With new hotel developments, rumors of Michelin stars in the future for some restaurants, and the consistently strong cultural offerings in the city, The DF (as the locals call it) is teetering on the edge of a tourism renaissance. During our recent 5-night stay, we explored the Centro Historico and Polanco neighborhoods, tried new restaurants, tasted mezcals, enjoyed incredible outdoor art, and conducted site-inspections at the luxury hotels of Mexico City.
The best hotels center around either the Reforma District (more business-oriented) or Polanco (an affluent residential neighborhood with great shopping and dining). Both neighborhoods are convenient to the museums and parks in Chapultepec and are within walking distance of each other if you’re up for a leisurely stroll through the park. If your stay includes a Sunday, we highly recommend the Reforma location. The city closes the broad avenue to cars, opening it up to pedestrians and cyclists. The city’s bike share program is easy to use and offers a unique way to see Mexico City. Taxis are plentiful, but for ease, we loved using Uber. This on-demand chauffeur service made navigating the city a breeze—just punch in your destination, relax, and practice your Spanish!
For anyone considering a visit, the luxury hotels of Mexico City offer something for almost every type of traveler. The list may be short, but the options are solid. Recommended hotels include:
The Four Seasons – Located in Reforma, it is currently undergoing interior design updates in all its rooms. The updates and renovations have already been completed in the lobby, and the restaurant will receive a facelift this summer. We were fortunate to be among the first to stay in a renovated room, and you can view all of our pictures here. We’re undecided about how we feel about the new room design. We found the black, tan, and red color scheme to be a bit too striking and a departure from the classic Four Seasons style. That said, the rooms are large and comfortable. We were also pleased that the hotel opted to preserve the old-world charm of the interior courtyard while adding the newly popular “grab-and-go” coffee shop concept. We think the Four Seasons is best suited to travelers with small kids (the courtyard is a lovely, safe place to let the kids run off their energy) or travelers who appreciate contemporary, dramatic interior design. It may not be the best fit for anyone seeking a fully-equipped spa, as the hotel only has a few treatment rooms as part of the pool/gym facilities.
At the Four Seasons Mexico City, our clients receive the following Preferred Partner Amenities:
- Daily full American breakfast for two people per bedroom served through In-Room Dining or in the hotel restaurant (including buffets)
- Food and beverage credit of USD100
- Upgrade of one category, based on availability at the time of check-in (excluding signature suites and villas)
- Complimentary essential Internet is available in all guest rooms, and complimentary premium Internet is available in all suites.
St. Regis – St. Regis hotels come in four flavors: The Metropolitan Manor (think: The St. Regis flagship in NYC), Paradise Found (think: St. Regis Princeville in Kauai, Hawaii), Journey’s End (think: The St. Regis Deer Valley), and The Glass House (think: St. Regis Bal Harbour in Florida). The St. Regis Mexico City falls into the Glass House category and reminded us a lot of the St. Regis in Bangkok. We think this option will appeal to younger travelers (in actuality or at heart) and those with sophisticated design tastes. The Reforma location is just across the street from the Four Seasons, but these two hotels might as well be worlds apart. Where the Four Seasons architecture is traditional, the St. Regis is modern. Where the Four Seasons offers seclusion and an escape from the city, the St. Regis is more open and invites you to float above the city, which you can do from their pool on the 15th floor. The St. Regis rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and the mid-rise building offers excellent views of Reforma and the Castle. Our favorite room feature is the in-room steam shower in executive suites and higher room categories. The food and beverage options include a King Cole Bar, Diana Restaurant, and JG Grill. We tested the breakfast service and cocktails on the terrace at King Cole – both were excellent quality, and the service was spot-on. With a kid’s playroom and fun camp-out tents available as an alternative to the roll-away bed, St. Regis is also a good fit for families traveling with kids.
At the St. Regis Mexico City, clients of Ourisman Travel receive the following Virtuoso Amenities:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Continental breakfast daily for up to two in-room guests in the restaurant
- $100 USD Equivalent Resort or Hotel credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Las Alcobas – The Polanco location and boutique size help this hotel stand out as an extraordinary hotel option in Mexico City. Now, this hotel is also a member of the Starwood Luxury Collection, which gives our loyal Starwood clients an added choice in the destination. Standard-level rooms are small, with very little room around the beds. These rooms would not be a good fit for anyone looking for true luxury accommodations or staying longer than 1 or 2 nights. These rooms are also due to a soft-goods update to give it a slightly less lived-in look. However, the suites are lovely and worth consideration. This intimate hotel also features a small but well-curated spa and a restaurant that has become very popular with the local community. This hotel is the best option for anybody looking for a more residential retreat with opportunities for shopping and dining right at your doorstep. Given the smaller size of the hotel itself and many of its rooms, we don’t think this will be a good match for families.
At Las Alcobas, clients of Ourisman Travel receive the following Virtuoso Amenities:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily full Mexican Breakfast for up to two in-room guests
- One complimentary cocktail per person per stay in Anatol Restaurant
- One 30 minute Spa Treatment per room per stay
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
A runner-up to the three options above is Hotel Busue. This boutique hotel is also located in Polanco on a quiet, tree-lined residential street, and it has a great rooftop cafe that brings in a small dose of energy to the property. But, our overall impression of the hotel is that it is more in the 4-4.5 star range and needs a little boost in design, bathroom finishes, etc. The two-bedroom suite at Busue is good to remember for anybody requiring extra space during their stay in Mexico City.
If you’re looking for an edgier design or more interesting location, you’re better off looking at some of the design-oriented 4-star hotels in the city.
Our recommendations include:
Hotel Downtown: We spent 3-nights here at the beginning of my trip. We loved the historic architecture and unique, playful design. But this is not a luxury hotel by any means. The bathrooms do not offer any privacy from the rest of the room, the finishes are very basic, and noise may be a problem depending on room location. But, if you are feeling adventurous and up for it, this hotel has so much to offer. Great dining and shopping on the property, steps away from the Zocalo and National Palace, and a grand rooftop deck with a bar and pool!
Runners-up to Hotel Downtown include Condesa DF, Hippodrome, or La Valise. Each offers a unique location and design concept, and it is worth considering for the right traveler and trip.
We went to Mexico City with a positive outlook on what we could expect from the destination. It did not let us down! We found the city vibrant and sophisticated, and the current growth and development are stimulating. The luxury hotels of Mexico City were equally pleasing. It is so much easier to enjoy a new destination when you have a comfortable place to call home after a long day of exploring!
This city is worth more than just a layover, and we don’t regret that we took some time to learn about the city’s many attributes. We feel like we’ve only scraped the surface and look forward to returning soon!
