The Gran Hotel Cuidad de Mexico is well worth a visit even if you're not staying there. It sits on a corner of the Zocalo in Centro Historico, the old-town portion of Mexico City that was itself designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
There are newer, fancier, and more luxurious hotels in Mexico City. But none of them have the combination of prime location and old-world charm. And the building itself is an Art Nouveau gem.
The building dates to 1899, and it was originally the most luxurious department store in Latin American, known as El Centro Mercantil. You can still see the direct legacy of its first owner, Sebastian Robert, in his initials on the grand staircase.
As you walk in the main entrance, just off the Zocalo, you walk under a massive Louis XV chandelier. Immediately opposite, across the atrium, is a grand staircase that scales the height of the building. As you walk past the ornate canary cages and enter the main hall, to your left and right are two of the oldest elevators in Latin America. They still work, although they're supplemented these days by some more modern ones nearby that are more practical for day-to-day elevating.
To see the building's showstopper, look up. The domed roof is a massive Tiffany-style stained glass window. At night, it looks like wrought-iron and glass—impressive enough, but not the spectacle it becomes when it's backlit by natural light outside. Then it becomes a kaleidoscope of colors and intricate patterns. The building is hollowed out in its center so as to make one giant atrium under the colorful roof.
The department store was shuttered in 1959. Nearly a decade later, it was reopened as the Gran Hotel Cuidad de Mexico. It was given another round of renovations in 2004. If you're planning to explore the Centro Historico by foot, it's well worth considering.
Photos of Gran Hotel Cuidad de Mexico
Looking straight up. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Looking out past the chandelier in the *very* early morning. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Look directly up again. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
A massive Louis XV chandelier hangs over the main street entrance. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
As the sun gets lower on the horizon it illuminates the glass unevenly. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Straight up at night, without the daylight to illuminate the colored glass. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
What to Know Before You Go
The best way to experience the hotel is, of course, to stay there. I stayed there on my most recent visit to the city and found the rates to be surprisingly reasonable. But tourists are welcome to wander in to take in the beauty of the main atrium or visit the restaurant or bar.
The hotel has a restaurant on its rooftop overlooking the Zocalo. There's also a large bar on the floor directly below, but it's less impressive. It's a shame—the setting is just begging for a top-notch, old-school cocktail bar. On a lower floor is a breakfast/lunch restaurant that still has a view over the Zocalo, albeit a much lower perspective.
More to Explore:
Travel Advice for Mexico
You can find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories and information for Mexico (such as entry visa requirements and vaccination requirements) here.
The British and Australian governments offer their own country-specific travel information. You can find the British Government's travel advice for Mexico here and the Australian Government's here.
Health & Vaccinations
The CDC makes country-specific recommendations for vaccinations and health for travelers. You can find their latest information for Mexico here.
