The Best Hotels in Mexico City if You Love History
Mexico City has long been a destination for people interested in the ancient and modern histories of the Americas. The Centro Histórico dates from the 16th century, with some vestiges of indigenous life before the Spanish Conquest. Museums such as the Anthropology Museum—the best of its kind in the world, housing countless treasures from prehispanic Mexico—give context to the often-confusing history of Mexico's many indigenous cultures, as well as its tumultuous history in the 500 years post-Conquest. These historic hotels are the best bases for history buffs that want to delve deep.
Hotel La Casona
Why it made the list
Built in 1923, this mansion is one of colonia Roma's best examples of the Porfiriato style—México's Belle Époque—just before Art Deco took hold. It's cloaked in the pink cantera rosa stone of Michoacán state, and inside furnished with whimsical antiques and a library of books on Mexican history and culture.
Gran Hotel de la Ciudad de México
Why it made the list
Along with the Metropolitan Cathedral and National Palace, this hotel—originally a department store that opened in 1899—is one of the grand buildings ringing the Zócalo—of which its terrace provides an unparalleled view. Inside, its opulent Art Nouveau interior, with a massive domed Tiffany-glass ceiling, rivals that of the more exalted Palacio de Bellas Artes, which broke ground five years later
Hotel Downtown México
Why it made the list
The hotel occupies the top two floors of what was the 17th century palace of the Countess of Miravalle, an immaculately restored building that is itself a must-stop on a tour of historic downtown buildings. And it's a brief walk to all the area's top historic sights.
Zócalo Central
Why it made the list
It's a central location on the Zócalo with a fantastic view from the terrace restaurant. But the hotel also offers custom guided tours to places like the pyramids of Teotihuacán, the Shrine of Guadalupe, Chapultepec Castle and the Anthropology Museum, and any number of nearby colonial towns.
Hotel Geneve
Why it made the list
This hotel itself exudes history, built in 1907 and having hosted countless global personalities during its time as one of the city's finest hotels. The expansive lobby calls attention to its past architecturally, as well as through art, fixtures, and furnishings (and the lobby Phone Bar, littered with antique phones and phone booths) and with photos and plaques detailing its illustrious past.
Hotel Catedral
Why it made the list
Tucked behind the cathedral, this hotel is a perfect budget base for exploring the Centro Histórico. It also has proximity to some less-known sights, like Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso, Palacio de la Escuela de Medicina, and Museo Archivo de la Fotografía, in the 16th-century Casa de las Ajaracas.
Grand Fiesta Americana Chapultepec
Why it made the list
As close to chapultepec Park as possible without being inside it, this hotel is the ideal base to explore Chapultepec Castle (also the National history Museum), the Anthropology Museum, and Museum of Modern Art.
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