Calle 60 498, Centro, Between 59 and 61, Merida, Mexico | (618) 248-8274
Historic colonial mansion with elegant, Old World details
Mostly pleasant rooms with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and
air-conditioning
Beautiful outdoor pool and bar in lush courtyard with seating and
hammocks
Central atrium patio with bar and seating
On-site restaurant and breakfast available (for a fee)
Small fitness center and spa treatments available
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Room decor is spare and some furniture is worn
Some rooms can be small and bathrooms are tiny
Street and atrium noise can be an issue
Fitness center is small and equipment is old
Spa treatment area offers limited privacy
The 20-room mid-range Piedra de Agua Hotel Boutique is a one-minute walk from the sights and museums of Merida’s main square. The historic colonial mansion features
beautiful Old World details, like open-air hallways and decorative floor tiles, as well as a lovely atrium patio and a charming, vine-lined courtyard with an outdoor bar and pool. While guest rooms are pleasant enough and equipped with flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, decor is spare, bathrooms are tiny, and some furniture shows wear and tear. The small fitness center and spa
treatment area are also underwhelming, as they're located in an open-air hallway and have limited privacy. For charming, individually
decorated rooms, travelers should consider Hotel Julamis, which has a lovely rooftop terrace with a hot tub and a free gourmet breakfast at a similar price point, though it's farther from the Zocalo.
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Scene
Historic colonial mansion with Old World elegance and beautiful courtyard draws mostly tourists
Housed in a colonial mansion built in 1845, this boutique
hotel blends bygone Old World elegance with reasonably modern
comforts. The lobby is compact and simple, with marble floors and contemporary chairs clustered, but a lovely wrought iron door leads to the inner atrium patio, with several comfortable sofas, vintage fans swirling overhead, and plenty of natural light spilling. Two colonnaded floors of open-air hallways lined with decorative floor tiles and
large, intricately carved guest room doors circle above, and grand marble staircases, iron
lanterns, and decorative molding complete the picture. The patio doubles as breakfast area and there’s a
collection of tables and chairs surrounding a pretty blue-tiled fountain while colorful Mexican arts and crafts adorn the cream
walls. Guests can also relax in the beautiful outdoor courtyard with a bar and pool, as well as vine-covered walls and glimpses of the Merida Cathedral towers.
Location
Centrally located off Merida's main square near Merida Cathedral
This centrally located hotel is less than a block away from
Merida’s main square, the Zocalo, an area flanked by some of the city’s
top sights, including the Merida Cathedral, the Montejo House Museum, the MACAY Museum of Contemporary Art, City Hall, and the State Capitol
Building. There are many shops, restaurants, and bars in the surrounding area,
and the Paseo Montejo -- the city's main avenue that's modeled after Paris' Champs Elysees and lined with shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, mansions, and museums -- is about a 13-minute walk from
the property. The ancient Mayan ruins at Uxmal are just over an hour’s drive, while Chichen Itza and Mayapan are about an hour and a half
away. The Merida International Airport is 20 minutes from the hotel by car or taxi.
Rooms
Simple rooms with spare decor, some worn furniture, and tiny bathrooms
Though rooms are generally pleasant, with brown decorative tiled floors and duvet-covered canopy beds, decor is spare, with bare white walls and simple, wooden furniture, much of which shows wear and tear. High ceilings give the illusion of space, but some Standard Rooms are cramped and we noticed some dirty tilework near the walls. All rooms have small sitting areas, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, bottled water, and free Wi-Fi, while many also have private unfurnished balconies. Bathrooms are tiny and simple,
covered in cream tiles with narrow walk-in showers, marble vanities, and modern, if slightly outdated, fixtures. They have limited toiletries and we also spotted a bit of dirty grout in bathrooms when we visited as well. Presidential Suites offer more space and a larger seating area with vintage wicker furniture, a dining area, an elegant four-poster bed, a DVD player, and coffeemaker. However, the freestanding soaking tub in the main room can pose some privacy issues. Guests should keep in mind that some rooms have no windows and others can pick up a substantial amount of noise from the street and atrium.
Features
Lovely outdoor pool and bar, tiny fitness area, breakfast patio, and free Wi-Fi
The hotel's lovely outdoor pool is surrounded by a concrete terrace with ample lounge chairs, shaded tables, and hammocks in a charming, ivy-covered courtyard with lush greenery. It's great for morning coffee and has a laid-back, modern bar glimpses of Merida Cathedral's beautiful towers over the
vine-covered walls. There is a good on-site restaurant as well as a private grotto-style dining area, and breakfast, served in the hotel's vibrant atrium, is not included with bookings. The hotel also has a tiny fitness area, though it's located in
an open-air hallway and the equipment can use an update. A small spa treatment area that's separated from the fitness area by a translucent curtain sits adjacent and is open to atrium noises, so privacy is limited. A computer is available
for guest use in another hallway, though Wi-Fi is free throughout, and laundry service can be arranged.
