W Mexico City

Housed in a 25-story tower in Mexico City's unabashedly upmarket Polanco neighborhood, this W outpost is hip, loud, colorful, and funky. In other words, it's an entirely on-brand property from the admittedly not-for-everyone chain. Mixing music, design, and fashion, it aims to be the place for young trendsetters and business travelers visiting this dynamic city. With that in mind, there are a number of spots throughout the hotel that aim to be local destinations in their own right. The Living Room Bar provides a nice hangout spot, and the lobby itself is a cool place to take a seat on a face silhouette chair. Ambient plays here and in the hallways, doing its part to create the edgy vibe. The hotel hosts fashion and music events at times, drawing locals as well as travelers form other parts of the city. Given its somewhat brash style, the hotel unsurprisingly appeals to young, upwardly mobile tourists and business travelers looking for a lively scene when the work is done.  

This W is situated off Paseo de la Reforma in posh Polanco, one of the city's most sought-after neighborhoods. It's surrounded by other upscale and luxury hotels, as well as high-end restaurants, boutiques, and corporate offices. Nightclubs are all around, and you can even score some excellent tacos for after those late nights at the stand across the street. For travelers who prefer daytime action, Chapultepec Park is just a block away, and the high-end shops along Avenida Masaryk are 10 minutes away on foot. The Auditorio Nacional is essentially just around the corner for live performances, while the famed National Museum of Anthropology is about a 20-minute walk from the hotel (10 minutes in a cab). The Centro Historico, Catedral Metropolitana, and Zocalo are about 35 minutes away by public transportation or 45 minutes by car. Expect about an hour to reach Benito Juarez International Airport by car, as traffic can be pretty bad much of the day.

In keeping with W's signature style, rooms here are modern and vibrant, with sleek white furniture trimmed in lime green, striped rugs atop white tile floors, and accent walls done in eye-catching shades of cobalt blue, gray, and aqua. Large flat-screen TVs are mounted on the wall and framed in white. Other high-tech amenities include audiovisual connectivity and speakers for iPhones and iPods. W's signature pillow-top beds are topped with plush duvets, and accent pillows feature quirky characters. Some rooms feature large floor-to-ceiling character artwork. Standard features include safes, coffeemakers, and air-conditioning, but Wi-Fi is only free for SPG members (a free-to-join loyalty program). Bathrooms are as sleek and modern as the rooms, with bold black-and-white checked tiling, vessel sinks, hairdryers, magnifying mirrors, and Bliss toiletries. Some rooms have stunning views of the city -- in the most select of cases, these can even be had from windowside tubs. Suites add more space and separate living areas. The top-tier rooms, called Extreme Wow Suites, have panoramic views of the city from rooftop terraces. 

Although it lacks a swimming pool, this W has most everything else needed for a business or leisure trip to Mexico City. Led by the acclaimed Spanish-born chef, the eponymously named J by Jose Andres serves up unique Mexican and Spanish fare for lunch and dinner. The space is vibrant and hip, with bold colors such as red, orange, and yellow used throughout the various interior rooms and out on the terrace. The oh-so-hip Living Room Bar is a lively place for a drink in a funky setting with huge face silhouettes that serve as chairs. Room service is available. A breakfast buffet is served daily, but is only included in some rates. Even the Away Spa is an exercise in style. In addition to traditional services such as massage and facials, the spa offers traditionally inspired treatments and has a temazcal (sweat lodge) with a fire in the center for detoxing. It also features a whirlpool, which is a plus since there is no pool at the hotel. The fitness center offers cardio and weight-training equipment, plus free weights, in front of large windows looking out over the city.  The hotel's nine modern meeting rooms can accommodate gatherings of from 10 to 340 guests, and meeting planners are available to assist with all of the details. Wi-Fi is free in public areas and for SPG members. Pets are welcome for a fee, which includes walking and feeding.