Best Luxury Hotels in Mexico

XELA Tulum is an intimate beachfront retreat in South Tulum with just 12 rooms and suites, offering the character of a private coastal residence framed by lush palms and natural materials. Set along a quiet stretch of shoreline, the hotel occupies what was once a private home, now transformed with a design approach that respects its original spirit while introducing crafted contemporary comforts. The décor blends organic architecture with Mexican craft heritage, where stone, warm timber, woven textiles, Zapotecan ceramics and over one hundred pieces of red clay pottery create a serene, tactile environment shaped by nature and culture.

Guests can dine on modern Mexican cuisine in the open-air restaurant, relax in the spacious living areas, or unwind on the beach with sun loungers and handcrafted umbrellas made by local artisans. The rooftop bar offers sunset views across the Caribbean Sea and Mayan jungle, while the infinity pool leads towards fifty metres of secluded shoreline. Hidden wellness cabins provide tailored treatments inspired by the region, complemented by a small garden-facing gym. XELA Tulum’s setting places guests close to Sian Ka’an Biosphere, Tulum Ruins, local dining spots and boutique shops, while the hotel can arrange cenote tours, cultural rituals, sound baths and personalised wellness sessions.

Having made its debut in October 2023, Secrets Tulum offers the latest in barefoot chic. The adults-only hideaway has been designed in circular blocks, with lots of neutral earthy shades and natural materials incorporated into the build. Book a junior suite, with a tropical or swim-up upgrade, or Preferred Club status for access to a private lounge, breakfast in the Rosewater seafood restaurant, a personal concierge service and an upgraded minibar. The amenities onsite include 14 bars and restaurants, a spa, rooftop and courtyard pools and another pool at the Beach Club.

Located in the lively Polanquito area, Kimpton Virgilio marks the debut of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in Mexico City and delivers the perfect balance between the cosiness and exclusivity of a boutique hotel with the support of IHG Hotels & Resorts. Offering 48 rooms designed with a sleek and contemporary Mexican aesthetic by Arquitectura de Interiores Studio, Kimpton Virgilio caters to both short-term and extended stays. The hotel emphasises a deep connection to Mexico City through every element, from locally crafted furniture and art to the latest music and decor, ensuring guests’ experiences are immersive and authentically local.  Kimpton Virgilio’s restaurant, Pepe: Mesa Española, is a street-side restaurant serving traditional Spanish cuisine with modern and international influences. The hotel’s commitment to highly personalised experiences can be tailored to its gastronomic offerings, design, and services, aiming to become a signature destination in Polanquito for sophisticated adventurers seeking a touch of local flavour.

Another of Oaxaca’s Design Hotels, this one lies on the pristine’s sands of the Oaxacan coast. Guests (aged 16 and over) are accommodated in palm-thatched pool villas with private terraces, but can also swim Olympic lengths in the enormous shared pool. During the day, meals are served in either of these locations or in the hotel’s restaurant, while in the evening, the chef prepares a small menu of daily changing specials. The decor and architecture gives the resort a castaway feel, aided by hammocks slung beside the pool. Visit Hotel Escondido between autumn and spring to be in with a chance of seeing turtles hatching on the adjacent beach.

This colourfully decorated hotel by W does a great job of harmonising both indigenous and contemporary local culture. Bedrooms in the 119 villa accommodations are decorated like a funky hacienda, with quirky wall murals, bright mismatched cushions and bold patterned floors. Some of the public areas could be mistaken for art installations – an incredible 751,184 tile ‘carpet’ mosaic runs up to and through the beach bar. The uber-contemporary pool area has swinging chairs, in-pool loungers and muslin-slung plush daybeds. W Punta De Mita also boasts six dining options, including a street food-inspired Spice market, a lush spa with an adult pool and a DJ on the decks.

A resort by Hilton, Conrad Punta Mita is found within the Litibú gated community. It offers a private stretch of beach, three outdoor pools, a spa, a 24-hour fitness suite, tennis and basketball courts and plunge pool suites. The dining options are many, with beach barbecues, an open-air beachside grill, a seafood-forward Aztec-themed eatery, a pool lunch spot and a very child-friendly Mexican restaurant. Plus there’s a coffee house and an artisanal cocktail bar. Connecting rooms and large, modern suites with living areas, make this a good choice for families.

With not one, but two stretches of beach along its perimeter, this is the top choice for water babies – or those wishing to lounge beside the ocean, being served tequila cocktails upon a wicker framed cabana. Waiters will also attend those in the infinity pool (yes, in the pool), bringing drinks to your precise spot. After all, with views this epic and temperatures so warm, you won’t want to budge. Indeed, the service throughout the Four Seasons is five-star attentive, with guests’ every micro-need met. Book a treatment at the Apuana Spa, play some sports, charter a yacht, dine on Las Cuevas beach at Bahía, eat Japanese-Mex dishes at Aramara, snack at the Shack or taco stand… the choice is yours.

A top-tier Marriott resort, The St Regis is large, but calm. Guests are ferried around the grounds in golf carts and provided with the brand’s signature butler service. 120 bedrooms are housed in a number of casitas, with decor that’s neutral upscale rustic and airy, outdoor showers and modern beamed ceilings. Multiple pools ensure every type of traveller – from families to honeymooning couples – can find their perfect sunbathing corner. Lush, manicured gardens lead onto the white sandy beach, where guests can take a seat on a cushioned teak lounger. The St Regis has five restaurants, several bars, a fitness room, tennis courts and a kids’ club.

A unique property tucked within the coastal rainforest, this Relais and Chateaux hotel feels especially intimate and secluded, making it a go-to for A-listers. It has a bar with a hot tub (and further hot tubs on suites’ rooftops), a spa offering locally-themed treatments, a riding ranch, an exquisite boutique and a magical natural-style pool with a graceful waterfall. Expressing the local terroir, its Tukipa Restaurant has spellbinding elevated views of the palm treetops and blue horizon beyond, creating gourmet cuisine from local Nayarita ingredients. While Tzamaika Ocean Grill places diners right on the silver sands, serving the finest fruits of the ocean.

Part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, this hotel is found in the Centro area of this Mexican city. It’s close to all the main attractions and offers a friendly, personal level of service. Designed by Artigas Arquitectos, there are 44 rooms and suites, all with a terrace or balcony looking over the garden or neighbouring cobbled streets. Also on-site, is the Nubye Spa providing balancing ancient rituals; a courtyard housing El Fogón de Don Enrique gourmet restaurant; Bar El Camino; and a rooftop area with a further restaurant, a pool and a sundeck.

Fusing the colour & history of the country’s colonial past, with the contemporary creativity of modern Mexico, Hotel Matilda is a compelling microcosm encapsulating the culinary and artistic energy of San Miguel de Allende. This award-winning city boutique hotel of designer rooms & suites offers guests a stylish lounge bar called Müi (known for its creative mixology); a secluded sunbathing deck; a striking infinite pool, which cascades down into the garden of the intimate spa; and also signature contemporary Mexican dining at the hotel’s acclaimed Moxi Restaurant.

This small luxury hotel is a six-bedroom mansion house with a colourful history. Its 18th ecclesiastical heritage can still be seen in the large biblical mural adorning the main courtyard. And more recently, it served as the home of artist and fashion photographer, Deborah Turbeville (the library contains exhibits of her work). Now a UNESCO site, it was transformed into a hotel in 2017, featuring a garden dedicated to poet Federico García Lorca, an ancient Indian aqueduct, a bar terrace, original artworks and individually designed bedrooms with Bulgari toiletries, international artefacts and antique furnishings.