Housed in a colonial mansion built in 1845, this boutique hotel blends bygone Old World elegance with reasonably modern comforts. The lobby is compact and simple, with marble floors and contemporary chairs clustered, but a lovely wrought iron door leads to the inner atrium patio, with several comfortable sofas, vintage fans swirling overhead, and plenty of natural light spilling. Two colonnaded floors of open-air hallways lined with decorative floor tiles and large, intricately carved guest room doors circle above, and grand marble staircases, iron lanterns, and decorative molding complete the picture. The patio doubles as breakfast area and there’s a collection of tables and chairs surrounding a pretty blue-tiled fountain while colorful Mexican arts and crafts adorn the cream walls. Guests can also relax in the beautiful outdoor courtyard with a bar and pool, as well as vine-covered walls and glimpses of the Merida Cathedral towers.

This centrally located hotel is less than a block away from Merida’s main square, the Zocalo, an area flanked by some of the city’s top sights, including the Merida Cathedral, the Montejo House Museum, the MACAY Museum of Contemporary Art, City Hall, and the State Capitol Building. There are many shops, restaurants, and bars in the surrounding area, and the Paseo Montejo -- the city's main avenue that's modeled after Paris' Champs Elysees and lined with shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, mansions, and museums -- is about a 13-minute walk from the property. The ancient Mayan ruins at Uxmal are just over an hour’s drive, while Chichen Itza and Mayapan are about an hour and a half away. The Merida International Airport is 20 minutes from the hotel by car or taxi.

Though rooms are generally pleasant, with brown decorative tiled floors and duvet-covered canopy beds, decor is spare, with bare white walls and simple, wooden furniture, much of which shows wear and tear. High ceilings give the illusion of space, but some Standard Rooms are cramped and we noticed some dirty tilework near the walls. All rooms have small sitting areas, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, bottled water, and free Wi-Fi, while many also have private unfurnished balconies. Bathrooms are tiny and simple, covered in cream tiles with narrow walk-in showers, marble vanities, and modern, if slightly outdated, fixtures. They have limited toiletries and we also spotted a bit of dirty grout in bathrooms when we visited as well. Presidential Suites offer more space and a larger seating area with vintage wicker furniture, a dining area, an elegant four-poster bed, a DVD player, and coffeemaker. However, the freestanding soaking tub in the main room can pose some privacy issues. Guests should keep in mind that some rooms have no windows and others can pick up a substantial amount of noise from the street and atrium.

The hotel's lovely outdoor pool is surrounded by a concrete terrace with ample lounge chairs, shaded tables, and hammocks in a charming, ivy-covered courtyard with lush greenery. It's great for morning coffee and has a laid-back, modern bar glimpses of Merida Cathedral's beautiful towers over the vine-covered walls. There is a good on-site restaurant as well as a private grotto-style dining area, and breakfast, served in the hotel's vibrant atrium, is not included with bookings. The hotel also has a tiny fitness area, though it's located in an open-air hallway and the equipment can use an update. A small spa treatment area that's separated from the fitness area by a translucent curtain sits adjacent and is open to atrium noises, so privacy is limited. A computer is available for guest use in another hallway, though Wi-Fi is free throughout, and laundry service can be arranged.