El Patio 77

Rooms

Each of the 8 bedrooms is named and designed after a particular Mexican state. All the rooms have gleaming wood floors, hand-woven rugs and arched brick ceilings - we loved the vintage chairs and inventive use of objects found during renovations, like the broad oak beams made into bedside tables. There are no other mod cons such as TV, though we didn't need them.

Tenango embroidery covers the bed cushions in the 2-double-bedded Hidalgo room. Tiny orange and black monarch butterflies adorned the light fixtures in our Michoacan Junior Suite, known as 'the butterfly state’. Lovers of 4-poster beds should go for the sea-themed Veracruz Junior Suite or the Guerrero Junior Suite. Or, for a splurge, go for the Suites: luxury Oaxaca has a Parisian feel with tall shuttered windows opening onto a big corner balcony; groovy Chiapas has a more '70s style with 2 smaller balconies overlooking the street; rustico Jalisco is decorated with shelves of traditional pottery.

Each of the Suites has an ensuite bathroom, as does the Michoacan Junior Suite; the other rooms share a bathroom between them. We were slightly apprehensive about this but found they were kept scrupulously clean and although there was an occasional wait for the shower, the water was always hot. Individual boilers in each bathroom are heated by the rooftop solar panels and water is recycled to flush toilets. Special bio-degradable hand soap, shampoo and shower gel is provided - commercial chemicals will upset the system so this is not the place to test any fancy toiletries!

Features include:

• In-room treatments available
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is served in the smaller of El Patio’s 2 interior courtyards - a scattering of tables just off the kitchen. Either Alan or Diego will be on hand to help serve a traditional Mexican dish, along with fresh fruit and cereal. We had molletes, a soft bread covered with frijoles, tomatoes and avocados; check the blackboard to see the daily special. The coffee is organic.

Taps in the kitchen have a filtering device and guests can pop in anytime to refill the stainless steel water bottles placed in every room.

Be sure to ask for the B&B's helpful map of cheap and cheerful restaurants, most within walking distance. Worth the slightly long stroll is Mezzo - a tiny, family-run Italian eatery with sidewalk tables and really tasty bruschetta and pasta. Around the corner is El Chivito, a basic Mexican diner that specialises in meat dishes. Many local restaurants are closed on Sundays but one lively place that opens is La Polar - steaming bowls of birria, a delicious lamb stew, are plunked on your table by frantic waiters as competing mariachi and ranchero bands vie for your attention. Kids will love the balloon-sculpting clowns but romantic couples should avoid!

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Wander around the huge San Cosme Mercado, partially covered but with many stalls spilling onto the sidewalk: everything from wedding cakes to baby chicks!
  
  
• Ride the glass elevator to the top of the Monumento a la Revolución, a huge copper dome set on the largest triumphal arches in the world. Children often play in the front square’s fountains, which are beautifully illuminated at night
  
  
• See the best of contemporary Mexican art and photography at Museo Universitario del Chopo - the building’s Art Deco towers were designed by Eiffel and the soaring wood and steel interior is very cool
  
  
• Gaze at enduring Aztec history from the rooftop terrace of Libreria Porrua, one of Mexico City’s oldest bookshops, which has a bar with an unbeatable view over the Temple Mayor ruins
  
  
• Count the number of legendary historical figures in the centrepiece of the Museo Mural Diego Rivera - the purpose-built museum houses Rivera’s wondrous 15m mural, ‘Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda’
  
  
• Spend a Sunday, or any afternoon, in the Alameda Central - the ancient park has palm-lined paths linking fountains and statues; craft merchants and buskers hustle good-naturedly for your custom
  
  
• Arrange with the hotel for a guided tour (Spanish only) of the colourful floating gardens of Xochimilco, south of the city

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets

Kids

Well-behaved children over 4 years old are welcome at El Patio 77. However, there are no baby cots or extra beds, and no specific services like babysitting or kids' meals.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Hidalgo has 2 double beds, Suite Jalisco has a sofabed.

Family Rooms

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

El Patio 77 is in Mexico City's San Rafael neighbourhood, 3 blocks from the San Cosme Metro stop.

By Air:
Fly to Mexico City International Airport or to Toluca Airport. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
Take a licensed taxi (20 to 45 minutes depending on traffic) - expect to pay around US$13 from Benito Juarez and US$80 from Toluca. You can also hop on the metro, but you'll need to change at Oceania and San Lazaro and Pino Suarez. Get off at San Cosme, on Line 2 (the blue line) and around 5 minutes' walk from the B&B.

By Car:
Driving in Mexico City is best avoided, as the capital is very densely populated and roads are famously congested, plus there is only street parking at El Patio 77. You're better off hopping on the metro or getting a taxi (although this doesn’t mean you won't be stuck in traffic). But if you really want to hire a car see our car rental recommendations.

Getting Around
It's easy to negotiate Mexico City's underground subway system. The hotel is just 5 stops on the Metro from the Zocalo (no changes). You can also get the Metrobus which will take you to Plaza de la República Station.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Mexico and getting around