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The rooftop terrace of the Downtown Mexico hotel affords views of Mexico City’s Centro Historico |
The easiest place in Mexico to fall in love with the country is Mexico City, one of the destination’s most beautiful urban landscapes, which, for some reason, is still relatively untapped by the U.S. market. Travel Agent returned recently from a weekend getaway there, and if we were in love before, we are undoubtedly head-over-heels now.
A frenetic energy pulses through the streets of Mexico City. Bright colors catch your eyes at every turn, while mouth-watering aromas waft from doorways where sizzling street meats turn on spits. The city is both ancient Latin America and modern cosmopolitan Euro-chic, and is a must for any traveler who is looking for the next hot place to visit.
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Be sure to check clients into one of the many Grupo Habita hotels in the city. These boutique hotels are scattered throughout Mexico (and even have a New York presence with Hotel Americano), and have feels that are all their own. We stayed at the newest, the Downtown Mexico, which is in the heart of the Centro Historico, just steps from the Zocalo.
The hotel sits in a 17th-century palace and has only 17 rooms, all surrounding an inner courtyard. The design is minimalist-chic (think gray tones, exposed beams and plenty of stonework). The rooms are a mix of slate grays, browns and a pop of bold orange. iPod docking stations rest in the headboard of the bed frame, and flat-screen TVs are mounted on the walls.
Inside the palace guests can wind their way from room to room on the mezzanine level to discover different shops, including two Mexican restaurants, one tapas restaurant, an artisanal Mexican chocolate shop, a mescal bar, art galleries, a jewelry shop and more. Our favorite spot in the hotel was the rooftop pool deck, from which you can see over into the Zocalo.
For bookings, reach out to Sales Manager Carl Duverger ([email protected], 52-55-5280-1813).
To help us during our stay, Travel Agent got in touch with Journey Mexico, experts in all things luxury in Mexico. Founded by U.S. native Zachary Rabinor, this exclusive operation can cater to a wealth of interests and experiences south of the border, from beaches and wellness to native crafts, adventure, food and wine, and archaeology. The company is able to set up private tours, as well as group experiences, family vacations and honeymoons.
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Rabinor is all about insider access, luxury and personalization. Journey Mexico is in touch with the country’s hottest restaurants, bars, street food vendors and anything else you can think of when crafting a vacation there. In addition to the popular destinations like Cancun, Acapulco and Los Cabos, Journey Mexico takes travelers to the lesser-known regions such as Copper Canyon, Oaxaca, the Pacific Coast and Chiapas.
We were met at Benito Juarez International Airport and whisked off to the National Museum of Anthropology for a private tour with expert guide Juan Carlos, who is beyond passionate about the Mexican capital and its history and culture. The following day, he took us on a private walking tour of the city’s gut-popping markets and street food. Filled with tacos, churros, quesadillas, tortas and fruit juices, we gained a new appreciation for the authenticity of Mexico City’s street eats.