Mexico City's latest boutique hotel offering may also be one of its smallest.
The 16-room Hippodrome Hotel Condesa opened in January in the Condesa neighborhood on a quiet side street off Parque Mexico, a large urban space also known as the Parque San Martin.
The hotel is housed in a 1930s art deco building and takes its name from a racetrack that once stood on the land.
It was remodeled and redesigned by Mexican architect and owner Nahim Dagdug during a 16-month, $3 million renovation program.
His goal was to bring back a brand of luxury service from days gone by in an intimate setting, with the top priorities being personalized service and privacy.
"I want to transport guests to a bygone era of travel where arrivals are celebrated and every detail of their stay is extraordinary," Dagdug said.
The Hippodrome's 24-hour butler service certainly goes a long way in that regard. Butlers arrange city tours, shopping excursions, restaurant reservations and salon appointments as well as attend to packing/unpacking/ironing if requested by guests.
Other features include complimentary airport transfers; a front desk that is manned around the clock; in-room amenities such as free WiFi, Molton Brown bath products, Netflix selections and pillow menus; and a cutting-edge design style.
Several of the rooms offer a private balcony or patio.
The Hippodrome incorporates art deco design elements that reflect the building's exterior, such as beveled wall mirrors and custom hardwood pieces and furniture, designed to complement the rooms' color scheme of plum and gray fabrics, according to Canadian interior designer Robert Maar.
Currently, there is no on-site restaurant at the Hippodrome, but the property soon will be opening Aida, a three-level, 80-seat restaurant serving Mexican fusion cuisine and featuring an open atrium, wine cellar and three bars. One bar will be open to the public; the second will be a terrace bar for VIPs and hotel guests; the third will host private events.
Room categories and sizes range from the 195-square-foot deluxe rooms to the 935-square-foot signature suite featuring two bedrooms and a private terrace.
The Hippodrome is just a short walk from the vibrant nightlife of the Zona Rosa neighborhood as well as 50-plus restaurants, bars, high-end shops and popular attractions, among them the National Museum of Anthropology, the Angel of Independence Monument and Chapultepec Park.
Rates range from $210 per room, per night, double, in a deluxe room to $695 in a signature suite.
For details, visit www.hippodromehotelcondesamexico.com.