Dos Casas Hotel & Spa

If you’ve done much traveling in Mexico — if you’ve wandered through Frida Kahlo’s blue house in Coyoacán or the candlelit convents of Oaxaca — you know that Mexico practically invented the concept of colonial charm. Adobe walls climbing with vine, colorfully tiled open-air patios, tin lanterns glowing in leafy courtyard gardens: they’ve got this aesthetic down pat. So it is at Dos Casas Hotel & Spa in San Miguel de Allende, a postcard-pretty colonial city in the central highlands of Guanajuato.

As even the most elementary Spanish student would guess, the hotel comprises two adjoining houses. They’re colonial, dating back to the 18th century (a third building, added in 2009, contains the spa) and located just steps from the UNESCO-designated historic center. But after years of thoughtful renovations under the direction of architect-designer Alberto Laposse, the look has a midcentury modern twist. Romantic stone archways and Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair? Original wood-beamed ceilings and modern Latin American art? Yes, please.

The two houses contain just twelve guest rooms. The standard is the Design Room, featuring 400-thread count linens, a Nespresso machine, a wine fridge, free wi-fi, and a marble bathtub and rain shower with products by London brand Aromatherapy Associates. On the other end of the spectrum is the Townhouse, a lavish three-story suite with its own private entrance and a rooftop terrace with a jacuzzi and panoramic views.

Not to worry: you’re at Dos Casas. There’s more than one house, and more than one rooftop terrace. And the second one, a communal terrace, is for the rest of us. It’s an ideal vantage point from which to look down at the skyline of the 16th-century Centro Histórico. You’ll want to reserve ahead for dinner at Áperi, the hotel’s hip and very popular restaurant. With a modern menu built around fresh local ingredients, it’s a hit with local foodies and travelers alike. Go for a candlelit table on the patio.