14 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Mexico City, Mexico

Fragrant gardens, mature shade trees, and a small pond dot the tranquil grounds of this small, sustainably designed eco-resort with six contemporary suites and a quiet location a few kilometers south of Malinalco's village center. The individually decorated rooms have tall windows, wood paneling, and high ceilings. The hotel offers a variety of packages that include up to three meals a day in the excellent restaurant, in-suite massage and body treatments, or excursions to nearby attractions and outdoor recreation sites. 

This marvelously renovated colonial building may no longer be a private home, but it still has the same cozy environment, with an enchanting mix of original accents, antique and modern furnishings, and luxe linens. The central patio is home to the well-regarded restaurant, which serves beautifully presented traditional Mexican dishes and interesting international fare. Keeping watch over the dining room is a large statue of the place's namesake: China Poblana, the daughter of a Mongol king who was kidnapped and brought to Mexico.

This chic, contemporary inn located on the lower slopes of Montetaxco contains nine airy, beautifully appointed rooms with large windows, contemporary artwork, and luxurious bathrooms, all with access to a small pool and lawn with chaise lounges overlooking all of Taxco. Rates include a well-prepared full breakfast in the restaurant and bar, where you can also enjoy lunch and dinner throughout the day with those same dazzling vistas. In-room spa services can be arranged. The drawback to staying here is that you'll either need to take a taxi or the funicular to get back and forth between the inn and town.

Although the sometimes intense bustle of pedestrians is right outside, along with a slew of fun bars and restaurants, you'll find quiet rooms and an enchantingly tranquil garden at this welcoming, bright-blue-stucco B&B just a block from Cholula's famous archeological site. Though some rooms are compact, they're all smartly furnished with premium bedding and soft lighting, and the larger loft suites are perfect for families. An outstanding breakfast, which you can enjoy in the clustered garden, is included. 

A five-minute walk from the Zócalo, this elegant boutique hotel set inside a grand 17th-century mansion with a central patio and fountain was restored (and is now operated) using environmentally conscious practices and with as many of the original materials as possible; the well-stocked library was built entirely from repurposed vigas, or beams. The property is solar powered, and even the paints are naturally derived to match the original colors. Immaculate, spacious rooms have polished wood furniture and floors and high, exposed-beam ceilings. King-size beds are wrapped in luscious, down-filled bedding and supplied with a pillow menu. The outstanding restaurant serves contemporary Mexican fare and is worth a visit in its own right.

Although just a stone's throw from central Cuernavaca's museums, restaurants, and bars, this tastefully understated but quite cushy compound feels completely relaxing, with a fabulous spa, intimate pool, lush gardens, and a destination-worthy restaurant. The minimalist contemporary rooms are done in gray, black, and white palettes with ultra-plush bedding and well-equipped tile bathrooms. Deluxe rooms have balconies and skylights.

Las Luciernagas, with its bucolic location off a remote gravel road a few miles from town, is a rare cross between a B&B and a five-star hotel—what other B&B has a wine list? Four of the five rooms have fireplaces, and all have luxury bedding, artisanal toiletries, minibars, and a unique sense of privacy thanks to the rooms being spaced quite far apart, and the helpful but unobtrusive hosts. "La Cima" is an expansive suite with a terrace that overlooks the stunning manicured landscape of giant agaves, calla lilies, and birds of paradise; "Los Encuentros" opens to what is essentially its own private garden, with a stone path that leads to the Jacuzzi. The public spaces include a range of quiet terraces and seating areas, and top-notch dinners (with both Mexican and international dishes) are available by request. There's no better choice in Valle for a romantic getaway, or just a quiet home base.

This stately 19th-century home contains one of Cholula's most welcoming accommodations, and it's just a stone's throw from the Great Pyramid and a short walk from numerous restaurants and bars. The courtyard has a Talavera-tile-lined fountain and huge laurels for shade, and there is a rooftop terrace with a pool and spectacular views. The high-ceiling rooms are elegantly uncluttered, and many of the smartly designed bathrooms have deep soaking tubs. 

This small hotel is the best option on Plaza Independencia. There are crafts in every room and hallway, in some of the most unexpected places. The terraced rooms present great views of the plaza. There are tables in the quiet courtyard, where tasty typical cuisine and a range of fruit and vegetable juices are served.

This cheerful hotel on the corner of Plaza Independencia is an excellent option for its location alone. Rooms are cozy, with brightly colored bedspreads and headboards carved by local artisans; some have kitschy hot tubs tucked into a corner. The restaurant ($) is by far the most enchanting on the square and has wonderful views of the town.

This funky inn a short block from the main square, once a convent, absolutely oozes charm, from the fresh flowers strewn throughout the cabinlike rooms to the overgrown courtyard where the exceptional breakfast buffet is served. Room 11's large terrace was built around a massive tree, lending dappled shade and giving the effect of living in a tree-house suite. Rates are discounted by about a third during the week.

If any of the antiques that decorate your room in this beautifully converted colonial mansion strike your fancy, you might consider taking home a souvenir; they're all for sale. The rich colors of folk art pervade the cozy but stylish bar, and a lovely restaurant with live music in the evening serves tasty regional dishes. Cooking classes are also offered.

Located in the small city of San Juan Teotihuacán, just a few minutes’ drive (or half-hour walk) from the nearest entrance gate to the pyramids, this charming inn is set in a walled 18th-century hacienda with a pool, a small candlelit spa, a restaurant, and beautifully landscaped grounds. Rooms are clean and simply furnished—they're not fancy but they are comfortable and have stone walls, wood-beam ceilings, and other rustic accents.

This sophisticated country inn, which has both a pool and an inviting restaurant, is just a few blocks from Malinalco's main plaza and is filled with contemporary artwork and interesting decorative pieces collected by the well-traveled owner. The thoughtful staff is happy to provide recommendations of local attractions and restaurants, and massage treatments can be arranged in-room or in the garden.