Hotel Casa San Angel

This charming boutique hotel housed in a lovely colonial house offers atmospheric interiors full of beautiful details and traditional Mexican touches mixed with Persian accents (the owner hails from Iran). The gorgeous inner courtyard patio is wreathed in greenery, with lush potted plants and palm trees flanking columns and vines climbing up archways and spilling down from wrought-iron balconies overlooking the scene from above. The effect is that of a tropical jungle scene, further emphasized by the verdant murals decorating the walls of the cloister bounding the courtyard. This area is filled with a selection of mismatched furniture like rocking chairs, wicker seating, and wooden sofas and chairs adorned with intricate carvings clustered around coffee tables. Star-shaped lights dangle from above. Open-air hallways above the courtyard are also lined with potted plants and offer comfortable seating and hammocks. The property mainly attracts couples and does not allow children under 12, which helps maintain the tranquil and relaxed atmosphere.

The hotel occupies a convenient location right at the beginning of Paseo Montejo, Merida’s main avenue. This prestigious street was modeled after the Champs Elysees, and it's lined with shops, restaurants, and bars, as well as colonial-style mansions and museums. Several sights are within walking distance, such as the Merida Cathedral (an 11-minute walk), the MACAY Museum (a 14-minute walk), and the Casa Montejo Museum (a 15-minute walk). Several ancient Mayan ruins can be reached in about an hour’s drive, such as Uxmal, while Mayapan and Chichen Itza are about an hour and a half away. The train station is about a 10-minute walk from the property. The Merida International Airport can be reached in about 20 minutes by car.

Spacious, homey rooms feature traditional Mexican details like patterned rugs and beds topped with colorful textiles coupled with wooden furnishings and bright walls in warm peach shades or cool blues. All rooms have HD flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, telephones, safes, fluffy bathrobes, and free Wi-Fi, but lack tea- and coffee-making facilities, minibars, or mini-fridges. Hammocks that can be strung across the room are a nice touch. Bathrooms are clean and pleasant, with decorative tile details and rustic, wooden shelves and vanities, as well as walk-in showers, hairdryers, and a range of bath products. There have been some complaints, however, that certain rooms get noise from the courtyard and reception area.

The hotel’s restaurant serves tasty Mexican cuisine in a lovely space, though some guests complain that the menu is limited. The property has a gorgeous inner courtyard patio that offers a charming space to relax amid tropical greenery sprouting from pots and dangling from balconies above. The space offers lots of comfortable seating, including hammocks, and walls are covered in beautiful jungle murals. The grounds also include a small outdoor pool with a couple of lounge chairs. There’s a lovely on-site boutique as well that sells various arts and crafts from local artists, like ceramics and textiles from the region. Massage treatments are available. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and parking is available nearby. Note that the hotel does not allow kids under 12.