Guide to the Best Hotels in Mexico City, Honest Review of Art Deco Casa Decu

Whenever I discover a new hotel in my favourite neighbourhood in Mexico City, I immediately rush to talk to everyone about it. I am the opposite of a gatekeeper, perhaps to my own detriment, but how can I keep places like this a secret?! I am not one who doesn’t care where they sleep on vacation. Even when I’m spending almost the entirety of the day pounding the pavement to see everything I can, there is nothing I enjoy more than coming home to a beautiful hotel suite where I can really relax and wind down. And for me, I’ve found my new slice of heaven inside the Casa Decu! There is a reason the word “casa” is in the hotel name, as this place really does feel like home.

Despite Casa Decu opening four years, the pandemic took a big bite out of its launch. But this means the hotel still feels brand new! And while there are plenty of other hotels in the area, Casa Decu is truly such a wonderful place at a surprisingly reasonable price! This kind of boutique hotel is a sparkling diamond that will make your entire trip all the more of a relaxing retreat.

Location

Casa Decu is located in the upscale and tourist-friendly neighbourhood of La Condesa, just steps from Avenida Amsterdam. I have lots of different guides all about La Condesa as it is my absolute favourite barrio in Mexico City. La Condesa is safe, historic, has a fantastic coffee and cafe culture and incredible restaurants hidden around every leaf-covered corner. This is the perfect place to stay for anyone who is visiting the city for the first time.

The Vision

Casa Decu‘s philosophy is to create spaces where guests can easily enjoy long-term stays. This means an array of amenities to make it, so you almost don’t want to leave! Even if you’re only in town for a few days, you still have access to these extras. This includes a kitchenette, sofa and dining area in even the smallest and lowest-priced rooms. They believe these additions allows travellers to feel more like a local than just a tourist. And it totally works. While I love the idea of Airbnb, I’ve had so many problems in the past and even ethically it’s not the greatest option to help develop the economy of the place you’re visiting. That’s why options like Casa Decu are great as they feel like staying inside a home but with the comfort of a hotel experience.

Rooms & Suites

Casa Decu only has 27 rooms, so they are technically classified as a boutique hotel. They offer four different options for your stay. The cheapest is the Executive Room with a double bed, separate bathroom and kitchenette. The Junior Suite is slightly larger and features a queen or double bed with a separate bathroom and Living room. The Superior Suite is double the size of the Junior, so you can really feel like you can spread out, but it has the same amenities. The largest option is the Duplex Suite which actually contains a joint with a second bedroom with two independent bathrooms! The largest rooms on the first floor even have a small, enclosed terrace, but these rooms are first come, first serve, and you cannot guarantee one.

My Room

I booked the Executive Room but was upgraded upon arrival to a Junior Suite upon arrival. The great thing about small hotels is they have a little more control over the experience so you will frequently get upgraded if they have the space. The addition of the kitchenette was one of the main reasons I booked the hotel. I adore having a small kitchen since I always buy SO many drinks and love having them kept cool to enjoy when I get back to the hotel after a hotel day. Nothing is better when you get home after a long day than to kick off your shoes and relax for the night with a refreshing local beverage.

My room looked out over the inner courtyard. I was concerned this might be noisy but at night it was totally silent. And I loved sitting at the dinner table watching people come and go. It was like looking out over onto a quiet side street. The bed was lush and comfy and there was lots of space to hang and store my clothes.

Bathroom

The bathroom is very simplistic and some might say a little overly so. I love a bath, so anytime I don’t have that option I’m a bit bummed. But bathtubs are SUPER rare to find in Mexico City so I’ve become used to very rarely finding one. The sink is located outside the separate shower and toilet stall which is bonus if you need to brush your teeth while someone is in the shower. Despite the shower room being so plain and rustic, the water pressure was amazing and I didn’t have any issues with the temperature.

Pet-Friendly

The hotel is divided into two halves, with one area dedicated to medium and small-breed pets! I didn’t hear any noise from the dogs but I sure did have a good time petting those good girls and boys when I ran into them in the morning.

Design

The hotel is located inside a renovated Art Deco apartment building. The original structure dates back to the late 1930s but obviously, the interior has been up hauled for the modern era. But the designers kept so many of the amazing vintage elements that make the building feel like a piece of history. Mexico City, and especially La Condesa, is home to some very unique art deco buildings so getting to stay inside one of them is really special. There is not a corner of the building that doesn’t feel like a great spot for a photo-op!

Rooftop & Breakfast

Although an included breakfast is never that important to me (as I prefer heading right out onto the town to seek out a new coffee shop) I was blown away by the gorgeous rooftop terrace. Up here is where you found the included Continental breakfast every morning. The provided breakfast itself is very basic, but you could order additional dishes at an additional cost extra. That being said, most coffee shops in the area open later than I usually prefer so it was SUPER convenient to be able to wake up and have a coffee on the terrace.

While simple, the breakfast options were great and there was something for everyone. From toast and cereal to fresh fruit, hot pastries and yogurt it was a nice spread to get something in your stomach before heading out for your day. And if you want to save some money having an included breakfast in your hotel stay means you don’t need to spend anything additional in the morning.

The rooftop terrace is actually open 24/7, so you can grab your own snacks and head up here to enjoy some downtime in a semi-private space any time during the day.

Gym

There is a gym right beside the breakfast bar, but as someone who never works out on vacation, I didn’t use it. I saw some people using the gym while I was up on the terrace relaxing, and the machines were new and looked very spiffy.

Pricing

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Overall Review

Overall, I LOVED staying at the Casa Decu. When I booked the hotel, it was because I was staying in Mexico City as a sool traveller and just looking for a cheap hotel to stay at. And I was blown away by how gorgeous this place was! My husband dropped in quickly to see the room, as he was on his way out of town and was devastated he didn’t get the chance to stay here with me! So we literally CANNOT wait to come back to experience the place together. The kindness of the staff is also worth mentioning as they were so helpful to both me and everyone I saw interact with the front desk. I really hope you add this to your list of places to check out next time you’re booking a trip to Mexico City!

Happy Travels, Adventurers