15 Best Hotels in Oaxaca City, Oaxaca

If you're looking for an experience just the way you want it, this luxurious and exclusive hotel with excellent service and a fine restaurant in San Felipe del Agua, north of Oaxaca, also throws in free transportation to downtown. Beautiful, contemporary rooms and suites are tastefully decorated and sit either near the wonderful swimming pool or open onto the gardens. The secure transport to and from the city center means that the location, on a hill above the city, is not a problem. Rooms can be customized; guests send their requests to the hotel, and when they arrive, everything is as required. A spa is being added at this writing.

A trio of imaginative Europeans poured their hearts and souls into this chic B&B, and the result is a masterpiece, where gleaming white colonnades lead you to your spacious room. The design combines traditional materials like adobe and cantera stone with minimalist sensibilities. Each room is different; some have little sunrooms overlooking the indigo-tile pool; others have sitting areas where you can enjoy a cocktail. Put yourself in the hands of a spiritual healer who will guide you through the cleansing experience of temazcal in the small poolside hut.

This breathtaking 16th-century building—the former Convento de Santa Catalina de Siena—is one of the city's landmarks and is now a luxury full-service hotel. Around every corner is a discovery: a rear patio holds the covered pileta, a circle of stone basins where the nuns did laundry. The lavish breakfast buffet, which you can enjoy even if you're not a hotel guest, is served under the arches in what was the convent's kitchen. The grassy courtyard where mariachis play is a great spot for a margarita. Staffers are crisp and professional, and always ready with directions or advice—as you'd hope they would be, given the audacious prices. Guest or not, consider signing up for the free 40-minute tour of this historic building, which departs from the lobby on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 5 pm.

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.

The central courtyard in this colonial-era mansion is certainly memorable, with lush vines tumbling down over stone arches; rooms are equally interesting, with traditional style and modern amenities. Other touches of note include a wrought-iron gate and leaded-glass windows. Each room is different, so look at a few before you decide; one thing they have in common are the extremely high ceilings. The restaurant in the courtyard offers a wide range of appetizing Mexican and international food.

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.

About a 20-minute drive north of Oaxaca's historic center, this hotel is a cool, quiet oasis. The spa, which has a hot tub, massage, and traditional temazcal steam baths, will help you regain your inner balance. Staff members can assist in arranging horseback excursions, bicycle rides, or ecological tours to the nearby mountains. All rooms are no-smoking.

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.

Hotel Azul was the first entry in the post-2010 boom in boutique hotels in Oaxaca, converted from a run-down house in the city center to a hidden gem of a boutique hotel. Although it is situated on a busy downtown street, once you step through the front door, you'll enter into a world of peace, high-quality service, and chic, well-designed rooms. For guests who want a little extra luxury, Hotel Azul offers suites designed and decorated by five of Oaxaca’s most illustrious contemporary artists. After a day exploring the city, the classy rooftop cocktail bar offers a range of refreshing Oaxacan cocktails to whet your appetite before dinner.

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.

Not well known, this small, quiet hotel with a high standard of service sits on a cobbled street just outside the very heart of the city, offering a taste of old-fashioned elegance. Noted for the impressive collection of contemporary art hung in both the public and guest rooms, its six rooms are arranged around a series of courtyards. The standard rooms and junior suites are all individually and tastefully decorated and benefit from high ceilings that keep them cool throughout the day. Popular with older guests, the hotel is very relaxed and has a good restaurant serving food throughout the day in the patio or in a quiet side room.

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.

Opened in 2014, this is Oaxaca’s newest lodging option, providing a modern take on the traditional Mexican hotel. With an excellent location on the main pedestrianized thoroughfare, you'll have easy access to museums, bars, and restaurants. The real selling point is the rooftop swimming pool where guests can enjoy 360-degree views of the city. The rooms have all the conveniences you would expect (flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, a safe, a dock for your iPhone), and the restaurant has a room-service option. The decoration of the rooms is minimal and lacks Oaxacan flair, but with the city center on your doorstop, you'll want to spend more time there than in your room.

This relatively new contemporary-style boutique hotel is just a few minutes away from the zócalo in the city center, and while it's expensive, the quality of accommodations is high even if some of the rooms are small. The 15 rooms, each designed around a particular Oaxacan textile, are bright and clean, and situated around a series of courtyards. The restaurant is excellent and produces innovative flavors, particularly for breakfast, which can be served on the main patio. The sound of the fountains trickling and the view of azure sky make the experience a memorable one. For all-around quality of experience, the design, restaurant, and service make this one of the best places to stay in the city. The only downside here is that children under 12 are not accepted, meaning the hotel is not suitable for families.