7 Best Hotels in Oaxaca City, Oaxaca

If you're looking for a more peaceful atmosphere for your Oaxaca stay, this small, simple hotel north of the city may fit the bill nicely. Simple tiled rooms are arranged around a long, narrow garden, at the end of which is a small pool. The restaurant is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the hotel is close to other restaurants in the village of San Felipe. Excellent service makes this hotel worth the visit.

From this hillside hotel's sunny terrace you can contemplate the Iglesia de Santo Domingo and also also catch a glimpse from some of the wrought-iron balconies of the top-floor rooms. Inside are arched doorways, vaulted ceilings, traditional furnishings, and cool tile floors. In secluded courtyards you'll find fountains, gardens, and pools, but the best place in the whole hotel is the terrace, with its amazing city view. The hotel also offers a small coffee shop serving locally sourced coffee and a restaurant where meals can be purchased at reasonable prices.

This intimate hotel occupies a wonderfully restored older home near the Basilica de la Soledad and remains a popular choice for bargain hunters who still want a fairly central location and a comfortable room with a bit of atmosphere. You can spot that church, and at least half a dozen others, from the plant-filled terrace. The most private room is secluded on the second floor, and the others are just as cozy, but one has a skylight rather than a window. Ask for a tiny tele (TV) at the reception desk if you can't bear to miss the evening news.

Even the baked-earth floor tiles shine at this sleepy little hostelry in an atmospheric, cobblestone district close to Parque Juárez. The name means "house of tranquillity," and it lives up to its name. Clean, quiet rooms have pale pine furnishings and handwoven fabrics. Sliding doors lead to sunny patios. Friendly owner Marina Flores is happy to help arrange trips to nearby sights.

Taking up almost the entire northern edge of the zócalo, this hotel puts Oaxaca at your doorstep, all the while maintaining a polished and classy personality. Many rooms have views of the Palacio de Gobierno or the Catedral Metropolitana. If you splurge a bit, you can reserve a room with French doors leading out to a small balcony. Rooms are cozy, although not as atmospheric as at most other hotels in town. The open-air restaurant facing the main square has become extremely popular; you can grab a table right in the middle of life on the plaza.

María Teresa Villarreal, the owner and operator of this pleasant little place, proudly shows off her restored colonial-style home, which is not fancy but has the lived-in feeling that many people are looking for in Oaxaca. You can mingle with other guests (some long-term) on the open patio gladdened with laurel and lemon trees. Those staying in standard rooms share a brightly colored outdoor kitchen, while those who have booked studios get kitchenettes with coffeemakers and other essentials.

Although huge by Oaxaca standards, this hotel is still very close to the city center and manages to exude a cozy feel once you enter the peaceful gardens. Rooms are arranged in small blocks around the gardens so guests can enjoy the quiet, the tennis courts, and the swimming pool throughout the day. For lunch, you can order food at the poolside bar. The rooms are slightly old-fashioned but are light and comfortable with a rustic feel. The restaurant is excellent, serving classic Oaxacan and other Mexican standards. There is a good family vibe here, with lots of things for children to do.