Casa Polanco in the smart district of the same name is a perfect base for exploration
Words by SAMANTHA BROOKS
For 573 square miles, Mexico City spreads across a dense urban landscape, a collection of neighborhoods each offering their own identity, not dissimilar to Los Angeles. Start to dig into the culinary treasures, cultural monuments, art museums, local designers, and shopping streets full of boutiques, and there’s an overwhelming number of options, all scattered throughout the bustling streets and highways.
However, the city’s newest five-star hotel, Casa Polanco, doesn’t just aim to give visitors a luxurious night’s sleep, it strives to immerse guests into the city’s iconic art, design, and culture from the moment they walk through its doors.
Housed within a 1940s-era private home, the 19-suite property, which just opened in June, is in the heart of Polanco, Mexico City’s toniest neighborhood, within walking distance of such must-visit destinations as the shops along Avenida Presidente Masaryk and Pujol, the Enrique Olvera–helmed restaurant, which ranks number nine on The World’s 50 Best.
Architect Claudio Gantuz renovated the property, keeping with the neocolonial style that the neighborhood is known for, but adding modern elements like herringbone wood floors. Elsewhere, mother-daughter interior design team of Monica Romo and Monica Novelo, scoured the country’s antique shops and bazaars to find original accessories and furnishings from the ‘30s and ‘40s, while art critic and curator Santiago Toca amassed a collection of contemporary Mexican art for the property, including works from artists like Graciela Iturbide, Ricardo Mazal, Jordi Boldo, and Roberto Polidori.
The resulting property—which also features an honor bar, breakfast room, outdoor cocktail terrace, gym, library, and rooftop spa cabin—has an abundance of art and culture to explore within its doors, but also makes it easy to navigate the expanse of offerings beyond its walls as well.
Begin the day on the hotel’s rooftop with complimentary yoga or meditation, then allow them to organize such experiences as a mezcal and tequila tasting with Pablo Mata, a leading local sommelier who specializes in Mexican spirits, or a mole tasting to discover the complexities of the famously laborious Mexican dish. Art and design aficionados will enjoy having the hotel arrange a tour of Luis Barragan’s Casa Pedregal, which was built from 1947–1950 and is the renowned architect’s largest private residence; a private tour of the Frida Kahlo Museum, which was once the acclaimed artist’s own home; an evening visit at Chapultepec Castle, which includes the National Museum of History; a private tour of the National Museum of Anthropology, which houses the world’s largest collection of ancient Mexican art; or a tailored art tour of the top local art galleries.
November 16, 2022
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