Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Downtown México

Part of the Grupo Habita group of hotels, this is one of the hottest boutique hotels in town, attracting a stylish, savvy clientele whose tastes run toward fashion, culture, and design. Located on the third floor of a former 17th-century manse, this hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of the center, just blocks from the Zócalo. Rooms retain the historic building's original soaring ceilings and stone walls while updating the interior with clean lines and contemporary Mexican design details. The building also houses a rooftop bar, pool, and hot tub, two well-regarded ground-floor restaurants, and a number of chic shops, not to mention a stunning living wall and a huge mural by Manuel Rodríguez Lozano painted in 1944-45.

room

Options range from compact but comfortable colonial queens that feel larger thanks to the ridiculously high vaulted ceilings, to the 750 sq. ft. Revolution Suite, which has a lofted area that can be customized with an extra bed or work desk. Rooms are done in raw concrete with industrial lighting but feel cozy thanks to the handmade quality of the materials.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Suites have balconies with street views, but queen and king rooms have no windows, just the large entrance doors that open to the courtyard.

bathroom

Bathrooms are seamlessly integrated into the room, so much so that there are no actual doors between the bathrooms and sleeping area, just screening and curtains. Amenities are from C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries.

lobby

Check-in is in a discreet corner on the ground floor of the building; you then take an elevator to the third floor, where the hotel is situated. There, the lobby looks out to the tops of trees planted in the courtyard; it's a comfortable, quiet place to relax with a drink, in contrast to the more boisterous rooftop bar. Look for furnishings by mid-century Mexican designer Don Shoemaker.

pool

The outdoor rooftop pool is quite large, with an adjoining whirlpool, bar, and large sundeck.

YOU SHOULD KNOW The pool is next to the rooftop lounge, which is open to the public; however, the lounge is generally quiet during daylight hours.

spa

There is no spa, although hotel staff can arrange outside services.

dining

While there's no hotel restaurant per se, two of the neighborhood's best restaurants--Azul Histórico and Puntarena--are located on the ground floor.

Every month, Azul Histórico devotes part of their menu to food from a different region of Mexico, with recipes from guest chefs.

drinking

The rooftop bar has views of historic downtown buildings such as Casino Español and Torre Latinoamerica. It's quiet during the day, becoming more clubby at night. The building also houses a branch of the popular mezcalería La Bótica.