Casa Habita

Casa Habita, Guadalajara: A Michelin Key Selected Blend of Style and Comfort

Casa Habita in Guadalajara, Mexico, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns praise for its exceptional design, prime location, and high-quality amenities, offering guests a sophisticated and comfortable stay in the vibrant Colonia Americana neighborhood. It seamlessly blends a 1940s casa with a contemporary tower, creating a unique aesthetic that captivates visitors.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Casa Habita generally receives a "Very Good" rating, with an average score of 8.4 out of 10 based on numerous reviews. Guests frequently express strong positive sentiments, describing it as a "fabulous hotel" with "spacious rooms, friendly staff, and perfect location." The hotel is lauded for its successful balance of modern and traditional design elements.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently highlight several aspects of Casa Habita that make it a standout choice:

• Design & Aesthetics: The hotel is celebrated for its beautiful design, described as an "art deco delight" with a distinctly European feel. It features colorful glazed walls, mid-century furnishings, Mondrian-esque elements, and luxurious gray-Carrara-marble bathrooms.
• Location: Its location in the Colonia Americana (Lafayette) neighborhood is a major draw, noted as excellent, quiet, trendy, and an up-and-coming area with a great selection of bars, restaurants, and cafes within walking distance.
• Amenities: The hotel boasts a year-round heated outdoor swimming pool, a lively pool bar, a spa with a sauna, steam room, and treatment rooms, a fitness center, and a sun terrace. Complimentary Wi-Fi, free-to-borrow bikes, and valet parking further enhance the guest experience.
• Service: The staff is frequently praised for being friendly, courteous, and providing warm hospitality.

3. Room Quality

Casa Habita offers 37 comfortable rooms and suites, including Standard King, Deluxe Rooms, Junior Suites, and a lavish Top Suite.

• Comfort & Features: Rooms are clean, equipped with modern amenities such as air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, seating areas, LED TVs, Bluetooth speakers, minibars, and organic bathroom products. Beds are described as plush and comfortable with quality linens and sunken headboards that cleverly integrate storage and charging outlets.
• Design: The interiors feature a spare, geometric aesthetic with polished deep grey cement floors, white walls, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering city views. Bathrooms are glamorous with marble.
• Room Types: Standard King rooms are around 377 sq ft, while Junior Suites offer more space (approx. 577 sq ft) with a sitting area and corner windows. The "Top Suite" is an ample two-bedroom apartment featuring a large covered terrace, a wood-burning fire, and a freestanding bathtub. Some rooms also include small balconies.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel's restaurant features a vintage, Gatsby-esque ambiance with green and gold tones and opulent mirrored columns, offering both indoor and outdoor terrace seating.

• Cuisine: It serves American cuisine with Mexican classics, focusing on comfort food prepared with local, organic, and seasonal ingredients.
• Breakfast: A plentiful breakfast buffet is available daily, including seasonal fruits, yogurts, cereals, cheeses, smoked salmon, house-baked breads, charcuterie, and eggs. Guests have described breakfast as "delicious" and "amazing." A la carte options are also available.
• Bars: Casa Habita features a wood-paneled bar in the restaurant, a chic lobby bar with a lush patio, and a pool bar, all offering a variety of beverages, including mezcal-infused cocktails and a signature margarita.
• Other: Room service is available 24/7, and an onsite cafe provides a nice setting for coffee and pastries.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at Casa Habita consistently receives positive feedback, praised for being "friendly," "courteous," and providing "warm and kind hospitality." While generally attentive, some reviews occasionally mention that staff are "friendly but not always the most attentive."

6. Location & Accessibility

Situated in the desirable Colonia Americana/Lafayette neighborhood, Casa Habita offers an excellent base for exploring Guadalajara.

• Neighborhood: It's a trendy area known for its vibrant local scene, with numerous restaurants and cafes within easy walking distance.
• Attractions: The hotel is conveniently located near key attractions such as the Expiatorio Temple (1.2 miles), Guadalajara Cathedral (3.1 miles), and the Minerva Roundabout (within 1 mile). Local markets like Tianguis on Chapultepec and Mercado Corona are also nearby for cultural immersion and shopping.
• Transport: Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) is approximately 12 miles (23 km) away, with a typical taxi or private transfer taking about 30 minutes. The Juárez Metro Station is a short walk from the hotel, providing accessible public transport. The hotel also offers free self-parking and valet parking.

7. Value & Pricing

With an average room price of around $224, and rates starting from approximately $159.75, Casa Habita is positioned as a higher-end option compared to the city's average hotel price of $126. However, guests often find it to offer "exceptional value for money" due to its elevated comfort, style, and overall experience, considering it "totally worth it."

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring criticisms include:

• Room Functionality: Some guests have noted a lack of "put" space in standard rooms, with no dedicated desk and only a small table that can easily become cluttered.
• Bathroom Safety: The glamorous marble floors in bathrooms can be slippery when wet.
• Air Conditioning: In certain rooms, particularly those facing west, the air conditioning might struggle to cool sufficiently when the sun is strong.
• Gym: The fitness center is described as small, and some reports mention issues with its air conditioning.
• Minor Inconveniences: Occasionally, guests have mentioned a lack of sufficient electrical sockets for multiple devices and that some rooms can be a little dark. There have also been isolated reports of strong smoke smells in rooms.
• Accessibility: The hotel is noted as not being suitable for guests with mobility issues.

Sources

1. mrandmrssmith.com
2. casahabita.com
3. michelin.com
4. booking.com
5. booking.com
6. luxurylatinamerica.com
7. weleavetoday.com
8. expedia.com
9. agoda.com