Zócalo Central

This hotel couldn't have a better location—on the Zócalo and close to a gaggle of museums, restaurants, and historic buildings. You'd expect nothing less than to be in the heart of the colonial city, given that one wing of the building was once the home of Hernán Cortés. Rooms are nicely appointed, with wood floors, ornate headboards, crisp white bedspreads, and flat-screen TVs. The restaurant and bar have sweeping views of the Catedral Metropolitana and Palacio Nacional, though by law, minors aren't allowed on the smoker-friendly terrace after 5 pm.

room

Standard rooms are extremely small (about 180 sq. ft.), but high ceilings make all the rooms feel more spacious. Leather, wood, iron, and pewter appointments add warmth to the otherwise simple design.

The Family, Superior, and Junior Suite rooms—some with Zócalo views—are more than twice as big as standard rooms, though usually priced only slightly higher.

bathroom

Bathrooms are smartly designed for their limited space, and the custom toiletries are of good quality.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Some rooms have better water pressure than others: Check the water pressure in the shower before the bellhop leaves your room.

lobby

The on-site café and a sea of comfy club chairs with nailhead trim make the lobby a great air-conditioned place to relax with a quick coffee or drink while sightseeing.

gym

A basic gym is available 24 hours, with towel service and a steam room.

dining

The Balcón del Zócalo restaurant has one of the best views in town, on the 6th floor directly overlooking the Zócalo with unobstructed views of the Catedral Metropolitana and Palacio Nacional. Still, it would be worth a visit regardless. Chef José Antonio Salinas Hernández (who used to host the cooking show "Tu Cocina") serves modern takes on traditional Mexican dishes, like beef-tongue peneques (a sort of mini-quesadilla) and salmon in tamarind mole. Open daily from 7am to 11pm, even Sundays (a rarity). Café Central, the lobby café, is perfect for coffee, drinks, or snacks to go.

The elaborate tasting menu is a bargain (8 courses for about $40, at the time of this writing). Ask the hotel to reserve you a table at the edge of the terrace, lest Instagramming tourists block your view.

drinking

Even if you don't stay for a meal, you'll at least want to have a drink at Balcón del Zócalo (let the host know you're staying at the hotel in case it's crowded). Uncommon in Mexico, there's a good selection of wines by the glass, icy micheladas, and terrific gin and tonics.