In 2002, renowned Oaxacan artist Francisco Toledo successfully led a protest against the opening of a McDonald’s in the historic central square of Oaxaca City, Mexico. Toledo was adamant about preserving the authenticity of his hometown’s 500-year-old Zócalo and its unique culture. Today, Oaxaca is known not only for its rich traditions and as the birthplace of mezcal and mole but also as a growing hotspot for architecture and design.
Below are some of Oaxaca’s most captivating hotels that beautifully blend tradition with modern design:
1. [Monte Uzulu Boutique Hotel](https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/San-Agustinillo/monte-uzulu-boutique-hotel-12147), San Agustinillo: This hotel offers a contemporary take on traditional thatched-roof palapa structures, balancing sensitivity to the locale and environment with modern boutique hospitality.
2. [Casona Sforza](https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/puerto-escondido/casona-sforza-123341-13216), Puerto Escondido: This 11-room luxury boutique hotel stands out with its unique arched structures designed by architect Alberto Kalach.
3. [Flavia Hotel](https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/oaxaca-city/flavia-hotel-12962), Oaxaca City: Located on the edge of town, this hotel features a monumental Brutalist construction that is surprisingly warm and livable.
4. [Casa Silencio](https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/san-pablo-villa-de-mitla/casa-silencio-12357), San Pablo Villa de Mitla: Once a working distillery, this hotel is now a spectacular compound of modern buildings constructed from rustic rammed earth, timber, and tile.
5. [Hotel Terrestre](https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/puerto-escondido/hotel-terrestre-12488), Puerto Escondido: This hotel is a dramatic structure set between the mountains and the sea, made of locally sourced brick and concrete by architect Alberto Kalach.
6. [Hotel Escondido](https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/puerto-escondido/hotel-escondido-7085), Puerto Escondido: This hotel offers an impossibly stylish version of beach-bum living with its perfectly formed bungalows.
7. [Hotel Escondido Oaxaca](https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/oaxaca-city/hotel-escondido-oaxaca-9424), Oaxaca City: This hotel is a blend of a 19th-century house and a neo-Brutalist structure, creating a contemporary boutique hotel that blurs the distinctions between old and new.
8. [Casa TO](https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/puerto-escondido/casa-to-12963), Puerto Escondido: This architectural statement is an austere beauty almost entirely composed of raw concrete, designed by architect Ludwig Godefroy.
9. [Pug Seal Oaxaca](https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/oaxaca-city/pug-seal-oaxaca-11812), Oaxaca City: This tranquil, residential-style hotel is designed around a central courtyard decorated with colorful murals.
10. [Otro Oaxaca](https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/oaxaca-city/otro-oaxaca-13292), Oaxaca City: This hotel masterfully mixes traditional Oaxacan textures and materials with modernist geometries and minimalist interiors.
11. [Zoa Hotel](https://guide.michelin.com/en/hotels-stays/mazunte/zoa-hotel-11637), Santa Maria Tonameca: This “hotel secreto” offers privacy and far-ranging views with its five thatched-roof bungalows and ecologically sensitive practices.
These hotels not only offer a unique stay but also contribute to preserving and promoting Oaxaca’s local heritage.
Written by Mark Fedeli.
Source: guide.michelin.com