Best Luxury Hotels in Mexico

This Tulum escape will suit wannabe castaways down to the ground. Its proprietor Lio Malca has created a unique, bohemian and quirky resort. With a concealed entrance and sandwiched between wild jungle and sandy shores, it houses just 40 bedrooms filled with colourful enormous modern art pieces and oversized grand mirrors – for the ultimate treat, opt for a Master Suite Beach Front with hammocks and a private terrace. The hotel and grounds are rustic, yet super stylish with an eclectic mix of baroque and contemporary design, with more oversized sculptures and artwork. Of its three pools, one has a moodily magical underground grotto and the onsite restaurants offer truly sensory dining experiences.

Mexico City is now home to The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City. This will be the first hotel from the brand in this vibrant centre of commerce and culture. The luxury hotel will become one of the country’s tallest buildings, making it a key landmark on the city’s skyline and with a super central location on the iconic Paseo de Reforma guests will enjoy uninterrupted views of the famed Chapultepec Park from its 153 guestrooms and suites. The Ritz-Carlton Club® Lounge, an exclusive Club Concierge, a heated indoor swimming pool, large fitness centre with state-of-the-art equipment are all upscale amenities guests can enjoy. For those wishing to relax or rejuvenate, a signature Ritz-Carlton Spa, with six luxurious treatment rooms, is available. The Spa thoughtfully sources local ingredients and botanicals, which are then coupled with the healing and spiritual traditions of Mexico City’s Aztec culture. A truly localised experience. And for a one-of-a-kind dining experience, guests should make a reservation at Samos, the Mediterranean inspired restaurant which will occupy the 38th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City. Dishes will comprise dynamic local flavours with creative cuisine flair. For refined luxury with unparalleled views over the enchanting city, The Ritz-Carlton Mexico City is THE place to stay.

Dating back to 1576, this building served as the Convent of Santa Catalina de Siena until the mid-1700s. Now a boutique hotel, its frescoes, original tile floors, beamed ceilings, flower-filled gardens, stone courtyards and fountains make it a unique and enchanting place to stay. There are 91 classically decorated rooms (with air-con, a minibar, bathrobes and slippers), an alfresco restaurant, bar, a snack bar, a fitness centre and an outdoor pool. Quinta Real Oaxaca places travellers within a short walk of all of the city’s main attractions.

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.

The adults-only TRS Coral Hotel is the pinnacle of the Palladium Hotel Group’s adults-only portfolio of hotels. Sharing the same Costa Mujeres property as the Grand Palladium Resort & Spa, the TRS Coral Hotel is on a beautiful beach in a less-developed area. About 30 minutes drive from Cancun. Guests not only have access to the hotel’s exclusive a la carte restaurants, and designer bars but also all the facilities and dining options of the Grand Palladium. The hotel is all-inclusive with a new approach of ‘Infinite Indulgence’, with no limits for guests. The service includes a premium all-inclusive package, such as a fully personalised and stocked in-room bar; as well as a personal butler and various other benefits such as a complimentary in-resort transfer facility, 24-hour room service (available via the property’s free app) and unlimited access to all the facilities and services offered at the next-door Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa.

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.

Featuring a striking neo-industrial design, Downtown Mexico is ideal for style seekers who are looking for a convenient place to unwind. The hotel is set in a former palace that was built in the 17th-century and has managed to retain its classic style while also offering guests plenty of contemporary touches such as the outdoor swimming pool that is set in a leafy garden and edged with bright yellow sun loungers and matching umbrellas. There are 17 rooms for guests to choose from and each bathroom comes with a large and elegant bathtub.

Peek across to the island of Cozumel from this immaculate resort in Playa del Carmen. Grand Velas has 531 rooms, six themed restaurants, two gyms and seven bars. Expect manicured lawns, high-end boutiques, perfectly tended sands and gleaming marble surfaces. The decor by Melín Castro Ardavín, is neutral, with mahogany furnishings, expansive walk-in showers and large terraces overlooking the ocean. Whether travelling as a family, or in need of some child-free time, it’s all possible here. There’s a kids’ club, but also a whole area of the resort reserved for over 18s, and a serene spa for some much-needed r&r.

This is true barefoot luxury – even a trip to the hotel’s bar and Mexican restaurant allows you to feel the sand between your toes. Guests are accommodated in huge thatched cabanas on stilts, with oversized mirrors artily leaning against the walls and muslin floating from four-poster handcrafted beds. The decor in the 21 suites revolves around richly hued wooden furnishings, offset by white textiles. There’s an appropriately lazy vibe here, with hammocks strung beachside and there’s a strong focus on sustainability, ensuring the local eco-system is supported rather than disturbed by its tourism.

Cool enough to appeal to visiting pop stars and actors, this chic ‘20s style hotel can be found in the stylish Roma district. Each of the 40 guest rooms are decorated in cool tones such as moss green and cream to emphasise the abundant light and space and each room opens out onto a large wooden terrace that is extremely inviting. The spa area is the ideal place to unwind and guests can choose from a series of hot tubs as well as a sauna and a traditional hammam.

The majority of this hotel is housed across two colonial buildings (hence the name), crafted with rich vintage materials like stone, marble, wood, metal, leather and brass. A third area makes up the Grecian-inspired spa, IRIS, where guests can take a sensory water journey informed by ancient practices. Dos Casas opened as boutique accommodation in 2004 and was remodelled a decade later (becoming San Miguel’s first Design Hotel) incorporating stylish early mid-century pieces and creating six room categories. Áperi is the venue’s open kitchen dining concept with cutting edge tasting menus and Le Garage is its avant-garde exhibition and events space.

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.