Hotel San Diego

The four-story hotel is housed in a charming colonial-style building with wrought-iron railings and ornate light fixtures flanking the entrance. The lobby is bright and cheerful, with tiled floors, arched doorways, long blue banquettes, and vibrant historical paintings under carved wooden-beam ceilings. The hotel has an impressive tiled courtyard with a quaint concrete fountain with sculpted frogs at the center, while bright Mexican tiles decorate the arches all around. Hallways leading to guest rooms are also lined with colorful Mexican tiles, and seating throughout gives guests places to pause, with plants adding a garden-like ambiance. The hotel draws families and couples from across North, South, and Central America. There is limited parking on the hotel's lower level, though it is free. 

Hotel San Diego is located in the historic center of Guanajuato, right in front of the Chapel San Diego, the Jardin de la Union Square (the main plaza), the Juarez Theater, and the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato. It is surrounded by shops, restaurants, and nightlife, and most tourist attractions are within walking distance. The Diego Rivera Museum and Home is five minutes away on foot, while the Regional Museum of Guanajuato Alhondiga is an eight-minute walk from the hotel. It is about a 10-minute drive from the convention center and the popular Museo de las Momias (the Mummy Museum), while a trip to the airport will take 30 to 40 minutes by car or taxi. 

The 43 rooms are basic and mostly bright, with simple, light wood furnishings, high ceilings, and attractive wallpaper providing a bit of color alongside vibrantly patterned bedspreads. However, decor varies across rooms, and the Family Suite that we visited had old-fashioned floral bedspreads and could use an update. Floors are either tiled or carpeted. Rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, fans, flat-screen TVs with cable, and phones with free local calls. Rooms with balconies have excellent views of the historic city center, but some guests complain about noise from the plaza. Interior rooms look onto the hotel's central courtyard, though some rooms have essentially no view and can be a bit dark. Bathrooms are humble, with tiled or vinyl floors, and are generally small with outdated fixtures and stand-up showers. Again, though, there is some inconsistency in quality and some bathrooms, like the Double Room with Balcony that we visited, are far more contemporary.

The on-site Trattoria D’Elena serves Italian favorites for lunch and dinner, though it does not offer any breakfast service. A rooftop terrace with seating offers beautiful views of the city and surrounding hills, but there isn't a bar up here, which feels like a missed opportunity. A multifunctional events space can accommodate up to 40 people and is equipped with audiovisual services. The hotel offers tours of the historic city center and many of the famous sights surrounding Guanajuato. There is a 24 hour front desk and laundry services are available. This is an elevator building, but it is hand operated and doesn't work unless it is staffed; some guests with mobility issues have reported problems with this feature. Airport transfers are available for a fee, and though there is free Wi-Fi throughout, it is spotty.