If you are traveling to Mexico’s Yucatan region for the first time and are looking to treat yourself to an indulgent, boutique hotel stay, there are plenty of gorgeous luxury hotels in Merida to choose from. Many are set inside grand colonial mansions or renovated haciendas and are a far cry from boring cookie-cutter hotel rooms.
This article has been written by a British Travel Writer that has been based in Merida for the last two years. Rest assured, you are in good hands here 😉
Despite the fact that I live in Merida (in the cute historic district of Itzimna), growing this site into the world’s best resource for Yucatan travel has been a fun project and priority for me. So, I often go on staycations in Merida and across the Yucatan at weekends.
The best luxury hotels in Merida referenced here offer everything that you need to make your stay in the Yucatan, a special one.
Best Luxury Hotels in Merida Yucatán for 2023
Each of the luxury Merida hotels offered here is special in its own right, and each offers something a little different. If you want to base yourself in the center of Merida, where you are within walking distance of all of the main sites and attractions, and have a plethora of dining options right on your doorstep, then I would recommend Rosas Y Xocolate on the Paseo Montejo.
This is the main promenade that runs through the city of Merida, close to the Monument a la Patria. It is often affectionately referred to as the Champs Elysees of Merida, and it is lined with lots of charming restaurants, independent clothing stores, and quirky coffee shops.
Here, you are just 15 minutes walk away from the central square (Zocalo) and the Parque Santa Lucia.
Alternatively, if you want to have a luxurious hacienda experience, take a look at Hacienda San Jose close to the town of Tixkokob. The hacienda’s location on the outskirts of town allows you to have a peaceful stay surrounded by the sounds of wildlife and the Yucatan jungle, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Basing yourself in Tixkokob makes it easy to travel out to the yellow city of Izamal, the mercados of Motul, and important Mayan ruins across the Yucatan state. However, it is perhaps best reserved for those renting a car in Mexico as although you can take taxis to and from the center of Merida, public transport links in the area leave a lot to be desired.
Rosas & Xocolate Hotel & Spa
Where: P.º de Montejo 480, Zona Paseo Montejo
Rosas Y Xocolat is a gorgeous luxury property set inside two lovingly restored French-style mansions on the Paseo Montejo promenade. The mansions have been painted in a delicate shade of candy cotton pink, and each of the rooms and suites have been designed slightly differently.
All of the rooms feature a private jacuzzi and balcony, while some include a spacious private terrace overlooking either the pool and gardens of the property or the Paseo Montejo. Complimentary L’Occitane toiletries, handmade chocolate soaps, flat-screen TVs, and the option to enjoy breakfast in the room are among the other amenities and services offered by the property.
Guests are welcome to rent complimentary bicycles so that they can explore the city. (This is particularly pleasant on Sunday mornings when the Paseo Montejo is closed to traffic and Merida residents and tourists take to the street to jog, walk, cycle, and rollerskate).
The Rosas Y Xocolat restaurant is the brainchild of Chef David Segovia and is widely regarded as being one of the best restaurants in Merida. Stop by for breakfast, dinner, or brunch – when live jazz musicians perform to delighted crowds.
Hacienda San Jose
Where: Km 30 Carretera Tixkokob-Tekanto, 97470 Tixkokob
Yucatan haciendas are spacious homesteads that the Spanish conquistadors lived in several centuries ago while growing henequen and other crops. When the henequen boom ended in the 20th century, many of these properties were abandoned, while several were converted into luxury accommodations.
The Hacienda San Jose, close to the charming town of Tixkokob is one of the best of these such properties. Located 36km east of central Merida, the hacienda is managed by the InterContinental Hotels Group and is encompassed by beautifully manicured gardens, ponds, and woodlands.
A trail leading around the grounds makes for a pleasant place to walk or cycle on a lazy afternoon. There are just 15 rooms, suites, and self-contained villas on the spacious premises.
Each boasts 18-foot ceilings with exposed wooden beams, 10-foot-high double wooden doors, ornately carved wooden beds, hardwood furnishings, and floors. The outdoor pool is a refreshing place to cool down on a hot, humid Yucatan summer’s day, while the on-site restaurant serves delicious Yucatan classic dishes – from mouthwatering cochinita pibil to relleno negro.
Hacienda Santa Cruz
Where: C. 86 S/N, Santa Cruz Palomeque
Hacienda Santa Cruz is a breathtaking historic property that sits in the village of Dzununcan just just a 20 minutes drive south of Central Merida. The hacienda dates all the way back to 1640 and is located within the Cuxtal Ecological Reserve.
The owners still live on the premises, and each of the different buildings of the spacious hacienda complex serves different purposes. The restaurant serves a blend of Yucatecan, Mexican, French-Creole, and Mediterranean cuisine and is set inside the former machine house, while all of the luxurious rooms and suites are set inside the property´s main building.
Each room has a unique décor featuring vibrantly painted walls, handmade furnishings, and colorful textiles. They boast a four-poster bed fit for royalty, free miniature toiletries, air conditioning, free wifi, and fluffy bathrobes and slippers for guest use.
There is a spacious outdoor swimming pool surrounded by lush vegetation. Having breakfast on the property is a particularly magical experience as there is usually a live trio of musicians on-site that perform Mexican classics like Vincente Fernandez and Pedro Infante.
Rooms start from around $195 a night. Click here to check the latest rates and availability.
TreeHouse Boutique Adults-Only Hotel
Where: Calle 43 X 58 Y 60 #489 Santa Ana, Merida
If you are looking for one of the best luxury hotels in Merida but your idea of luxury means absolute peace and quiet without any screaming kids in the pool, then look no further than the adults-only TreeHouse Boutique hotel, right in the city’s historic center.
The owner Sunita and her staff go above and beyond to offer the best experience possible for their guests and are the epitome of Yucatan hospitality. Many of the double rooms and deluxe double rooms offer private swimming pools, while all of the rooms have been tastefully decorated with Mayan touches.
Expect colorful Yucatecan azulejo tiles, exposed stone walls, wooden floorings and furnishings, and plush beds and chairs. In the communal areas, you can find a courtyard that often hosts live classical music shows, a shared lounge, an outdoor pool, and a chic bar.
Rooms start from $196 per night. Click here to check the latest rates and availability.
Casa Azul Merida
Where: C. 60 343, Centro, 97000 Centro, Yucatan, Mexico
Meridas Casa Azul Hotel is a gorgeous colonial mansion that dates back to the 19th century and has been declared a national historical monument. The property retains its original design and allows you to experience a stay that matches how the city’s nobility lived centuries ago.
Each of the luxurious suites has a slightly different design and is decorated with antique furniture and original artwork. A stay at Casa Azul seemingly transports you back in time.
In the pretty manicured gardens at the rear of the property, there is a stone Mayan fountain, a large swimming pool, and a bistro bar that serves delicious pina coladas, frozen daiquiris, and other tasty cocktails to enjoy by the pool.
At night, troubadours perform live Yucatecan music beneath a canopy of glittering stars.
Free private parking is available for all guests, but the property’s location just a short walk away from the Paseo de Montejo and Merida cathedral means that here you are perfectly poised for exploring the city on foot.
Rooms at Casa Azul Monumento Histórico start from. Click here to check the latest availabilities and room rates during your travel dates.
The Diplomat Hotel Merida
Where: C. 78 493A, Barrio de Santiago, Centro, 97000 Mérida
The Diplomat Hotel in Merida is a small luxury hotel set in the quiet Santiago district of Merida. It is the brainchild of world travelers Sara de Ruiter and Neil Haapamaki who, after spending 20 years traveling the globe, decided to settle in Merida and open a luxury hotel inspired by the best properties they have seen around the world.
There are just five suites for rental here offering a nice, intimate experience. Guests are greeted with complimentary botanas (tapas-style snacks) and a welcome cocktail on arrival.
Each of the air-conditioned rooms has a private bathroom, free Wi-Fi, a smart television, a Nespresso machine, and a sound dock. A free vegetarian breakfast is served each morning, and the property even has an honesty bar open from 8 am until 12 pm where you can help yourself to free drinks and treats.
Hacienda Xcanatun
Where: Calle 20 S/N x 19 y 19A Comisaría Xcanatún
The stunning Hacienda Xcanatun is a five-star property that is located just north of Merida, off the Carretera 261 that takes you to the Yucatecan beach town of Progreso and the Ruta Esmerelda. This spectacular Angsana Collection property dates back to the 18th century and has been lovingly restored to its former glory.
There are 54 lovely suites that you can choose from here, offering something for every taste. 18 suites are part of the original hacienda and effortlessly blend historic colonial furnishings and design with modern touches.
A further 36 suites are completely brand new and offer an ultra-modern, contemporary design with marble flooring and unique art pieces. You can browse through the various room styles when you make your reservation.
Many of the suites offer private terraces and private plunge pools – perfect for relaxing after a long day of sightseeing and exploring Mayan ruins.
In the gardens, guests can take a morning lap in the property’s Olympic-sized swimming pool, and enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the Casa de Piedra restaurant whose menu offers a blend of Mexican and international favorite dishes.
Hacienda Xcanatun places you conveniently close to a couple of lesser-known Yucatan highlights that are missed off most people’s Yucatan itineraries. This includes the Dzibilchaltun ruins and the eerie pueblo fantasma (ghost town) of Misnebalam.
Künük Hotel Boutique
Where: C. 59 609, Barrio de Santiago, Centro
The Künük boutique hotel is an intimate luxury property set inside a historic period building, just a short distance from the city center. The building dates back to 1905 and is partially located on Calle 59 – one of the main and most photogenic streets in Merida.
Calle 59 is a photographer’s paradise and it is lined with old colonial structures that have been painted in every color of the rainbow. (It has served as the backdrop for many an Instagram photoshoot!)
The property itself is something of a garden of Eden inside the heart of a concrete jungle. Each of the 13 spacious rooms has been designed for comfort with delicate wood details, a TV with cable channels, a mini bar, and deluxe bed linens.
A continental breakfast is included in the room rate, and room service is available from morning until night. All guests can enjoy free access to the pool, garden, and fitness center.
The property offers a transfer to and from Meridas Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport with cost and the front desk can advise you of various Merida tours and day trips from Merida that you can enjoy during your trip.
Piedra de Agua Hotel Boutique Merida
Where: C. 60 496, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yucatan
Piedra de Agua is a colonial-style boutique hotel right in the heart of Merida. The rooms and suites here have been decorated in French architectural style and still retain their original wooden doors from 1845.
From your private balcony, you can enjoy scenes of city life in the center of the Yucatan capital. The rooms offer plenty of respite from the heat and humidity with both air-conditioning and powerful ceiling fans.
A 42-inch flat-screen smart TV is mounted on the wall, and your private bathroom is stocked with organic toiletries made with Yucatan honey from Mani, and other local ingredients.
You would be hard pushed to find a better location than this. The area is central, and a short walk away from the best bars and cantinas of Merida. But the residential nature of this district means that you never have to deal with street noise and can easily forget you are in the heart of a bustling capital city.
Diez Diez Collection Merida
Where: Entre 54 y 56 Calle 37 487, P.º de Montejo, Centro
The Diez Diez Collection hotel sits on Mérida’s Paseo Montejo Boulevard, placing you right in the heart of the action. From various points along this promenade, named after Francisco Montejo, conqueror of the Yucatán, you can take an electric carriage ride to tour the city and learn about its roots and history.
Learn about Merida’s development from the Mayan city of T´ho, to the colonial era and modern day. Set inside an elegant colonial mansion, the Diez Diez collection hotel is an interesting blend of old meets new.
While the exterior of the property reflects the historic Yucatan, the rooms’ interiors have been decorated in a bold and contemporary manner. Think geometric designs, designer furnishings made from leather, concrete, and steel, and tapestries and fabrics created by Mexican Designer González Lugo Scabal.
There are a number of different rooms and suites to choose from when you make a reservation. All of the rooms have automatic blackout curtains, an exposed bathtub, and a hydromassage shower, while some of the large suites offer large workspaces, private terraces, rooftops, and gardens.
Fiesta Americana Merida
Where: Paseo Montejo No. 451, esq, Av. Colón, Centro, 97000 Mérida
Fiesta Americana Merida is a great luxury hotel choice if you want both a central location and all of the comfort and familiarity of an established American hotel chain. This 5-star hotel sits at the crossroads of the capital’s main avenues: Paseo Montejo and Colón.
It is set inside an elegant Porfirian building that has been designed with materials sourced from across the Yucatan. The Fiesta Americana Merida prides itself on offering a very personalized service to guests and offering everything they could possibly need during their stay.
There are three restaurants and bars on the premises, with one offering traditional Comida Yucatan and another renowned among locals and expats for offering one of the very best brunches in town. Rooms and suites are effortlessly luxurious, with Yucatan marble flooring and spectacular views of the city from their balconies.
If you choose to reserve a club room, you also have access to the exclusive club lounge, where you are welcomed with free champagne.
El Palacito Secreto
Where: C. 66 393, Centro, 97000 Mérida
El Palacito Secreto (¨the secret little palace¨) is a gorgeous property set inside a converted 19th-century French mansion. Throughout the property, you will note incredible attention to detail in the design, with hand-carved stone pillars, gorgeous mosaic designs, and an array of gorgeous hand-crafted tiles throughout the premises.
Each room has been decorated differently, and the property is a lot smaller and more intimate than staying in a hacienda. The aim is to make guests feel as though they are staying in their very own secret palace.
Coqui Coqui Merida
Where: Calle 55 516 entre Calle 62 y Calle 64, Centro
If basing yourself somewhere centrally located is important to you for your Merida itinerary, then Coqui Coqui Merida is a perfect choice. The property sits just a few short paces away from the bustling Santa Lucia square, home to some of the best restaurants in town – including Apoala Oaxacan-Yucatec fusion cuisine and La Chaya Maya.
Coqui Coqui is one of the most unique luxury hotels in Merida on this list. The property is made up of a high-end perfumery and a chic cafe, with just one single room for rent on the top floor.
The spectacular suite in this decadent belle époque 1903 townhouse aims to transport you back in time to what Merida was like during its finest hour. In other words, during the henequen boom of the 19th century when it was one of the richest cities in the world.
The suite consists of a bedroom, a living room, a terrace, and a private rooftop pool. Expect a grandiose four-poster bed and two freestanding French bathtubs.
The rooms feature thick velvet drapes and furnishings, homewares, art pieces, and decor that have been created by local artisans. The charming L’Epicerie café awaits within the courtyard and is a perfect place to wake up with a steaming cup of hot Chiapas coffee or try a degustation of local products.
Since there is only one room available at Coqui Coqui, you should book your stay as far in advance as possible – particularly if you are traveling during the peak season (December to March). Click here for the latest room rates and availability.
Mansión Mérida Boutique Hotel
Where: Entre Calle 58-60 Centro, C. 59 498
The Mansión Mérida Boutique Hotel is a beautiful hotel and restaurant set inside a 19th-century French-style mansion in the heart of central Merida. Guests of the property can enjoy the outdoor pool, gym, and spa facilities and the property consistently receives excellent reviews for the high quality of service and attentiveness of the staff.
Rooms and suites are all air-conditioned and have an adjoined en-suite private bathroom. You can expect slippers, fluffy bathrobes, a hairdryer, and complimentary Bvlgari toiletries in the bathrooms, soundproofing, a flat-screen TV, a dining area, and a safe in the rooms.
For a unique experience, treat yourself to a Mayan spa treatment or ask the receptionist to help you to organize a traditional temazcal ceremony.
Ya’ax Hotel Boutique
Where: C. 57 461, Parque de la Mejorada, Centro, 97000 Mérida
YA’AX Hotel Boutique is a striking property situated close to the Merida Main Square (Zocalo). Its prime location is perfect for exploring the center of Mérida and experiencing the various cultural events that are frequently hosted throughout the city’s parks and plazas.
The elegant rooms here feature high ceilings, tasteful Mayan designs, air conditioning, free wifi, a mini-bar, air conditioning, and a flat-screen TV. An American breakfast is included in the room rates and the prices here are very reasonable – offering luxury without the luxury price tag.
IOH Merida Mid Center
Where: Prol. Paseo Montejo 371, Benito Juárez Nte.
The IOH Merida Mid Center is one of the newer luxury hotels in Merida. The stylish modern property opened just a couple of years ago and sits in the northern suburbs of the city.
Rooms have been decorated in monochrome shades of black and white and there are different genres of rooms available depending on your needs. Traveling through Mexico while working remotely as a Digital Nomad or on a business trip?
You will love the dedicated ¨work rooms¨ that offer either one king-sized or two double beds, along with spacious desk space and city views. In Merida on vacation?
Choose from either one of the ¨relax¨ rooms or one of the ¨play¨ rooms which include extra seating, and many of which offer large bathtubs for a relaxing soak.
There is an ultra-chic rooftop pool and bar area on the top floor of the property with unparalleled views over Merida and the wider Yucatan and a food court on one of the lower levels where you can enjoy international cuisine.
Here, you are just a 5-minute drive away from the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya de Mérida (Mayan history museum), while the historic center is a 15-minute drive away.
Click here to check the latest prices and availability.
Which luxury hotels in Merida are romantic?
Virtually all of the luxury Merida hotels included on this list are perfect for couples looking to enjoy a romantic getaway. The hacienda properties, in particular, offer something a little extra special.
Beyond that though, some of the properties also offer additional romantic packages. For example, if you opt to stay at the Hacienda San Jose, you can reserve a special candlelit dinner in the gardens of the property, on an independent table surrounded by flowers, tropical plants, and trees, away from the main restaurant, where all of your needs are waited on hand and foot, and a special menu is prepared for the occasion.
Other hotels, including Rosas Y Xocolate, periodically offer romance packages where you can book a room stay, along with a romantic dinner and couples chocolate treatments in the spa. El Palacito Secreto offers you the chance to book a package (at least three days in advance) where you can have a romantic meal prepared by a private chef, enjoy handmade local chocolates, and receive a personalized flower bouquet on arrival.
Final thoughts on the best luxury hotels in Merida
When it comes to luxury hotels in Merida, you will be spoiled for choice. Many of the properties here are set inside grand historic mansions and haciendas that have played an integral role in local history.
The Yucatan is not a place where a hotel stay means staying in a soulless hotel room that is managed by a large international chain and looks like something that you can find in any corner of the world. Better yet, a lot of the luxury Merida hotels are very reasonably priced.
You can reserve a night or two in four and five-star hotels here for anywhere between $100 and $350 a night, even in the peak season. Those rates are practically unheard of in other popular tourist destinations around the globe when you are looking at those prices even for a moderate, mid-range room.
Do you have any further questions or concerns about the best luxury hotels in Merida or suggestions of places you want me to check out and potentially consider for this list? As I mentioned, I have been living in Merida since the beginning of 2022.
Hopefully, this article has given you plenty of inspiration in deciding where to stay in Merida. However, if you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
If this is your first trip to the Yucatan, you might also enjoy browsing this list of things to do in the Yucatan peninsula or this guide to Yucatan safety.
Safe travels, and enjoy Mexico! Buen Viaje! Melissa xo
