"Set inside a 100-year-old former Spanish Colonial mansion tucked behind a gated facade and dense tropical plantings, this 17-key boutique hotel envelopes guests in overflowing flora and eye-popping orchids. Interiors retain an old-world feel with original blue-and-yellow stained-glass windows, weathered doors and baroque staircases, while the lobby doubles as a rotating showcase for artisans and contemporary photographers. Rooms feel homey with four-poster beds, side chairs and shelving; some upgraded rooms include small patios or terraces, and ground-floor standard rooms near reception remain surprisingly quiet. Many bathrooms evoke a greenhouse effect with marble-clad walls and floors, filtered drinking water is refreshed daily, and amenities include a daily continental breakfast, in-room coffee/tea maker and room service. Located in Polanco at a fraction of nearby luxury rates (rates start around $160) and rated five stars, it offers convenient walking access to top restaurants, parks, Chapultepec and the Anthropology Museum, with particularly pretty jacaranda blooms in April–May."