Mexico City is home to countless hotels, but I’ve never stayed anywhere quite like Las Alcobas, a member of Marriott’s Luxury Collection set in the heart of the upscale city’s Polanco district.
This 35-room property expertly combines upscale amenities and services with unique, locally inspired touches to create an especially welcoming guest experience. In addition, a recent renovation has refreshed the property with new bedding, carpets, window treatments and decor, as well as a new menu of customizable city excursions for guests.
Upon arrival, my eyes were immediately drawn to the central staircase, a stunning circular affair lined with glossy rosewood. This eye-catching centerpiece is just one example of the hotel’s design-forward approach, which manages to balance chic style with inviting comfort.
The central staircase is a jaw-dropping visual, showcasing the property’s design-forward approach.
Credit: 2023 Las AlcobasHotel Accommodations
Las Alcobas offers a number of enticing accommodation options. Travelers seeking lots of space and an inspiring view, for example, should opt for the Masaryk Suite, a light-filled corner suite with a large, wraparound terrace and indoor-outdoor fireplace.
I stayed in room 65, a handsomely appointed standard room that, while compact in size, offered thoughtful features including a couch, work desk, king-size bed, large-screen television and a fold-out, three-piece mirror perfect for dressing. I appreciated the ability to control both lighting and curtains from the bedside unit.
The most memorable features in the Las Alcobas guestrooms, however, are those inspired by local culture. Beautiful “alebrijes” (colorful Mexican folk art sculptures) sit in the closets of every room, and the Bulgari bathroom amenities are complemented by fragrant handmade soaps, with varieties that include rose petal and amaranth, and milk and honey.
I was especially charmed by the minibar, which is accessed by opening a cabinet door designed to mimic the architectural style of the Mexico City cathedral’s doors. Rather than the usual stock of boring, internationally branded snacks, Las Alcobas minibars are stocked with a variety of Mexican treats, including freshly made potato chips and Carlos V chocolate bars. Even better, all the snacks and nonalcoholic beverages in the minibar are free. Mezcal, tequila and vodka are among the spirits offered in the minibar.
On-Site and Local Activities
Guests looking to pamper themselves at Las Alcobas may want to reserve some time at Aurora Spa, which is in the midst of introducing a new menu of treatments. I opted to treat my taste buds instead with a dinner at Anatol, the hotel’s lovely fine-dining restaurant. I sipped a signature Bloody Oaxacan cocktail — made with mezcal, ginger and pineapple juice — while digging into delicious pumpkin tempura and spinach ravioli. Foodies take note: Within the next year, the hotel will debut a second restaurant concept, set in a space formerly occupied by Dulce Patria restaurant.
Anatol is the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant.
Credit: 2022 Las AlcobasGuests can find an array of activities just outside the hotel, too, thanks to its prime location on President Masaryk Avenue, just steps from a variety of upscale dining, drinking and shopping venues. It’s also a quick Uber ride (or a manageable walk) from top institutions like Museo Soumaya, Museo Jumex and the National Anthropology Museum, which is located in Chapultepec Park.
To make it even easier for hotel guests to make the most of their visit, the property recently introduced “Best of Mexico City: Curated Experiences by Las Alcobas,” a new program of half- and full-day private tours. Options include “Birth of the New City – Burial of a Civilization,” which explores Aztec heritage and Spanish colonial architecture in the historic city center, and “Art Experience,” which provides an in-depth look at the lives of artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera during a visit to their former homes and galleries in the Coyoacan neighborhood.
Mexico City’s Growing Appeal
The hotel’s new tour options are especially well-timed to satisfy the evolving needs of travelers, according to Samuel Leizorek, founder and CEO of Las Alcobas Hotels.
People who are coming to Mexico City now have a more sophisticated expectation of the city as a whole.
“People who are coming to Mexico City now have a more sophisticated expectation of the city as a whole,” he said, noting the appeal of the area’s historical sites, as well as its modern culinary and cultural scene. “They see it as a very complete destination. It’s a big city where you get the metropolitan lifestyle, but you still have the uniqueness, with colors, flavors and experiences that are completely unique to the destination.”
Leizorek says one of his property’s fastest-growing segments is related to celebration travel.
“We’re becoming a weekend party celebration destination,” he said. “The number of groups coming to celebrate a 40th or 50th birthday in the hotel, [booking] anywhere between 10 to 25 rooms, has grown significantly within the past couple years. We work very closely with them to create an incredible itinerary with special dinners and parties. We take care of all the transportation and curate all the experiences.”
