Frommer's Review
In a town where being hip is a raison d'être, there is no hotel hipper than this one. Its creators, the owners of Habita in Mexico City, seek to redefine our notions of a hotel by designing an environment that fosters social interaction. The lounge plays the central role, appropriating all the functions of lobby, restaurant, bar, and pool area. It's a raised open-air platform with bar, pool, and self-serve kitchen furnished with large daybeds for sunning or for enjoying an evening drink when the bar is in full swing. The rooms face two sides of the lounge. The clientele is predominantly 25- to 45-year-olds, and the music seems by design to provide an artsy background that's sufficiently monotonous not to compete with the setting.
The guest rooms play their part. They are comfortable, original, and visually striking, but, unlike the usual plush hotel room, they don't tempt one to isolation amid an array of amenities -- no TV, no cushy armchair. There is a simplicity that gives them an almost Asian feel, heightened by nice touches such as sliding doors of wood and frosted glass. The mattresses, however, are thick and luxurious. All rooms have king-size beds. From the bottom of each bed, a little drawer slides out with a night kit containing three things: incense, earplugs, and condoms.
And if Deseo doesn't work for you, the owners have opened another archly styled hotel 2 blocks down called Hotel Básico (tel. 984/879-4448; www.hotelbasico.com). It's a fun mix of industrial and '50s styles, built with materials that have found a lot of favor with architects these days: concrete, plywood, and plastics. Along with all this you get a cushy bed and a forceful shower. As with Deseo, the common areas are not wasted space.
Facilities:
Bar; small rooftop pool; Jacuzzi; tour info; room service; in-room massage; laundry service
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
