La Purificadora

If not for the Grupo Habita, Mexico would be short about half a dozen very fine modern hotels. And if not for Habita’s newest, La Purificadora, the little colonial city of Puebla (on the road from Mexico City to Oaxaca) would likely be off our radar entirely.

This 19th-century water processing plant (hence the name) and bottling factory was redesigned by the famous Mexican modernist architect Ricardo Legorreta, the man behind Mexico City’s famous Camino Real hotel. It’s a departure from the style of his brightly colored mid-century masterpiece, but then again it’s not the middle of the century anymore — aside from some judiciously applied violets, La Purificadora is fairly austere, in blacks, whites, and natural wood and stone, with the exterior walls and some interior surfaces remaining untouched and unpainted.

La Purificadora’s twenty-six rooms are more welcoming, less stark, as they ought to be — comfort is key, and architectural heroics are limited to the occasional balcony or, in the case of the Top Suite, a room-length terrace. Other highlights include a 30-meter (not a typo) elevated swimming pool, a restaurant with an outdoor patio, and an extensive wine cellar — more fun than water, any day.

Please note:
From June 25 through July 1 the convention center adjacent to La Purificadora hosts a public musical event whose volume levels are high enough to be clearly heard within the hotel. Sensitive sleepers may wish to avoid La Purificadora during this time.

How to get there:
La Purificadora is approximately a 20 minute drive from Puebla-Hermanos Serdán International Airport. Transfers can be arranged for USD52 for up to 2 guests, each way. Transfers can also be organized from the Mexico City Airport for USD152 for up to 2 guests, each way.