There are few hotels that surpass my expectations. One such hotel is Hotel Dama in the La Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City. Not only did Hotel Dama surpass my expectations, but it was honestly one of the best hotels I have ever stayed at, and I’ve stayed at my fair share of hotels across the globe over the years. With its clean and charming mid-century modern aesthetic, attentive staff, and gorgeous rooftop restaurant, it’s easy to see why Hotel Dama is consistently getting five star reviews.
Table of Contents
Choosing Where to Stay
When searching for where to stay in Mexico City, I spent days scouring the internet trying to find the right neighborhood and the right hotel for our first time in this sprawling metropolis. Mexico City is, in fact, the largest city in North America, so figuring out where to stay can be a daunting task.
For us, it had to be safe, clean, and convenient. I was looking for something mid-range as far as pricing goes since this was a birthday trip for my godsister, and birthdays are not the time to pinch pennies, at least in my book.
There were few neighborhoods that came into consideration—La Condesa, Roma Norte, Centro Historico and Zona Rosa. Each had something special to offer. Zona Rosa is close to nightlife, Centro Historico is near museums and Zocalo, and then La Condesa and Roma Norte, which are considered sister neighborhoods, have a rich restaurant and bar scene in a safe and walkable bohemian area.
After narrowing down the neighborhoods and a few top hotel picks in each, we ended up deciding to try out this brand new hotel that just opened two weeks prior to booking. There were only 3 reviews on Expedia, so we were going in blind and hoping for the best. The photos listed were undeniably breathtaking, depicting a calm little corner in the bustling city. I’ve never booked a hotel with so few reviews before, since that is where I do the bulk of my research when trying to pick out a hotel. However, we decided to take a chance and hope for the best… and that is exactly what we got.
Hotel Dama
Hotel Dama is a brand new boutique hotel inside a preserved 1950s building that opened its doors just May of this year on peaceful tree-lined street in La Condesa.
There are less than 30 rooms in the hotel from my estimate, so the hotel is very intimate and the staff is extra attentive to all its guests. Even before our arrival, the front desk was emailing me asking about our arrival time and any requests. I mentioned we were celebrating my godsister’s birthday and they offered to help me arrange a little surprise for her. I could tell that the staff was eager to please.
After being stuck in rush hour traffic from Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez for an hour, we arrived at the hotel shortly before the official check-in time. We entered through the front door and into the most charming and quaint mid-century lobby, where we were warmly greeted by the front desk who was prepared for our arrival. Check-in took less than 3 minutes and she offered us a free welcome drink at the rooftop restaurant while they carried our bags into our room.
The rooftop was stunning with views of the neighborhood. As we sat down, we were handed two Mezcalitas for our welcome drinks. I discovered my new favorite cocktail obsession! It was both strong and delicious with just a hint of smokiness. I never cared for Mezcal back home, but this drink blew my mind. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts to drink Mezcalitas in every bar in CDMX for the duration of the trip, nothing compared to my first Mezcalita at the rooftop at Hotel Dama. It raised the bar a little too high for others to compete. Nothing compares to a first love, am I right?
The Rooms At Hotel Dama
As we made our way down to the room after finishing the drinks, the front desk lady informed us that she had given us an upgraded room. Normally, I have to beg hotels for upgrades, only to be denied immediately, or offered an upgrade at a price, yet she did it for free and without me asking. Already our trip was off to an incredible start and we didn’t even make it inside our room yet.
Surprise
Things just kept getting better from there. We walked into a spacious double-queen room with a small, private courtyard. As our eyes darted around the room admiring everything, we came across the surprise Hotel Dama helped me plan for my godsister’s birthday. Propped on the elongated desk along the wall was a sign reading “Happy Birthday, Mariana” with two massive shots of tequila, a delicious chocolate desert with berry sauce, and a complimentary bottle of tequila. It was such a beautiful display, and the effort they put into the birthday surprise touched both us.
Bedroom
Going back to the room, the aesthetic and design were flawless. The courtyard was marble lined just like the floors inside the room, with green plants and vines inching up the walls. There were two large queen-sized beds with foot benches at the end of each for sitting or laying out clothes and multiple plugs on both sides of the beds. There was a large, smart TV and a desk underneath it as well as a chair and coat/drying rack. The armoire had plenty of storage with shelves, hangers, bath robes, and a safe.
Right next to it was the mini bar with fridge and snacks for purchase. We only purchased an extra bottle of water after a night out, but looking at the price list, everything was actually affordable, unlike most hotel mini bars. No worries of bankrupting yourself for a candy bar.
Bathroom
The best part of the room was the bathroom. Our room had two sinks and enough counter space so that we’d never have to clean up after each other or relocate our deluge of toiletries and makeup. We each claimed a sink and set up camp for the rest of our stay. The shower was a real luxurious treat with a rainfall showerhead and endless hot water. Toiletries were provided as well as a very powerful hairdryer.
If I had to be nitpicky, the only two issues were the fact that sometimes the water from the shower would end up outside of the shower, so we would have to sacrifice a towel to mop it up and that the door to the toilet was clear, meaning neither of us could use the sink or shower if someone needed to use the toilet for obvious privacy reasons. The clear glass doors did make the bathroom seem like a small palace, so I fully understand their choice from an aesthetic point.
Housekeeping
One of the highlights of Hotel Dama, which I have never witnessed to this degree, was their thorough housekeeping. On the second day when we returned in the late afternoon, we found our room to be absolutely spotless with fresh towels, and restocked toilet paper.
That may seem pretty standard, but what shocked us was that all our belongings which we had tossed haplessly on the desk, on the bed, on the floor, and in the bathroom were carefully organized and displayed. Yes, even the clothes we tossed in a pile on the foot bench were nicely folded and stacked for us. Of course, housekeeping didn’t go through our personal belongings, just the stuff readily available and scattered around were now organized and displayed in such beautiful order. The room was reset so perfectly each day, it was like we were never there before.
Breakfast
Breakfast was included with a variety of menu items to choose from at the rooftop restaurant. You are offered a coffee, a choice a fresh squeezed fruit juice that changes daily, fresh fruit, a plain or chocolate croissant and one of several menu items like overnight oats or chilaquiles.
It’s a pretty large and filling spread. I am upset about how good the overnight oats were because I truly think I will never find better overnight oats anywhere in the world. If those overnight oats were at a brunch spot in Los Angeles, they would probably cost close to $30. They were magical, and I’d go back to Mexico City just for those overnight oats.
There are additional paid options if you wanted to add even more to your breakfast, but I see no reason why. The free options were great and the portions plentiful.
Tequila Bar
I’m hesitant to write about this, since I’m sure it won’t be a permanent feature. It’s only time until someone grows greedy and ruins it for everyone, but at least for the time being and foreseeable future, Hotel Dama has a small bar in their lobby with free, self-serve tequila. You read that right. You can pour yourself a shot of free tequila in the hotel lobby whenever you want. What better way to live life than to take a shot of tequila as you are walking out the door for the night before dinner?
Security
Hotel Dama takes security seriously. You need your room key to enter the building and there is someone at the front desk 24/7 keeping an eye on things. The street in which Hotel Dama is located is very quiet and calm and we had no issues walking around the area. As with all travel, though, take precautions and be careful when walking around, especially at night.
Location
La Condesa is a rich and thriving neighborhood with plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants. Its bohemian, laid back vibe attracts a lot of ex-pats and visitors. It’s one of the safest and most walkable neighborhoods in CDMX as well.
Affordable and readily available Ubers can get you around to all other parts of CDMX. It’s just a 45 minute drive to Xochimilco, a 30 minute drive to Centro Historico, a 13 minute drive to nightlife in Roma Norte, and an hour drive to the airport. It’s walking distance to the famous Chapultepec Castle and park as well as the Anthropology Museum, or a 5 minute Uber if your legs had enough walking for the day. La Condesa is a great neighborhood as a home base during your time in CDMX.
Final Thoughts
If I had to rate Hotel Dama is would be an outstanding 10/10. What it lacks in amenities like parking or a swimming pool, it makes up with security, friendliness, service, and cleanliness. CDMX isn’t a town you should be driving in anyways and the weather certainly didn’t scream pool time when we were there.
The location couldn’t be better and the atmosphere is fresh and inviting. If I were to design a home, it would look like Hotel Dama. And that’s exactly what it felt like—a luxury home with attentive service. It would be hard for me to stay elsewhere in Mexico City now, since I’d compare every place else to the high standard that Hotel Dama set.
And for those wondering, we paid for our stay. In no way was this trip sponsored. These opinions are 100% my own and unbiased and uninfluenced. If you are interested in staying at the Hotel Dama in Mexico City and want to support this blog and future unbiased reviews, please use one of the links above to book your stay! 🙂 Thanks for your continued support!
