11 Best Hotels in Mexico City, Mexico

This thoughtfully appointed B&B in a stately 19th-century brick building is an attractive option for those looking for a homey, eco-friendly, design-forward base in one of Mexico City's emerging artsy neighborhoods, San Rafael. Slightly off the beaten path on a gallery-filled street several blocks northwest of the Monumento a la Revolución, El Patio's verdant garden area greets you upon arrival; inside, checkerboard-tile floors and spiral staircases lead you to eight themed guest rooms, each named for and decorated in the style of a different region of Mexico. Solar-powered heaters, various water-saving initiatives, and reclaimed or repurposed furnishings give El Patio its green tint.

Among the most luxurious hotels in the capital, this eight-story hotel was modeled after the 18th-century Iturbide Palace—it even has a traditional inner courtyard with a fountain. More than half the rooms overlook this courtyard. A yearlong, $14 million full renovation is underway, slated for completion in mid-2015; look out for new restaurants serving Italian and contemporary Mexican cuisine, a French bakeshop, and an English-style barbershop. The bar off the garden is a perfect predinner option.

Location gives this ultramodern hotel an edge; it's on a quiet street, but plenty of shops, restaurants, and nightspots are nearby. Service and facilities are faultless; advantages include a rooftop pool with sundeck, a secure underground parking lot, and 24-hour room service.

This five-story 1907 hotel, referred to locally as El Génova, has a pleasant lobby whose atmosphere successfully combines elegance and whimsy. Guest rooms are small but comfortable, with modern furnishings. The clubby Phone Bar has a Brit-rock theme and a classic London phone booth in the center. The small, Wonderland-esque Veranda Bistro features a living wall, checkerboard-tile floor, playful accents, and a menu of contemporary Mexican cuisine.

This Spanish colonial–style gem is a Mexico City classic. Impeccably maintained since it was built in 1937, the building surrounds a delightful garden courtyard—the backdrop for the hotel bar. Three apartment-style master suites come complete with hot tubs. In a quiet residential neighborhood near Parque Sullivan, the hotel is close to the Zona Rosa.

This plush, privately owned member of the Leading Hotels of the World is within walking distance of the Zona Rosa. Its art nouveau facade combines pink stone and curved glass, and the lobby is filled with an eclectic sculpture collection selected by the owners. Rooms and suites are spacious, with a recently renovated look that tempers the dominant art deco theme with modern elements. The pool and gym are in glass-enclosed atriums that make you feel as if you're outdoors, while the spa is the most elegant space, offering an extensive menu of massages, facials, and body treatments. The property is home to several restaurants, including a newly added piano bar, Sikeiros.

There's a stylish lobby cocktail lounge and a restaurant that serves excellent international cuisine in this 1960s-era business hotel that is undergoing a renovation at this writing. Rooms have business travelers in mind, and the newly refreshed look imparts a minimalist vibe, with neutral colors and dark hardwood floors. However, not all rooms had been renovated by the end of 2014 as a part of an ongoing renovation.

Hidden away in a quiet spot three blocks from the hustle and bustle of the Zona Rosa, this hotel is convenient to restaurants, bars, and shops, but much more affordable than some of its more central counterparts. The rooms are fresh and clean, decorated in a bright Mexican colonial style with splashes of bright purples, oranges, yellows, and blues. Suites, suitable for up to four people, are ideal for families. The Argentine restaurant hosts tango lessons on Saturday night and serves delicious steak dishes.

The decor is minimalist and quirky: walls are awash with electric colors, the furniture is asymmetrical, the accents are futuristic. Flat-screen TVs and free Internet access in every room are nice touches. Suites on the top floor all have balconies with decent views.

The first international chain hotel in Mexico City still has an incomparable location, exemplary service, and even cachet, but its modern competition is beginning to eclipse it. Don Antenor Patiño, the Bolivian "Tin King," inaugurated this Mexico City classic in 1969, and named it after his granddaughter, socialite Isabel Goldsmith. The marble lobby has gleaming brass fixtures. The well-maintained guest rooms feature extra-comfy Posturepedic mattresses, goose-down (or hypoallergenic) pillows, and coffee makers, while the pricier Club rooms boast free bottled water (replenished daily) and access to the fitness center and Club lounge; rooms are currently undergoing a gradual renovation, due to be completed in late 2015. Penthouse suites in the 22-story tower are extra spacious and have butler service.

The intimate layout and bespoke service provide the ultimate sanctuary from urban chaos—despite being in one of the busiest sections of the city and in one of the tallest towers. A compilation of work by world-renowned architects, interior designers, and artists, the hotel is a stunning representation of modern elegance. The well-appointed rooms all have superb views of the city, personal butler service, and double-paned windows which eliminate almost all external noise. A cocktail on the palm-tree-lined terrace of the King Cole Bar is a great way to wrap up a business meeting or relax after a day of sightseeing. Coming soon: the Krug Room, a capacity-12 culinary laboratory dubbed "Mexico's smallest restaurant," where dishes will be created to pair with Krug champagne.