When I started looking for the hotels we would stay at during our 2-week road trip in Yucatan I was overwhelmed by the choice and the number of stunning properties. I didn’t really know what to expect from Mexico but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the offer, the style and vibe of so many hotels, from luxury properties to cute boutique hotels, The latter is always my favorite, and in Merida there is no shortage of small charming properties. I hesitated a lot, but eventually booked The Diplomat Boutique Hotel and absolutely loved it! Is the Diplomat the best boutique hotel in Merida … I let you be the judge. (I also included a few more options of beautiful boutique hotels at the bottom of this post!)
THE VIBE AT THE DIPLOMAT BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Our experience at The Diplomat started even before reaching Merida. Sara and Neil, the Canadian owners of the hotel, reached out to us a few days before arrival to check if we had any special requests, or needed any information, etc. When I mentioned we were in Bacalar, Sara shared all her recommendations for restaurants and activities. That set the tone for our experience at The Diplomat: cozy, friendly, no frills.
Behind the property’ bright blue walls is an historical mansion, turned into a tranquil boutique hotel, with 5 bedrooms, a central courtyard with plunge pool, and a pretty dining area.
Forget about traditional check-in process. Instead, we were invited to sit by the pool with a margarita and some local snacks … my kind of welcome for sure! While we were sipping our cocktails, the staff kindly shared their recommendations about what to do, where to eat, etc in Merida and in the region. They even have their own little map of the city, highlighting all their favorite places.
Right by the entrance of the hotel is a selection of local artisanal products, from perfumes to candles, jewelry and textiles. You like anything? Just take it and WhatsApp Sara or Neil about it and it will be added to your bill. I love this trust based concept.. They extended it even further with the “honesty bar”, a freely accessible stock of chilled local wines, craft beers and other refreshments. If you take something, just write it down on the tracking sheet and again, it will be added to your final bill. Quick, convenient and it gives a feeling of being in a home rather than a hotel.
All around the decoration is stunning, with bright white walls beautiful arches, stunning chandelier, massive cactus, colorful floor tiles, and of coure the traditional hanging hammocks. It feels local, modern and very chic, all at once.
THE ROOMS
The Diplomat Boutique Hotel has only 5 bedrooms, most of them facing the pool. We stayed in The Capital, a spacious suite with a wrought iron king sized bed, walk-in closet, and expansive bathroom. I loved the mix of vintage and modern decoration elements, the hammock, the really high ceiling and the beautiful tiles in the bathroom. The one thing I liked less what that our bedroom had no window (except a small porthole in the bathroom), but thanks to the high white walls it didn’t feel dark at all.
THE FOOD
The Diplomat Boutique Hotel is a Bed & Breakfast, so there is no restaurant on site past breakfast time (which is served at 9am). Every morning, the team prepares a different vegetarian breakfast, from Huevos rancheros to French toasts. I wasn’t convinced at first by this concept as I would usually prefer to hava a choice, but the breakfast we had was incredible. Fresh tortillas, fried eggs, black beans, local cheese, and fresh fruits. It was delicious and it pushed me to try something I wouldn’t have otherwise. When I thought it couldn’t get any better, it did: there is free champagne too ,,, Mimosa anyone?!
On another morning, we left very early and they packed up a takeaway breakfast which was equally delicious, with a bagel, some home made muffin, cookies, bananas, etc.
Aside from the honesty bar mentioned above, there is a free tequila and mezcal degustation station, and the staff is also available to prepare some cocktails upon request.
Overall I loved our stay at the Diplomat Boutique hotel and wished we could have stayed longer. 2 nights was not quite enough to discover Merida, visit the region, and enjoy some downtime at the hotel. The couple of hours I spent reading in the hammock were blissful.
Here you go, this was a quick review of the Diplomat Boutique hotel, and why I think it is one of the best boutique hotel in Merida. Not fully convinced, need to to see more options? You will find below a few properties I was hesitating with before booking at The Diplomat. I think you can’t go wrong with any of these options,
OTHER BEAUTIFUL BOUTIQUE HOTELS IN MERIDA
- Decu Downtown: Opened in 2021, Decu Downtown is a small boutique hotel with 8 rooms, combining classic Mexican style with modern architecture. Nothing less than stunning.
- Hacienda Xcanatun by Angsana: A gorgeous hacienda, located just outside town. We preferred staying in town to be able to walk around easily but I must confess I regret not staying in an hacienda at least a couple of nights during our Yucatan road-trip.
- Cigno Hotel Boutique: An adult only boutique hotel, with wooden furniture, a small pool and the most amazing floor tiles!
- Casa Lecanda: With beautiful tiled courtyards, a pool and luxurious rooms, Casa Lecanda Boutique Hotel is one of the nicest boutique hotel in Merida, perfectly located next to Paseo Montejo Boulevard.
- TreeHouse Boutique Hotel: 15 rooms surrounding a green courtyard, The interiors combine classic architecture and contemporary design in a very upscale blend. An oasis of peace and a great boutique hotel option in the heart of Merida..
Do you have any other recommendations of beautiful boutique hotels in Merida? Don’t hesitate to send me a message about it, or mention it in the comment box below to help fellow travelers ! Thanks.
Love,
Emma.
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