Villa Maria Cristina Boutique Hotel

The scenic old town of Guanajuato is noted mainly for having been an old mining town (back when mining towns were picturesque) as well as the birthplace of the painter Diego Rivera. So it’s a little bit unexpected to find that it’s got a hotel of the quality of the Villa Maria Cristina — a fine, intimate little luxury hotel, in a gorgeous old building with piles of character.

Villa Maria Cristina’s thirteen suites are as well-equipped as those in any big-city hotel, with furniture by Roche-Bobois, marble bathrooms with whirlpool tubs or steam baths, Bang & Olufsen stereos and even free wireless internet access. Impressive under any conditions, but for a hotel with no real competition, practically unheard-of.

Add to all that a Roman-style spa, complete with columns, vaulted ceiling and mosaic tile, and even a fitness center. The Villa Maria Cristina’s restaurant is a high-class affair as well, serving a refined Mexican cuisine along with a top-shelf selection of tequilas.

What’s perhaps most impressive about the Villa Maria Cristina is that in market terms, there’s no real pressing need for a hotel of its caliber. And yet here it is, all the same.

Please note: Villa Maria Cristina can only accommodate guests over the age of 18.