Casona Roma Norte

Casona Roma Norte, a Michelin One-Key property in Mexico City, offers guests a captivating blend of historic charm and contemporary luxury within the vibrant Roma Norte neighborhood. Housed in a beautifully restored rose-pink Belle Époque mansion from the 1920s, the hotel consistently receives high praise for its design, exceptional service, and prime location.

Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Casona Roma Norte is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as "wonderful," "exceptional," and "highly recommendable." The hotel boasts a "Good" rating of 7.9 based on 35 reviews, with high scores for location (9.1), cleanliness (8.6), and staff (8.9). Many guests express a strong desire to return, highlighting a sense of feeling "at home" due to the welcoming atmosphere.

Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of Casona Roma Norte:

• Service & Staff: The staff is frequently described as "amazing," "incredibly nice and attentive," "kind and accommodating," and "going above and beyond." This personalized and exceptional hospitality is a recurring theme in reviews.
• Location: The hotel's position in Roma Norte is a significant draw, praised for being central, safe, walkable, and close to numerous excellent restaurants, shops, and attractions.
• Design & Ambiance: The hotel's aesthetic, which blends the historic Belle Époque architecture with minimalist décor, modern art, and a sophisticated color palette, is highly appreciated. The beautiful building itself and its "artsy yet supremely comfortable vibe" are often mentioned.
• Cleanliness: Reviewers frequently commend the hotel for being "very clean" and the rooms "spotless."
• Amenities: Guests appreciate amenities such as the fitness center, sun terrace, coffee shop, and the various dining options available on-site. Complimentary perks like a first drink and Mexican bites during happy hour, nightly turndown service with a pastry, and a complimentary day of minibar access are also noted.

Room Quality

Casona Roma Norte offers 32 elegantly designed rooms, ranging from 220 to 270 square feet. Rooms are described as "nice," "cozy," and "well-decorated," featuring modern interiors with vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, and Oaxacan rugs. Guests will find marble bathrooms with rainfall showers and custom toiletries. Amenities include air conditioning, a work desk, mini-bar, free WiFi, and flat-screen Smart TVs with Netflix. Some rooms feature balconies or private terraces, and windows are equipped with soundproofing. Comfort is a highlight, with memory foam mattresses and heated floors in some areas. However, some guests have noted that rooms can be smaller than they appear in photos, and some inward-looking rooms lack windows. Concerns have also been raised about smoke detectors with bright flashing lights above beds impacting sleep quality.

Dining Experience

The hotel boasts a diverse and sophisticated culinary offering with several concepts:

• Aquiles: This main restaurant, helmed by Chef Aquiles Chávez, focuses on sustainable, "field to table" Mexican cuisine and offers an à la carte breakfast with both international and regional dishes like chilaquiles.
• Suchi Nipona & Sinaloa Cuisine: This restaurant offers a Japanese-Sinaloan fusion, including sushi, tempura, sashimi, and unique dishes like a "Dorito Roll." It features lively decor and a live DJ on certain nights.
• Akamba Mezcal Gallery: A "flavor laboratory" offering guided mezcal and tequila tastings with knowledgeable agave concierges.
• La Macaria: A matcha and tearoom offering Japanese-inspired traditions and French pastries.
• Holden (Rooftop): A soon-to-open open-air bar and cafe with panoramic views and flame-grilled dishes.
• Mirror (Speakeasy): A rooftop speakeasy behind a mirrored wall, offering cocktails and live DJ sets.

Guests have noted the restaurants are popular with locals, a good sign of quality.

Service & Staff

The service at Casona Roma Norte is consistently highlighted as exceptional and a major strength of the hotel. Guests frequently commend the staff for being "amazing," "very kind and accommodating," "extremely nice and attentive," and for "going above and beyond" to ensure a wonderful experience. Specific examples include flexible payment options upon check-in and attentive concierge services. Many describe the staff as "pampering" and genuinely helpful.

Location & Accessibility

Casona Roma Norte is ideally situated in the heart of Roma Norte, one of Mexico City's most fashionable and walkable neighborhoods. The hotel is located on a leafy corner street, providing a safe and vibrant environment. Guests appreciate being within walking distance to numerous restaurants, shops, galleries, and coffee shops. Key attractions like The Angel of Independence (15-minute walk) and Chapultepec Castle (1.1 miles) are easily accessible, often within a 10-15 minute Uber ride. The hotel is also a short walk from Sevilla Metro Station and Paseo de la Reforma. However, it's noted that the historic mansion is not suitable for guests with mobility issues or those using wheelchairs due to the lack of elevators.

Value & Pricing

While guests generally appreciate their stay, some express concerns regarding the value for money, stating it can be "very pricey for what they really offer" and "too expensive for its quality." Room prices have been observed to range from approximately $350 to $553 in recent weeks. The average price for a weeknight is around $425, while weekend nights average $731. The cheapest deals are typically found in September and August. Breakfast is not always included in the rate and can be added for an additional fee (around USD 20-25).

Common Complaints

Despite the high praise, a few recurring issues and criticisms have been noted:

• Room Size: Some guests found rooms to be smaller than anticipated from photos, and inward-looking rooms without windows were a point of concern for some.
• Noise: While windows are soundproofed, noise from the street or the rooftop lounge (which plays loud music until midnight) has been an issue for some light sleepers, even with earplugs provided.
• Maintenance Issues/Smell: There have been isolated reports of unpleasant smells in rooms and other maintenance concerns.
• Airport Transfers/Refunds: One guest reported a pre-paid airport transfer not showing up and difficulty obtaining a refund.
• Accessibility: The lack of elevators in the historic building makes it unsuitable for guests with mobility issues or wheelchairs.
• Flashing Smoke Detector Lights: Some guests found the bright flashing lights from smoke detectors above the beds disruptive to sleep.

Sources

1. booking.com
2. michelin.com
3. hotelsabovepar.com
4. tablethotels.com
5. reddit.com
6. mrandmrssmith.com
7. michelin.com
8. booking.com
9. travelandleisure.com
10. travelagewest.com
11. hotels.com
12. hotel-scoop.com
13. expedia.com
14. kayak.com