NH Collection Mexico City Reforma

The NH Collection Mexico City Reforma is outfitted in a modern-minimalist style that feels crisp and clean; a great match with its location in happening Zona Rosa. The color scheme is gray and white, with pops of bright red. The latter is employed in -- at times -- striking ways, like at the outdoor pool, where the red tiling is certainly a bold choice. The bar is a more stylish spot, with a feature wine wall, pendant lighting, and Eames-esque chairs. The hotel banks on the fact that most of its guests spend their days in meetings and their nights exploring the party-heavy and gay-friendly Zona Rosa neighborhood, and relies somewhat on its location and modern rooms to gloss over some service issues. As such, it’s best suited to younger -- or young-at-heart -- business travelers looking to work and play with the city’s best. The hotel knows its guests and with the party-hard nights come lazy weekends -- when it serves breakfast until late and offers free late check-out on Sundays, when possible.

The NH Collection Mexico City Reforma has a fun location in the Zona Rosa district -- a gay-friendly, party-friendly, and tourist-friendly area with plenty of boutiques, bars, night clubs, and restaurants. There are some sex shops in the vicinity, which may be off-putting to some. As of 2017, construction in the area is abundant, making getting around challenging for those with mobility issues. Even so, it's a convenient location for business travelers, as the hotel is a couple of blocks from Paseo de la Reforma, the main avenue in the financial district. The closest tourist sight is the Angel of Independence, a seven-minute walk away. It’s a three-minute walk to the Insurgentes Metro station, which reaches the historic center in around 15 minutes, for attractions like Palacio de Bellas Artes, the National Palace, Catedral Metropolitana, and Museo Nacional de Arte. By car, it’s five minutes to the leafy parklands of Bosque de Chapultepec and impressive Chapultepec Castle, as well as the Museo Nacional de Antropologia. Mexico City International Airport is a 35-minute drive depending on traffic.

Rooms are light and minimalist, with simple and modern white furniture, crisp white linens, hardwood floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows. All mod cons are provided, including air-conditioning, large flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, kettles and Nespresso machines -- supplied with a few free coffee pods and posh teas -- and minibars. The welcome candies, fresh flowers, and informative local magazines are a nice touch. Clean and contemporary fully-tiled bathrooms are housed in a glass cube within the room and have walk-in showers or shower/tub combos, plus make-up mirrors. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided. Entry-level Superior Rooms are 290 square feet (27 square meters). Premium Rooms have a little extra space and come with optional small terraces. Open-plan Junior Suites have seating areas and larger bathrooms with twin sinks. All rooms can sleep an additional guest on a rollaway bed. Top-floor rooms get spectacular views across the financial district's skyline. Previous guests comment on inconsistent experiences between rooms, as well as street noise from nearby bars and clubs (even on higher floors) -- worth noting if you’re not planning to join the late-night revelers. 

The hotel has a few notable features. The heated outdoor pool has a terrace with poolside service, and there's a small gym with a few treadmills, exercise bikes, and cardio machines. The restaurant focuses on Mexican and international dishes. Breakfast is a generous buffet-style affair (for a fee), and breakfasting hours cater for early risers as well as those who are inclined to sleep in. On weekends and public holidays, breakfast is served until late. There’s also a sleek bar for coffee and cocktails and 24-hour room service. For business travelers, the hotel has 10 functional meeting rooms and Wi-Fi is free throughout. There is on-site parking, but it costs extra and can’t be booked in advance.