your way out. Experience the award-winning cuisine of Chef Paco Ruano, either at the upscale, reservations-essential Alcalde (10-minute drive), named to the World’s 50 Best list of Top 50 Restaurants in Latin America 2018, or at his more low-key restaurant Trasfonda (7-minute walk), where he elevates the flavors and dishes of his youth in Guadalajara. Local foodies can’t get enough of the creative Mexican dishes at Tikuun Comedor Local (10-minute drive).
Bars
If you don’t have time to take a day trip to Tequila, make your agave pilgrimage to Pare de Sufrir (5-minute drive) instead, and let the selection of around 70 mezcals—and maybe a live rockabilly band--take your pain away. Brooklyn and Austin only wish they had a day-drinking hangout as hipster-ready as De La O (8-minute drive), with its eclectic, retro décor, refreshing tequila and mezcal drinks, and small plates that far exceed standard bar snack expectations (note: it closes at 9pm).
