Rosas & Xocolate Boutique Hotel+Spa, Merida

Our memories of visiting the Mexican state of Yucatán are pastel-colored. We were inspired by the sun-baked houses of Izamal, pale façades of Valladolid, or even the earthy tones of Riviera Maya and Tulum (see more on our Instagram page).

Merida, the capital of the region, has all these colors and more — and Rosas & Xocolate Boutique Hotel fits well into the city’s vivid landscape.

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Roses and chocolates

Given the beauty of Merida, any designer who wants to outcompete the best-looking historical buildings here is in for a tough assignment. But often, the trick lies in a smart idea, and once that is found, all other pieces of the puzzle fall into place.

In the Rosas & Xocolate case, the secret lies in its name. One part of the concept comes from the ubiquitous in the region red roses — the other draws from the ancient Mayan civilization that first experimented with the use of cocoa plants. Pink and chocolate tones define the hotel’s selective color palette and set the atmosphere.

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Romantic design

To create Rosas & Xocolate, the architect Salvador Reyes Rios and designer Josefina Larrain transformed two 120-year-old colonial mansions into exciting, intimate spaces, inspired by Yucatán’s old-world charm, yet infused with contemporary aesthetics.

This approach is evident in the use of local materials, such as hand-fabricated cement tiles and chucum stucco, and the choice of facilities. Catering to the modern sensibilities is a sleek swimming pool, a rooftop bar, a tequila lounge, and — perhaps inevitably — a chocolate store. A sensual spa at the hotel is also chocolate-themed.

The rooms are islands of privacy, and each comes with its own atmosphere and style, always riffing off the main themes of the hotel. Refined furniture in cedarwood, cotton linens, outdoor bathtubs, hand-made chocolate soaps, and high-quality audio systems ensure comfort and radiate a pleasure-palace vibe.

The interiors are designed as luxe lovers’ pads, and the strewing of fresh-cut roses makes them feel luxurious. Our bedroom had a four-poster bed and a moody light, creating a sense of romance (like in this photo).

Award-winning

The hotel’s eye-popping color concept ensured its pink-painted buildings have frequently featured in travel and fashion magazines. It received numerous awards, such as Architectural Digest’s “Iconos del Diseño 2011” for the best architectural restoration in Mexico, and the accolade of “The Best Urban Hotel” in all of Mexico by Food & Travel Magazine for two years in a row (2015, 2016).

The hotel’s restaurant has also been widely recognized as among the best in the city, and in 2016 it was named “The Best Hotel Restaurant in Mexico” by the prestigious culinary organization Canirac.

in our opinion

Trendy, luxurious, romance-filled, and widely recognized as one of the best hotels to stay in Merida, Rosas & Xocolate Boutique Hotel+Spa wows with its pink-brown color theme. Best suited for couples.

What we love

• Merida is one of the most beautiful cities on the Yucatan peninsula. Rosas & Xocolate reflects this beauty. We love the hotel's gorgeous, bold style, and not only because of its color palette. The design draws from the region's vibrant Mayan roots and its colonial history, but the architecture and interiors are also infused with contemporary aesthetics and luxe vibe.
• Situated on the outskirts of the oldest part of Merida, the hotel has an excellent location from which to explore Yucatan's capital. And the best way to discover the city is on the pink Rosas & Xocolate bicycles provided free for the hotel guests!
• Rosas & Xocolate has one of the best restaurants in the city, where we had an excellent dinner. Breakfasts are served in the courtyard surrounded by water gardens — we loved the hearty Mexican-style cooked dishes and the classic selection of pastries, fresh fruit, and juices.
• The hotel distinguishes itself with outstanding service. The staff made our stay here relaxed and stress-free.
• For such a small hotel, Rosas & Xocolate offers excellent facilities. Apart from the restaurant, there is also a tequila bar, a swimming pool, a rooftop lounge with live music, an on-site gym, and even a hand-made chocolate shop on-site and small perfumery. A top-notch spa with a rooftop jacuzzi specializes in Mayan-inspired "xocolatherapy" treatments.

What you should know

• The excellent rooftop bar, serving delicious mescal cocktails (and offering live jazz music) opens only from Thursday to Saturday.
• The hotel's pool is shallow and not ideal for swimming. Its style is more that of an ornamental plunge pool.
• The hotel's spa is open to the public.
• We loved to ride the hotel's pink bicycles to Merida's street food districts, mescal bars, and art galleries. If you prefer to walk, it's a 20-minute stroll away to the center.
• The city is well situated as a base from which to visit some of Yucatan's attractions. Many cenotes (natural sinkholes) are located nearby, and the famous Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza only an hour and a half away.