Otro Oaxaca

Otro Oaxaca, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a distinctive luxury boutique experience in the heart of Oaxaca City. It is a member of Design Hotels, known for its emphasis on architectural beauty, unique design, and local integration.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Otro Oaxaca generally receives positive feedback, with guests praising its stunning architecture, design, and prime location. While some review platforms show a "Good" rating around 7.5 out of 10, other aggregated scores from verified stays are notably higher, reaching 19.8 out of 20, indicating an "Exceptional" overall experience. The sentiment is largely positive, with many guests considering it the ultimate hotel to stay in when visiting Oaxaca.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently rave about several key aspects of Otro Oaxaca:

• Design & Architecture: The hotel's design, a masterful blend of traditional Oaxacan textures and materials with modernist geometries and minimalist interiors, is frequently highlighted as phenomenal and incredible. Architect João Boto Caeiro of RootStudio drew inspiration from local heritage and Zapotec archaeological sites like Mitla.
• Rooftop Pool & Bar: The spectacular 30-foot rooftop infinity pool offers panoramic views of Oaxaca City and the iconic Santo Domingo Temple, making it a favorite spot for relaxation and cocktails.
• Underground Cenote Spa: The unique man-made cenote-style spa, Otro Mundo, featuring a heated 20-foot circular plunge pool, is a significant draw, providing a serene and distinctive wellness experience.
• Location: Its prime location directly across from the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán and within walking distance of major attractions in the old town receives universal acclaim.
• Service: The staff is often described as attentive, helpful, friendly, and impeccable.

3. Room Quality

Otro Oaxaca offers 16 minimalist guest rooms and suites, ranging from Superior King Rooms to spacious Townhouse suites.

• Comfort & Design: Rooms are luxurious, spacious, and beautifully designed, utilizing locally sourced, natural materials like limestone and recycled wood, with handcrafted furniture. They come in shades of red, beige, and green.
• Amenities: Each room includes a private bathroom with bathrobes, free WiFi, a mini-bar, work desk, and seating area. Some rooms offer additional luxuries like bathtubs, patios, and even private pools. Modern amenities such as a smart TV, Bluetooth speaker, and Copal toiletries are also provided.
• Unique Accents: Rooms feature unique accents, such as ribbed ceiling vaults in superior rooms and oversized day beds in suites. Bathrooms are sleek with mixed cream concrete walls and black accented showers.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel features an on-site restaurant, Sabor, and a bar.

• Cuisine: The restaurant serves Mexican cuisine for lunch and dinner, with Chef Saúl Carranza presenting a modern twist on classic regional flavors, focusing on local, seasonal ingredients. Dishes are often cooked on an open grill.
• Breakfast: A continental breakfast with juice and cheese is available each morning. While some guests find the breakfast "lovely" and "amazing," others have noted it can be "minimal" or have "limited choice."
• Ambiance: Dining can be enjoyed on the ground-floor patio amidst vegetation or at a large communal table on the rooftop with stunning views. The bar on the rooftop offers first-class cocktails, particularly mezcal-based drinks.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at Otro Oaxaca consistently receives high praise for their hospitality.

• Guests describe the staff as helpful, friendly, attentive, welcoming, and always ready to assist with questions and needs.
• Examples include providing birthday cakes and offering mezcal tastings upon arrival.
• Some reviews, however, suggest that reception staff can be inconsistent, and kitchen staff might appear overwhelmed or annoyed at times.

6. Location & Accessibility

Otro Oaxaca boasts an exceptional location in Oaxaca City's Centro.

• Neighborhood: It is situated directly across from the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán and its pedestrian-only plaza, making it a vibrant and central hub.
• Attractions: The hotel is steps away from Santo Domingo Temple and less than 0.6 miles from Oaxaca Cathedral. Other nearby attractions include Monte Alban (5 miles) and Tule Tree (6.8 miles). The neighborhood is described as lively, with many main attractions within walking distance.
• Transport: Oaxaca International Airport is approximately 4.3 miles away, and the hotel offers a paid airport shuttle. While there is no dedicated car park, the hotel provides valet parking services.

7. Value & Pricing

Otro Oaxaca is considered a luxury boutique hotel.

• Price Range: Starting rates can be around $340 USD. Prices vary depending on dates and room type, with some rooms, like the Townhouse, being more expensive.
• Worth the Cost? The value for money score is generally rated as 6.7 out of 10 in some reviews, indicating that while guests love the design and location, some perceive it as an expensive place. However, many guests feel the unique experience, stunning design, and prime location justify the cost.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring criticisms include:

• Breakfast Limitations: Several guests found the continental breakfast to be minimal or limited in choice, especially considering the price point.
• Noise: The neighborhood can be loud, and some guests have mentioned noisy cast iron stairs or extractor fans causing disturbance.
• Room Comfort/Maintenance: A few reviews noted that rooms, while aesthetically pleasing, sometimes lack comfort and convenience, with some even reporting a bathroom smell spreading into the room. There were also comments about the architecture needing maintenance in some areas.
• Spa/Pool Temperature: Some guests mentioned the water in the sauna and underground cenote pool being cold.
• Membership Benefits: For Marriott Bonvoy members, some benefits like complimentary breakfast or room upgrades might be limited compared to other Marriott brands.

Sources

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