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At a Glance

Located in the beating heart of Puebla’s downtown, Hotel Cartesiano is a true urban oasis, boasting exquisite design, a rooftop pool, two excellent restaurants and a spa.

Indagare Loves

• The design, which juxtaposes über-contemporary, minimalist accents with historic buildings
• The location; the hotel is magically tucked away but is steps from the bustling downtown.
• The rooftop pool, which offers views over Puebla

Review

Opened in 2017, the sleek Hotel Cartesiano is at the head of Puebla’s tourism wave. The city, which has all the makings of Mexico’s next big thing, is stepping into the spotlight thanks to its 500-year history, colorful architecture and vibrant cultural offerings. Hotel Cartesiano is at the epicenter of Puebla’s downtown, which is a pastel-painted haven of open-air markets and street-side cafes.

Stepping into the lobby, however, guests are transported from a traditional setting to a modern oasis. The hotel’s public spaces are full of blonde wood furnishings, modern art sculptures and minimalist, Asian-inspired décor. In fact, the entire property is a flawless juxtaposition of contemporary and traditional Mexican design: accommodations are spread throughout several historical buildings (one of which is a 16th-century colonial house), and interior courtyards transport visitors to a Morocco riad with their stately columns, colorful tiles and manicured gardens. Hotel Cartesiano’s 78 rooms employ a muted color palette, with plush textures, wood furnishings and crisp white linens. Everything feels thoughtful and polished—from the light fixtures to the fireplaces—which is nicely contrasted with stone walls and tile work.

Adding to the hotel’s list of temptations are its two excellent restaurants. Centena Cuatro, a stylish rooftop café decorated with colorful furniture, offers a fine-dining menu of elevated Mexican classics like beet tacos with salsa and bone marrow esquites; while the all day-eatery Café Hercilia has a lovely courtyard setting. Another significant draw to Hotel Cartesiano is its four-room rooftop spa. A modern architectural marvel, with sleek design and conch shell-shaped hallways, the spa offers treatments using Naturopathica products (an all-natural form of alternative medicine).

Who Should Stay

Culture hounds and travelers who appreciate up-and-coming locales and who want to be in the center of the action. Design lovers will be especially happy here.

Author

• Blair West