While there are probably a hundred hotels, B&Bs, and rental apartments around the UNESCO World Heritage center of Guanajuato, Mexico, there’s always been one problem for upscale travelers: the best two luxury hotels in town were a long hike away. This means visitors who were looking for the best often ended up taking taxis back and forth instead of stepping out their door and strolling.
View from a suite at Casona de Don Lucas
Keep in mind that Quinta las Acacias and Villa Maria Cristina are perfectly fine places to stay, but those who want to walk out their door and be in the middle of the action have far more choices now, with surprisingly plush rooms. These five hotels are all just steps from Guanajuato’s main attractions and all the outdoor cafes you can enjoy each month of the year.
Hotel 1850 Boutique
Like a movie that’s destined to be #1 at the box office on its opening weekend, this hotel situated right next to the park in the center of Guanajuato was a sure bet to get lots of attention. It made the most of the historic building (from 1850 of course), but this is no homage to Spanish colonialism. It’s more Mexico City than the heartland, with whimsical modern furniture, surprises around every corner, and rotating art installations. Each room is decorated differently and each is a real work of art, with serious though put into each element.
The roof deck bar here is a real highlight, with tables lit from within and a view of Teatro Juarez and two local churches lit up at night. When it comes to English proficiency, Hotel 1850 is miles ahead of anyone else in town, so for those who aren’t functional in Spanish, it’s a real refuge in the heart of the historic center. See a more detailed review here, great pics on the official website, or deals online at Hotels.com.
Edelmira Hotel Boutique
Hotel Edelmira is just around the corner from Hotel 1850 and is a nice alternative if that one’s full. It is historic on the outside, sleek on the inside. The small indoor pool is really a plunge, but the restaurant is good and the rooms are well-equipped. The 27 rooms range from single-person ones with a double bed to spacious suites with a full living room and a sofa bed for a child. The top ones face the outside of the building and have a balcony, but the interior ones are quieter.
The owners of Edelmira have several other properties in town, so the staff is experienced. As with most hotels in this city, however, English proficiency is not a given. Rates run from under $150 to a shade over $200 double most of the year. With the right package, that includes breakfast for two. See our detailed review of Edelmira and check Edelmira rates here.
Casa del Rector Hotel Boutique
Located on Calle Positos between the university and the Alhondiga colonial-era granary, Casa del Rector Hotel is the latest upscale addition to the Guanajuato Centro scene, opened in late 2016. Just a few steps from the home where Diego Rivera lived as a child, it’s walking distance to nearly anywhere you would want to go.
The owners did a terrific job in restoring the old rectory building to glory while also expanding upward in the back to add modern guest rooms, a swimming pool, and a roof bar. A glass elevator takes you to the top. When the 13 rooms are close to full or there’s something going on in town, there are two restaurants and an additional courtyard bar open as well. This being an eternal spring climate in the highlands, you can sit outside all year.
White painted rooms are well-equipped with all the luxe touches and have a good mix of period elements for a sense of place mixed with some complimenting contemporary pieces to keep the sleeping quarters from getting too dark and dowdy. Rates generally run $160 to $490 before taxes, the latter being for the Presidential Suite. This includes valet parking. See a more detailed review of Casa del Rector here and check rates online.
La Casona de Don Lucas
Situated right on the main street winding through the city and on the plaza in front of the landmark Basilica church, this hotel is a bit more modest, but is a nice step up from the numerous budget inns nearby.
In a building that’s a century and a half old, rooms here are quirky, large, and full of character. Most are suites with a separate kitchenette and dining area, while the best is a 2nd-floor suite with a loft bedroom and the view you see at the top of this post. Rooms on the upper floors are also preferable for their high beamed ceilings and bigger windows.
The furniture is eclectic and the shower spaces are kind of tight, but there’s plenty of room and sitting areas. As with all Mexican hotels in this region, there’s no charge for Wi-Fi.
Almost all the suites are $140 or so a night with breakfast (before taxes), but plan ahead if you’ll be here during a Mexican holiday or during the Cervantino Festival. If you can read Spanish, see more at the La Casona de Don Lucas website. Otherwise, check rates on Priceline.
Hotel San Diego in Guanajuato
You can’t get any closer to the center of the main pedestrian street in Guanajuato than you can staying at Hotel San Diego. It’s by one of the oldest churches, looks out on the main plaza, and you’ll be serenaded by the singing students dressed up like historic Spaniards that do roaming tours of the alleys.
This hotel mainly caters to Mexican tourists and it looked stuck in time for many years, but they used the pandemic slump to spruce things up and do some renovations. The Italian restaurant on the second floor is one of the best in town and is an especially great option if you can get one of the tables overlooking the action on the street below. The main website is in Spanish only, so it’s best to go to the Expedia listing instead for info and booking. Rooms sometimes dip below $50 a night here for the interior (quieter) ones, but if you want to look out on the city, go up one level to face out.
Hotel La Notaria
If you’d prefer a small and hip boutique hotel with nice rooms and a great roof restaurant, check into one of Guanajuato’s newest hotels: La Notaria. A former office building from the 1600s converted into a modern hotel, this six-room property is just a block from the main plaza and Teatro Juarez.
Rooms are white with nice color pops, contemporary, and new. The real draw is the rooftop though, where you can sip cocktails, drink a Mexican craft beer, or order something to eat while you enjoy the great year-round weather. Rates run from $83 to $150 most weeks. Book direct with the hotel or see rates at Hotels.com.
You might have noticed that none of these are international chain hotels. If you’re looking to earn and cash in points from your loyalty program in this city, you’re mostly out of luck. The only chain hotel that’s within walking distance of Guanajuato’s historic center is the relatively new Hotel Indigo by Cantador Park, about a 25-minute walk from Teatro Juarez. (That park is quite nice though!) There’s a Holiday Inn Express on the edge of town by the bus station, but you’ll need to take a taxi to go anywhere interesting from there.
Want to get a good feel for the city and eat some authentic local items? Check out the best Guanajuato Tours, eating street food while walking around or hitting the bars and taco stands at night.
Other Guanajuato Hotels in the Historic Center
These aren’t the only Guanajuato hotels in the historic center, of course. If you don’t find what you want here or are looking for budget options, check the map further up in this post.
Story by editor Tim Leffel, who lives in Guanajuato and runs a company offering street food tours and historic Guanajuato walking tours there. Photos by Leffel except Edelmira shot, courtesy of the hotel. This round-up of Guanajuato hotels in the historic center was updated in October of 2023.