Hotel Principal

Built in 1906, the Hotel Principal's Spanish colonial architecture is typical of the surrounding area, which is known for preserving its history. An old stone doorway with potted plants marks the entrance from the cobbled street, leading to the small, cozy lobby. Interiors are modern enough, decorated with marble tile floors and touches of gray. The hotel shares its building with a small chain restaurant, Parrilla Leonesa, which is located on the ground floor. It has a casual, family atmosphere, and many guests eat here. The restaurant is the only real communal area, so the rest of the hotel lacks atmosphere. Most guests are tourists looking for a cheap room for recharging while exploring the city, though some business travelers also stay here. Kids are welcome at the hotel, but it's not exactly a kid-oriented property. 

Hotel Principal is located in Mexico City's historic district, on Calle de Bolivar. The location is ideal for anyone exploring the city on foot, as it's within easy walking distance of numerous monuments, museums, shops, bars, and restaurants. The property is a five-minute walk from the Zocalo, while the National Art Museum is just down the street. Five minutes on foot in the other direction leads to Palacio de Bellas Artes and amazing churros at El Moro. Torre Latinoamericano is just one block away, and Templo Mayor (an ancient Aztec ruin site) is around a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Mexico City International Airport is roughly 25 minutes away by car, though traffic means you should usually budget up to an hour. The immediate area is considered safe for tourists, with a strong police presence on street corners. It's busy during the day, but has a quiet atmosphere at night. 

The hotel's 80 guest rooms have all been designed around an indoor glass-roofed atrium, resembling a bright conservatory. Unfortunately, they're small and stuffy, lacking both air-conditioning and fans. The decor is simple, with gray walls, laminated wood floors, and old-fashioned bedding on double or king beds. Furniture is kept simple, with small dark wood desks and open closets. Rooms have basic modern amenities, such as flat-screen TVs, phones, and safes. Free bottled water is a nice extra, and Wi-Fi is free, but slow. Tiled bathrooms are small and clean, with walk-in showers, hot water, and free basic toiletries. Some cheaper rooms have shared bathrooms. Larger Family Rooms are also available, which can sleep up to eight people. Noise can sometimes be heard from other guests in the corridors, so light sleepers might prefer to bring ear plugs. 

The hotel shares its building with Parrilla Leonesa, which is located on the ground floor next to the entrance. This small chain restaurant serves Mexican and international fare in a modern setting, and the affordable breakfast menu is liked by past guests. The restaurant also has a bar, and the atmosphere. Other than the restaurant, there's not much in the way of facilities. There's a small computer station next to the lobby, plus a pay phone and elevator. The front desk is open around the clock, and room service is available during limited hours. Other services include tour assistance and free Wi-Fi, though the internet doesn't work very well.