Historic architecture at Condesa Haus in Mexico City.
During my recent visit to Mexico City to moderate a panel at the LGBT Confex conference, I stayed two nights at Condesa Haus, a bed-and-breakfast style property in the upscale Condesa district. This is a review of my experience from my Latin America travel blog, LatinFlyer.com, during my trip to Mexico‘s amazing capital city.
THE STYLE: Set on a quiet side street in the trendy neighborhood called Condesa, this Mexico City hotel could be easy to miss if you’re not looking for it; there is no sign on the facade — it just looks like one of those lovely older homes that line the streets of Condesa. But step inside and you’re in for a treat; this former private residence, built in 1935, is graced with beautiful architectural details like interior balconies, arches and stained-glass windows. The furnishings combine classic style with contemporary touches (the property actually belonged to the grandmother of a friend of the current owner — adding yet another interesting layer of history to Condesa Haus).
The staff at Condesa Haus is especially friendly and helpful, and great at offering tips for local dining and activities. The owner, Fernando, has created an ambiance with a personal touch for travelers looking for a decidedly non-chain hotel experience.
Antique furnishings in the Porfirio Suite at Condesa Haus hotel in Mexico City.
GUEST ROOMS: Each of the guest rooms at this Mexico City hotel is unique and bears an evocative name. I stayed in Tepito, a ground-floor room with self-described “eclectic” decor — basic but attractive and spacious, with a work desk, flat-screen TV, arm chair and separate door that opens onto the shared back patio. The modern bathroom is lined with beautiful tiles and has two sinks and a large shower with two shower heads.
I also checked out two very noteworthy rooms: The Porfirio, which features lovely antique furnishings including a clawfoot bathtub (in addition to a more modern shower), original wood flooring and vintage lamps. Also attractive is the Puebla room, so named because its bathroom — which was once the only bathroom in the entire home — is lined with gorgeous talavera blue tiles, made in the city of Puebla. Above the bathtub is an equally pretty stained-glass window, which is original to the house as well.
Condesa Haus also has several suites, designed for longer stays, with kitchens and dining areas.
All rooms include free WiFi, air conditioning, safe deposit box and a breakfast that’s served between 8am and 11am.
HOTEL FEATURES: The dining room has a long table that’s perfect for setting up your computer or device and doing some work, if you feel like leaving your guest room. Also pleasant is the small patio in back, which has tables and chairs (as well as a decorative vintage barbershop chair). And the cozy rooftop deck — which was being renovated during my visit — receives a lot of sunlight and is good for sunbathing (not that I sunbathe, but hey, you’re welcome to do so!).
The location is a big selling point for travelers looking for a quiet and sophisticated neighborhood; within a few blocks are countless small, stylish cafes, restaurants and shops — and there are also a few lovely parks, including most notably Parque México. (There’s even a tiny park on the same block as the hotel with outdoor gym workout equipment.)
BEST FOR: Leisure and business travelers looking for good amenities and service, as well as a beautiful ambiance, at a reasonable price, in a quiet neighborhood with easy access to exceptionally cool dining opportunities.