Downtown Mexico, Mexico City
SET
in a former 16th-century royal palace steps from Mexico City’s grand and gritty historic center, Downtown is a coolly inventive boutique hotel from Grupo Habita, owners of New York’s Hôtel Americano. Hidden behind a weathered brick façade and towering wooden doors, its central courtyard houses Azul Histórico, one of the city’s best restaurants, and, downstairs, is lined with small, high-end shops selling indigenous clothes, crafts and jewelry. The 17 guest rooms are set along a double staircase rising from the courtyard to the third floor. They’re a stunning mix of tile floors and clay-brick vaulted ceilings.
In truth, the soot-covered colonial enWHY virons of this central neighborhood, including the Zócalo — the largest plaza in Latin America, have a seedy kind of hustle and bustle. But there’s little point in going to Mexico City, a sprawling planet onto itself, without seeing this indispensable pocket of history. Don’t miss the soaring Metropolitan Cathedral, also the largest in the Americas, and the abutting ruins of the Aztecs’ Templo Mayor.
WORKING WELL A highlight is the daily breakfast buffet, a gorgeous array of delicacies served in a casually stunning open-air space under centuries-old arches at the top of the central staircase. It’s a gorgeous, serene spot with a gray-and-white tile floor, oversize red couches and elegant service.
The hotel’s best and most NEEDS WORK spacious suites face the street, which is loud. Double-pane windows muffle the noise, but it’s tempting to fling open the windows to the scene below. It’s a fair trade-off, though, given the location. DON’T MISS In a hotel filled with wonderful venues, three stand out: the spare, beautiful rooftop bar and pool (whose comfortable loungers add a bright pop of yellow); Que Bo! chocolatería, which overlooks a small interior courtyard’s stunning vertical garden; and the Cielito Querido coffee spot for delicious espresso and sweets. BOTTOM LINE After a day of sightseeing, there’s no better soft landing than Downtown. Its seemingly effortless mix of high style, landmark buildings and hidden spaces make it the perfect respite.
From $195; DowntownMexico.com. DETAILS — Roberta Bernstein (The author was hosted by the hotel.)