HILTON MEXICO CITY REFORMA
ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: The hotel is clean, neat and orderly; and the lobby and main floors display the work of local artists. The reception area included a section to the side for Club member check-in. The desk staff greeted me right away; and though I do not speak Spanish fluently, I checked in just fine with the help of the front desk manager, who interpreted my questions.
Just beyond reception, a well-stocked bar with an open feel offers a variety of seating options, from comfy chairs and couches to long, high tables. An area toward the back is a little more private, but the whole bar works as a social environment.
GUEST QUARTERS: I used my room key to access the guest floors. My king-sized room was plenty big with a great view of Mexico City, particularly Palacio de Bellas Artes. The bed featured the Hilton king-sized pillows and standard white bedspread. The room included an oversized chair with a footstool and a desk and chair in front of the wall of windows overlooking the city. The spacious bathroom featured a standard soaking tub with shower; a marble ledge surrounded the tub and the sink. A half wall separated the toilet from the rest of the bathroom. Outside the bathroom, an ample closet held a small combo safe, and the dresser opposite the bed had a mini refrigerator inside.
Services/amenities: The property offers three restaurants: El Cardenal and Sonora Grill Prime (a Mexican steakhouse) in the lobby and Los Dones on the first floor, offering a buffet and à la carte meals. One morning I ate at El Cardenal restaurant, which serves traditional, farm-to-plate Mexican and Colonial dishes. It was busy as it is popular with locals and guests. The freshbaked goods, served before the meal, were the highlight. I was seated near the baking area, and everything came out fresh and looking good. I had a delicious mini baguette, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. I ordered eggs scrambled with bacon, served with refried beans and fresh and hot corn tortillas — everything was excellent. I could not get enough, and I was definitely a member of the clean plate club.
On my last night I tried room service as I had been caught in the rain and had an early flight the next morning. I ordered tortilla soup and a cheeseburger.
The service was fairly quick, less than 30 minutes, with impressive food presentation. The soup came in a separate teapot to keep it hot and make it easy to pour over the tortilla strips and fresh avocado. I am a huge fan of tortilla soup, and I knew I had to try it in Mexico. It did not disappoint! The cheeseburger was good, surrounded by shoestring French fries cooked to perfection.
The 27-floor hotel includes a convention center on the second and fourth floors with a capacity to host 5,000 guests. Spaces include ballrooms and 14 meeting rooms of varying sizes. Designated elevators in a separate area go between the convention floors only.
Amenities also include indoor and outdoor pools, separate fitness centers for men and women, a steam room, sauna, rooftop terrace, full spa services and a wellness center, executive lounges, sun terrace, garden areas and a tennis court.