Forget about the resorts and all-inclusive hotels of Cancún. Mérida is a world away from the Riviera Maya, but still just a four-hour drive from Cancún International Airport. This is our favorite city in the Yucatán Peninsula, and with boutique retreats, luxury hotels, and old haciendas to match, we know you’re going to have an exceptional stay in one of Mexico’s most underrated destinations. 

This is Yucatán’s capital and largest city, and it’s a place quite unlike anywhere else you might have visited in Mexico. Take a stroll through the Plaza Grande, and you’ll hear Spanish mixing freely with local languages like Yucatec Maya in front of an extravagant colonial cathedral built from the rubble of destroyed temples. 

The grand colonial architecture of downtown Mérida, with its picture-perfect parks and long, wide avenues, hides an indigenous history that never disappeared. Learn more at the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya (the Grand Museum of the Maya World), by day-tripping to Mayan ruins along the Ruta Puuc, or by seeing the exciting spectacle of pok-ta-pok – the Mayan ball game – which is played out every Saturday night in Mérida’s Plaza Grande. 

Mérida’s markets overflow with color and spice, the restaurants and food stands serve up Yucatec classics like Cochinita Pibil and Sopa de Lima, and jazz bars and craft breweries do a roaring trade among tourists and Mérida’s local citizenry alike. 

And if you can’t fathom a Mexican getaway without the beach, then you’re in luck. Just an hour from downtown, you’ll find yourself on the white sand beaches of Progreso or among the mangroves and beaches of Celestun, where pink flamingos fill the lagoons. Excited? Then keep reading as we explain exactly where to stay in Mérida!

Where to Stay in Mérida

We love how easy it is to visit Mérida. Long, wide boulevards lead to a centrally laid-out downtown area that was planned in the grid-style beloved by the Spanish. At first, the endless numbered streets can be confusing, but soon you’ll be telling your Uber or taxi driver to drop you off on the corner of Calle 59 and 62 just like a local. 

Mérida is boutique hotel central, and you’ll love how the Centro Histórico – the central area around the Plaza Grande and the Catedral de San Ildefonso – is home to old colonial villas, 16th-century convents, and former public buildings that have been transformed into quirky hotels and luxury digs oozing with heritage. 

Lining the Paseo de Montejo – Mérida’s most famous boulevard – you’ll find huge mansions that have been converted into grand five-star hotels. In the “Hotel Zone” on Avenida Colon and stretching into the Garcia Gineres district, you’ll find modern hotels championing sustainable practices alongside international chains offering home comforts to weary travelers. 

But if city life isn’t for you, then don’t worry. Within a 20-minute drive of Mérida’s downtown area, you can find yourself in the serene setting of the Yucatec forest. Here, old haciendas and estates – often built to farm henequen plants in the 19th century – have been turned over to tourism, and you can escape Mérida with a luxury stay in a boutique villa complete with acres of lush grounds and cenotes to explore. 

If you’re planning a trip to this lovely Mexican city, here are our picks for the 12 best boutique hotels in Mérida!

The 12 Best Hotels in Mérida, Mexico

1. Ya’ax Hotel Boutique

One of our favorite places to stay in Mérida is Ya’ax Hotel Boutique. This five-star charmer is one for the artists because you’ll be staying in the former studio/gallery of a local painter and sculptor. The artisanal features of the hotel shine alongside its extended history, mixing Mayan styles with colonial heritage in a way that only Mérida can. 

Boutique rooms are set around an open-air courtyard, where you’re invited to sprawl out in a hammock or dip into the “chukum” swimming pool. You’ll love the Mayan textiles that hang above the queen- or king-size beds, while the natural lighting, high-vaulted ceilings, and natural materials make for a refreshing stay. 

Book an individual or couple’s massage in the spa suite, where you can wind down with luxury treatments and spa products in a therapeutic setting. Desayuno is served in the on-site Chooj restaurant, where you’ll be hard-pressed to pick between Chilaquiles and Eggs Benedict. 

For lunch and dinner, the chefs at Chooj prepare Yucatec classics – like Cochinita Pibil – behind a glass window, allowing you to watch every step of the process before dining on the delectable finished dishes. 

Ya’ax Hotel Boutique is located a short stroll away from the shady surroundings of Parque de la Mejorada, where you can find local food stalls set away from the bustle of the Plaza Grande, which is a 10-minute walk in the other direction. 

2. Hyatt Regency Mérida

If you’re looking for a classic hotel experience when you’re staying in Mérida, then there’s no better choice than the Hyatt Regency. Located on Avenida Colon, just off the famous Paseo de Montejo, this is one five-star hotel that won’t disappoint. 

With its shimmering, skyscraper-like facade, this hotel towers above the surrounding casas and green trees of the otherwise low-key Mérida skyline. The hotel’s 289 modern rooms all offer fantastic views of the city from wide, panoramic windows, while the 18th-floor suites provide unbeatable vistas and unbeatable luxury. 

Deluxe beds are perfect for an uninterrupted night’s sleep. Blackout blinds keep out the early morning sunlight, while walk-in rain showers and spacious work desks are provided as standard. Upgrade to a “Regency Club Room” and you’ll have special access to the hotel’s exclusive lounge on Floor 17, where canapés and international wines are served all day. 

Given Mérida’s fierce temperatures, you’ll love the outdoor swimming pool and sundeck, where you can take a refreshing dip in the cool water or order cocktails to your lounger. Buffets – including breakfast buffets and themed brunch and dinner buffets – are served in the Peregrina Bistro, while Spasso Cucina Italiana serves Mediterranean dishes cooked with Yucatec passion and local ingredients. 

3. Wayam Mundo Imperial

Wayam Mundo Imperial is one of our favorite boutique hotels in Mérida. This unique five-star hotel is a seamless blend of modern architecture and Mayan design, located in a totally repurposed historic house on the prestigious Avenida Colon.

This hotel offers all the trappings you’d expect of a luxury boutique hotel. The 52 suites are designed with natural colors and materials, offering spacious work, play, sleep, and rest areas alongside private balconies and terraces overlooking the city or the private inner gardens. Huge bathtubs, walk-in closets, and 55-inch television screens are standard features, while small kitchenettes, fridges, and Nespresso machines make for a homey stay. 

Head to the rooftop, and you’ll find a beautiful plunge pool with gorgeous views of Mérida. The Marinera Pool Bar serves up bespoke cocktails to order, while in the same top-floor space, Cuna restaurant cooks up sumptuous Mexican dishes inspired by Chef Maycoll Calderon’s extensive travels through the Yucatán Peninsula. 

But Wayam Mundo Imperial is also Mérida’s first LEED Certified hotel. That makes it a local leader in terms of its environmentally-friendly design and sustainable management practices. 

Step through the lobby, and you’ll be awed by the rainforest vibes that fill the tropical garden beyond. Exterior walls are living, breathing entities where vines and plants run wild, a mango tree rises alongside balconies, rainwater is collected, and solar power is harnessed at the Wayam Mundo Imperial. 

4. Casa del Balam

Casa del Balam means “House of the Jaguar” (balam is the Mayan word for this revered Mesoamerican animal), and this classic boutique hotel channels all the energy, style, and heritage of Mérida’s mixed indigenous and colonial ancestry. 

Book a room here and you’ll be staying in one of Mérida’s pioneering hotels. First opened by Don Fernando Barbachano in 1970, Casa del Balam offered unparalleled boutique luxury when tourism was just beginning to flourish in the Yucatán. 

His daughter chose the name, and they decided to keep the historic marble floors, the colorful pink facade, and the heritage features like antique wooden wardrobes and wrought iron bed frames that are now so distinctive.

Casa del Balam has retained this unique ambiance ever since, and you’ll love how the classic style of the rooms and courtyard combine wonderfully with modern amenities like the minibar, flat-screen television, and luxury bathroom products. 

Scenes of rural Yucatec life line the corridors, while Restaurant-Bar Bistrola 57 serves up classic local dishes like Sopa de Lima. Step outside, and you’ll love the peaceful poolside surroundings, where tall trees shade sun loungers and guests sip on cervezas and micheladas.

5. Hacienda Xcanatun by Angasana

Escape the city with a luxury stay at Hacienda Xcanatun by Angasana, one of the most unique hotels in Mérida. You’ll find this beautiful five-star boutique retreat is a 15-minute drive north of central Mérida, where a historic hacienda combines heritage with modern luxury. 

Hacienda Xcanatun dates back to the 18th century when the Yucatán was in the midst of the henequen boom. Known as “Green Gold,” the countryside around Mérida was turned over to farming henequen, a type of plant that was vital for making rope. Estate owners grew rich, building lavish houses like Hacienda Xcanatun that later fell to ruin when the industry later died.

From a crumbling ruin, Hacienda Xcanatun has been painstakingly restored to its former glory. You’ll love how 18 of the suites have been kept in a timeless state, with refurbished rooms opening onto spacious verandas. 

You’ll also love the wooden materials, the historic features, and the extravagant modern touches like private plunge pools. The remaining 36 rooms are located within the hacienda’s modern wing. Light colors and natural materials feature throughout, while 18th-century influences are apparent in the textiles, decor, and furnishings. 

Take a stroll through four acres of landscaped gardens featuring tropical plants collected from across the Yucatán Peninsula, or indulge in a rejuvenating treatment or massage at the Angsana Spa. 

The outdoor swimming pool is the perfect place to laze away a morning or afternoon in the sun, with Balinese beds to lounge on and the Lo-Ha poolside bar to keep you fed and watered. The hacienda’s Casa del Piedra Restaurant fuses Asian and Mexican flavors together, with Chicken and Lime Soup and Rib-Eye Tacos being firm favorites on their creative dinner menu. 

6. Villa Orquidea Boutique Hotel

Whitewashed walls, wooden shutters, and a sun-drenched central courtyard leave you with serious Mediterranean vibes when you book a stay at Villa Orquidea Boutique Hotel in downtown Mérida. 

With just eight rooms set around the hotel’s small plunge pool, this lovely hotel offers a personal touch that’s often difficult to find. Owners Rafael and Queica – who purchased a run-down townhouse in 2016 and transformed it into the beauty you see today – are often on hand to ensure your stay is seamless. 

Relax around the pool, or book a package of special “de-contracting,” “relaxing,” and “lymphatic” massages straight to your room. Tall windows flood your living space with light, while the light colors and wooden decor add to that summer feel you’ll love to embrace. 

7. Hotel Boutique La Misión De Fray Diego

One of the coolest hotels in Mérida is Hotel Boutique la Misión de Fray Diego. This unique boutique stay is perfectly located downtown, less than a 2-minute walk from the cathedral. This supreme location has much to do with the hotel’s history. Dating back to the 16th century, this misión was first built as part of one of Mérida’s first convents. 

Originally part of the “Temple of Nuns,” the convent was closed down in the mid-19th century before eventually being repurposed into a boutique hotel. Step off the bustling streets of Centro, and you’ll not only be transported to a bygone era, but you’ll escape the heat and the noise of Mérida entirely. The nuns loved their peace and quiet, and you’ll find that 400 years on, the thick walls and peaceful inner courtyard still play a vital role!

There are just 26 rooms set under vaulted ceilings at Hotel Boutique la Misión de Fray Diego. Whitewashed walls, tiled floors, and wooden rafters nurture a historic ambiance, while the outdoor swimming pool and sun terrace place the property firmly in the 21st century. Dine in the shade of stone archways in the hotel’s traditional restaurant, where the nuns are honored with a timeless Spanish-inspired menu. 

If you’re looking for unique boutique hotels in Mérida, this place will not disappoint.

8. Villa Mercedes, Curio Collection by Hilton

Villa Mercedes seamlessly merges history and international flair along Mérida’s affluent Avenida Colon. This historic street by Paseo Montejo is lined with former colonial estates, and at Villa Mercedes, you’ll be staying in the charming confines of a repurposed mansion that’s been expertly regenerated. 

You’ll spot the distinctive blue exterior of Villa Mercedes from along the avenue. Tall windows open out onto small Juliet balconies overlooking the city or the inner courtyard. Down below, the open-air swimming pool offers a welcome retreat from the often-oppressive tropical heat, while loungers are ready for those who prefer to embrace the sunlight rather than escape it. 

Despite the retention of historic architectural elements and designs on the outside, the rooms are very much modern in character. Soft linens, comfy furnishings, and luxury bathrooms make these rooms a delight to stay in after a day of sightseeing, while the modern designs of the Curio Bar are a stark contrast to the colonial streets of Mérida. 

9. Mansión Mérida Boutique Hotel

One of the most elegant hotels in Mérida is the Mansión Mérida Boutique Hotel. This gorgeous property is set among the lovely architecture of a 19th-century mansion, and with just 14 suites to choose from, a reservation here is always a hot ticket. 

The mansion was originally designed in the French style of its age when Mérida’s elite – made rich from the burgeoning trade in henequen – were importing the finest luxuries and comforts from Europe. But the mansion fell into ruin, and it took five years of repair and refurbishment to transform it into the boutique luxury hotel you find today. 

Step through the grand entranceway, and you’ll find yourself within the peaceful surroundings of a beautiful courtyard. A grander staircase leads beneath chandeliers to shaded balconies, while an outdoor pool is overshadowed by tall palms and aged stone walls. 

The “Belle-epoch” feel continues in your suite, where vaulted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and king-size beds provoke a 19th-century grandeur that’s all too often lost in modern hotels. Rattan chairs, antique wardrobes, and luxury toiletries by Bvlgary complete the feel, as does a full breakfast spread in the central courtyard!

10. Fiesta Americana Mérida

Fiesta Americana Mérida is one of the best hotels in Mérida for luxury travelers, and we know you’re going to love staying in this opulent five-star gem that sits at the crossroads of Avenida Colon and the Paseo de Montejo.

The grand, whitewashed facade – with its lavish Greco-Roman pillars and long stairwell – is a timeless landmark on the Mérida skyline. Inside, the decadent lobby is lined with Yucatec marble, while a colorful stained glass window adds a touch of the almighty to check-in procedures. 

Rooms at the Fiesta Americana Mérida are equally as compelling as your welcome to this five-star favorite, and you’ll be awed by the view over the city as soon as you open the curtains and step out onto your private balcony. Sink back into the supple sheets of your king-size bed, take a rain shower with luxury branded toiletries, or just admire the individual artwork – or turn on Netflix!

Coffee and pastries are served in the Parisian-inspired Cafe Kuun, while Stellaris Bar prides itself on its philosophy of personal mixology, where drinks are mixed to individual tastes. Restaurant Cafe Montejo serves buffet breakfasts and international dishes, but the real culinary expertise is found in Los Almendros, where you’ll dine on Yucatec cuisine under grand murals depicting life on the Yucatán Peninsula. 

11. NH Collection Mérida Paseo Montejo

The NH Collection Mérida is one of the coolest Mérida hotels, perfect for the luxury-loving traveler who also loves an international feel to their hotel. What this four-star favorite lacks in history, it makes up for in amenities, value, and modern architecture. 

This fabulous hotel is located within the Paseo 60 Mall complex, meaning your every need is within strolling distance. You’re also located on the grand Paseo de Montejo, the most opulent and prestigious avenue in Mérida. 

The hotel’s design is a nod to the past, and if you look closely, you’ll see that the building is shaped with a facade meant to emulate the look and color of the green henequen plant that brought untold riches to Mérida’s elite. 

The hotel’s 120 rooms all have tall ceilings and windows, allowing light to flood inside during the day. Ask for a room on a high floor, and you’ll have sweeping views over the colonial houses and hotels on Paseo de Montejo, but head to the top floor for a supreme panorama of Mérida from the rooftop garden. 

Our favorite feature of the NH Collection Mérida is the open-air swimming pool on the terrace, where you can swim laps high above the city before ordering a cocktail from the bar. What’s not to like?

12. Hacienda Santa Cruz Mérida

With a history dating back to 1640, Hacienda Santa Cruz Mérida is one of the best Mérida hotels for history fans!

This unique luxury property on the outskirts of Mérida was first founded as a Franciscan monastery. Many of the original monastic rooms and chapels have been preserved, as have features like the Engine Room, which date to the hacienda’s later life as a henequen farm. Now the hacienda and its 12 acres of gorgeous, tropical gardens have been masterfully repurposed, yet again, into one of the best Mérida boutique hotels.

You’ll be staying in the Casa Principal (the Main House), where all 25 restored hotel rooms are located. You’ll appreciate the mix of luxury linens and antique furnishings, while the stone bathtubs and whitewashed walls will take you back to the 17th century. 

If the humidity starts to beat you, just jump into the outdoor swimming pool to cool off. Order a cold cerveza at the pool bar, and when the sun sets, take a stroll under the Ceiba trees. 

Book a session at the Muyal Spa for the ultimate hydrotherapy massage. The indoor spa pool is referred to rather loftily as an “artificial cenote,” but you’ll love the grandeur, the sauna, and the holistic treatments. Casa de Maquina is the hacienda’s on-site restaurant, where a mix of Mexican, French, Italian, and Asian dishes are served daily. 

That completes our list of the 12 best Mérida hotels! Did we miss any cool boutique hotels in Mérida? Comment below so we can add them to the list!

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