2 Best Hotels in Cholula, Side Trips from Mexico City

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.

Sustainably designed and located on a central street just a few blocks south of the pyramid, this hotel set in an updated Spanish colonial house offers plenty of pleasing amenities for a small property, including an all-day restaurant and a small spa offering a good variety of treatments. There are several inviting common spaces, including a patio with a fireplace and an upper terrace that's lovely for stargazing.