casa9 zocalo

History is relative in Mexico City, where Spanish churches and palaces stand on sites once occupied by Aztec temples and pyramids. Such is the case at Casa9 Zocalo, a new boutique hotel located in one of the oldest houses in Mexico City, which itself stands on the grounds of an older ceremonial temple. Needless to say, Casa9 has deep historical roots, and the property has once more undergone a transformation, as a team of architects, blacksmiths, stonemasons, and carpenters has restored the house’s colonial grandeur.

The result is striking. Passing through the entryway — handily located downtown, as the name indicates, across the street from the zócalo or central square — is like stepping back in time. The central patio is framed by soaring stone archways and romantic greenery, while wide open-air staircases lead to the upper level with just three rooms and suites. Each is a quiet retreat from the busy streets outside, with large shuttered windows or French doors opening over the courtyard. They’re outfitted from top to bottom in polished wood, from the beamed ceilings to the hand-carved furniture to the gleaming parquet floors. Two are set up like standard hotel rooms with one or two queen beds, but the spacious La Restauradora suite feels more like a stylish apartment with a large living room and a huge bathroom with a built-in marble tub.

Two levels of stately terraces, ideal for sinking into a rocking chair after an afternoon of sightseeing, offer plenty of lounge space — so much space, in fact, it feels a bit like renting a private house. The owners specialize in this concept: they run another B&B-style hotel of the same name in Condesa. For lovers of history and architecture, however, the zócalo-adjacent location can’t be beat.