Camino Real Polanco Mexico

Rooms and decor

Picture a hotel where the building itself is the artwork — not the sky-scraping tower most people imagine when they think of a 5-star downtown hotel, but a long, low-slung building that plays boldly with color, geometric form, light and shadow. That is the appeal of Camino Real Polanco Mexico, designed by legendary Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta and completed in 1968. Walk through the entrance and you meet the famous blood-red fountain wall, tall walls in vivid yellow, hot pink and magenta clashing brightly in true Mexican-modern style. Rooms come in several types spread across the different wings; many have the high ceilings and generous space typical of that era, opening onto green views of the gardens or pools. The shades and details inside still carry a craft feel and a real Mexican character. Anyone who loves design and wants to wake up in a room that does not look like a generic chain should fall for this place from the first step.

Food and amenities

What earned Camino Real Polanco its Hotel Museum nickname is the public space, packed with major works by celebrated artists — a mobile by the famous sculptor Alexander Calder, plus pieces by Mathias Goeritz and the important Mexican painter Rufino Tamayo. The walk from the lobby to the restaurants doubles as a gallery stroll. On amenities it goes full resort-in-the-city: the highlight is 3 swimming pools hidden among the gardens and fountain courtyards, so you can pick one to soak in without the crowds, plus a spa and fitness center for after a day out. For food there are several restaurants and bars in different styles inside the hotel, from atmospheric dining rooms to a cocktail bar for an evening drink. Plenty of real reviews praise the wide green grounds that are rare in a downtown hotel, the relaxed feel of escaping the chaos of the megacity, and the warm, friendly staff.

Location and getting there

The hotel sits in Polanco, one of the most upscale and livable districts in Mexico City, full of good restaurants, cafes, boutiques and galleries — so even a short walk turns up plenty to eat and see. The location's big draw is being close to Bosque de Chapultepec, a massive central park, and the National Anthropology Museum (Museo Nacional de Antropologia), one of the best museums in the world and a must for anyone visiting the city, both just an 8 to 10-minute walk away. From here you can move on easily to other key districts. Auditorio and Chapultepec metro stations are not far, but given the size of the area and the hotel's layout, getting around is easiest by taxi or Uber. If you want a safe, upscale base with food and shopping all around and easy walking access to green space and first-rate culture, Polanco is a very smart fit.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, Camino Real Polanco is a 1968 building that has seen decades of use. The character and design are timeless, but some parts of the hotel and certain room types feel dated rather than new and sharp like the city's newer hotels, and some reviews flag aging bathrooms or furniture — if you can, ask for or choose a renovated room type. Second, the hotel is spread across very wide grounds, which is both a plus (lots of garden, very quiet) and a caveat, because the walk from the lobby to rooms in some wings is fairly long and may not suit older guests or anyone with heavy bags. Third, on getting around, the metro stations are not right at the door for an easy walk, and the roads around Polanco get fairly congested at rush hour, so leave some time and budget for a taxi or Uber. Finally, street-facing rooms can pick up traffic noise — if you are a light sleeper, ask for a room facing the garden or pools.

Our take

After reading through plenty of real reviews, Camino Real Polanco Mexico sells "Legorreta's iconic architecture plus wide, leafy gardens in the middle of the city plus a Polanco location near Chapultepec" with full confidence. If the trip in your head is waking up in a hotel where the building itself is art, walking past bright-colored walls and works by Calder and Tamayo like a museum, then dropping into one of the three pools among the gardens before heading out to eat well in Polanco and visit the Anthropology Museum in the morning, this is the most charming, best-value pick. But if you expect spotless, brand-new rooms down to the last inch or a hotel within a few steps of the metro, it may not tick every box. Overall we give it 9.0/10 — best for couples, families and lovers of architecture who want to stay inside a living legend of Mexico City.