Casa Oaxaca Hotel

More of the “Favorite Aunt” than a “Grand Dame,” Casa Oaxaca represents the traditional beating heart of warm Oaxacan hospitality. Guests here enjoy old-growth flowers and vines throughout the central courtyard as they take their typical Oaxacan breakfasts, while a veteran team of hotel staff go above and beyond to provide the kind of white-glove service you’d expect from a much fancier property.

Don’t Miss: Breakfast in the courtyard or dinner at the renowned sister restaurant around the corner

The Standout: A long-tenured staff that takes deep pride in offering the best-of-the-best among boutique hotels in central Oaxaca

• Colorful colonial architecture with unique room and suite configurations
• An in-ground pool—a rare find in the city center
• The two-to-one ratio of staff to rooms, which ensures no need goes unattended

It’s easy to mistake the family-owned Casa Oaxaca’s façade for a private home: floor-to-ceiling shutters on the street level open on a traditional kitchen and dining room, where cheerful cooks prepare tortillas and salsas by hand. But the nondescript white door actually reveals an airy lobby alongside that cozy dining room. Beyond is a wide arcaded courtyard where most guests prefer to take their breakfast or lunch under the shade of old trees and bougainvillea.

With only 10 rooms—each distinct in size and features—this historic hotel has the feeling of a traditional mansion in the heart of Oaxaca City. Intimate nooks on the ground level and the patios above are ideal places to enjoy a margarita with friends or a quiet sunset moment with a loved one. But while the property might be tranquil, it certainly isn’t sleepy. Locals frequent the restaurant all day for leisurely meals and to catch up with the staff and owners, including the general manager who’s been leading the hotel since it opened over 25 years ago. For dinner, the family’s Casa Oaxaca restaurant is just a few blocks away and consistently ranks among the best places to enjoy fine Oaxacan cuisine.

What guests give up in on-property amenities like a spa, fitness center or multiple dining outlets, they get back in spades with comfort, service and soul. Casa Oaxaca has the classic elegance of a property that might have once hosted Hollywood stars of the mid-century or thoughtful writers on a Mexican sojourn, and under the attentive care of the property’s staff, guests may check out feeling like they too have written a chapter of the house’s history.

Travelers looking to be fully immersed in the traditional hospitality and atmosphere of Oaxaca City, who are willing to sacrifice some creature comforts