Rosas y Xocolate
Merida
Rosas y Xocolate
Merida
Rosas y Xocolate
Merida
Rosas y Xocolate
Merida
Rates, availability and more…
Price Band: $$$
Tags: City, sightseeing, gourmet, romantic
In a nutshell:
Romantic, stylish and modern, the Rosas y Xocolate hotel is a decadent base for a sightseeing trip to Merida. There’s a sleek swimming pool, a rooftop bar, a tequila lounge and even a chocolate store. The restaurant is one of the finest in Merida. The location on prestigious Paseo de Montejo is convenient for excursions and strolling.
Show us a stylish, intimate hotel with a both a gourmet chocolate store and a tequila bar in its lobby and we’re hooked! The theme of roses and chocolate cleverly enhances this boutique hotel, which already has a great location on Paseo de Montejo (not too central to be noisy, but on a tree lined boulevard of elegant mansions and notable museums).
At first glance Rosas y Xocolate might seem to appeal more to the ladies (think pink and chocolate); but the striking minimalist interior design and the gadget filled rooms will keep male guests more than happy too.
There are flat screen TVs with integrated Bose sound systems, in-room expresso makers and iPod docks. Indulgent bathrooms have hand-made soaps, rain showers and outdoor tubs for moonlight bathing.
There are three magnificent suites at Rosas y Xocolate, each of which would be a wonderful choice for a honeymoon or special anniversary. The Master Suite features a large terrace overlooking the Paseo de Montejo, and an elegantly furnished sitting and reception room.
We love the sparkling sliver of a swimming pool in the main courtyard, the dark and serious looking library and tequila bar, and of course the gourmet restaurant.
We can think of no better way to spend an evening in this vibrant city than to enjoy pre-dinner cocktails in the rooftop Moon Lounge, a lingering dinner for two in the restaurant, then calling in at the tequila bar before retiring to our sumptuous quarters.
The guest rooms at Rosas y Xocolate are not typical hotel accommodations furnished en masse from the usual suppliers. Instead, the owner has indulged in his passion for high quality, design-led interiors, with many pieces hand crafted to his exact specifications. It’s not unusual for guests to feel like they are staying in a private residence rather than a hotel – perhaps the modern day equivalent of the grandiose show homes that the henequen lords luxuriated in at the turn of the last century, on the same Paseo de Montejo.
There are elements of the hacienda style in the wooden shutters, soaring ceilings and intricate tiled floors, but the overall effect is sleek and modern. The ceramic tiles from the grand salas of the original mansion were salvaged and used in sections; their hues of brown, pink and blue matching perfectly with the roses and chocolate theme.
To appreciate this property at its best, we recommend reserving one of the three suites. A grand staircase leads up from the lobby to these quarters only. They are housed in the finest of the two original mansions and the Master Suite and the Rosas Suite share a magnificent terrace overlooking the boulevard.
Features common to all the rooms include flat screen TV with integrated Bose sound and video system, an expresso machine, high speed internet access, IP telephony and an iPod dock.
Summary of room facilities
All rooms
Air-conditioning, hairdryer, minibar. flat screen TV with integrated Bose sound and video system, espresso machine, high speed internet access, IP telephony, iPod dock.
Superior Room
King bed or two double beds, luxury bathroom with bathtub
Deluxe room
King bed or two double beds, luxury bathroom and open air bathtub
Xocolate Suite
King bed, high ceilings, original tiled floor
Rosas Suite
King bed, high ceilings, original tiled floor, large shared terrace
Rosas y Xocolate Suite
Magnificent sitting room, separate bedroom with king bed, original tiled floors, large shared terrace
There are three Superior rooms at Rosas y Xocolate; two have one king bed and one has two double beds. Superior and Deluxe rooms are virtually identical in size and amenities, but the Deluxe rooms have the prime locations in the property.
Each room has an extravagant bathroom featuring a huge walk-in shower and a stylish vanity area. All but one of the superior rooms and all of the deluxe rooms feature the signature stone bathtub that is open to the sky, so that you can bathe in the sunshine or by the light of the moon. Glass walls partly enclose the bathtub terrace, so that light from the skylight floods the bathing and dressing area. The remaining superior room has the same bathtub but with an enclosed ceiling.
The deluxe rooms are full of color and contrasting textures; a pleasing mix of the old and the new.
Natural and locally sourced materials are used in abundance, including “chucum”, a paint paste that was used by Mayans to seal water reservoirs and which gives the shower walls a smooth and glistening surface. Wood, glass, bamboo, and of course sisal are used to great effect too.
In most rooms you can see examples of the delicately patterned floor tiles that graced the mansion’s most impressive halls.
Every room boasts vaulted ceilings that are over four meters high, whilst windows offer views of the zen-like courtyards with their palm trees, fish ponds and boardwalks.
Inside, guests revel in the high-tech amenities such as iPod docks, IP telephones, espresso machines and Bose sound systems. If you are traveling light, fully loaded iPods and even laptops can be provided upon request.
The three covetable suites are accessed via a grand staircase used exclusively by the occupants of these rooms. Each suite is unique.
In the Xocolate suite, the bed takes center stage quite literally, being in the middle of the room. Designed specifically for this room, the bed incorporates a writing desk behind the headboard.
In some ways the decor is a masculine, reminiscent of a gentleman’s club, with a dark brown wall and dark wood furniture to one side of the room. Yet, opening the closet reveals an interior of vivid pink!
The suite is basically one large room that includes a sitting area. An opaque glass wall divides the bedroom from the dressing and vanity space, which has a single basin. Here you’ll find the signature al fresco tub and of course a large walk-in shower.
We can imagine the Xocolate Suite being the preferred choice of a visiting lord, or as a glamorous bachelor pad. It has the sophistication of a gentleman’s residence, but is guaranteed to impress the ladies too.
For a romantic occasion, we highly recommend the Rosas Suite. The decor is not over-the-top frilly and flowery, but instead an elegant combination of mellow wooden furniture and delicately patterned armchairs. The beautiful floor tiles are a highlight of this suite.
The spacious dressing area features a double vanity and extra large walk-in shower that is coated in “chucum”, a traditional Mayan substance that adds a luminosity to the walls. As in all the suites, luxurious toiletries are provided, including a fabulous chocolate flavored soap.
The Rosas Suite shares a terrace with the Rosas y Xocolate Master Suite. It’s a magnificent terrace that overlooks the Paseo de Montejo and is large enough to host a private function.
The three suites would be ideal for an intimate wedding ceremony – this has to be the most glamorous setting in downtown Merida. Ideally the bride should stay in the Rosas suite before the wedding, and the groom in the Xocolate Suite. Following the ceremony they should of course move to the Rosas y Xocolate Suite!
This palatial suite is a suitable residence for any visiting dignitaries and is a perfect choice for a special occasion. It boasts over a thousand square feet of finely furnished interiors, plus an extravagant terrace overlooking the boulevard.
The sitting room features bespoke furniture with a clever mix of modern and classic styles. There is a large flat screen TV and sofa as well as a more formal reception area for entertaining.
A fabulous carved bed is the centerpiece of the bedroom, whilst the original floor tiles echo the glory of the henequen era. The bathroom features a walk-in shower with double shower heads and an extra large outdoor tub for blissful moonlight bathing.
The terrace spans over half of the facade of this mansion and is a choice location for a private event such as an intimate wedding.
For such an event we’d recommend booking the Master Suite, the Rosas Suite and the Xocolate suite for the wedding party, and the remaining rooms for the guests. The property can accommodate 34 adults in total.
During any stay in Merida, dining at Rosas y Xocolate’s restaurant is a must! Guests at the property will not tire of the different settings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We enjoyed breakfast al fresco in the courtyard; lunch in a shady corner of the patio, and dinner in the elegant air-conditioned dining room.
The menu is a contemporary mix of Mexican and international cuisines, with an emphasis on fresh, organic and locally sourced produce. For breakfast, we enjoyed “Huevos R&X”; a salad of boiled eggs with feta cheese, and the traditional “huevos a la Mexicana”.
For a celebratory get-together or a lingering evening a deux, the dinner menu will not disappoint. Of course, the desserts are divine – our favorite was the chocolate tart with raisins and fruit, served with whisky and ginger ice cream. Simply delicious!
This colorful, tropical pool is all the more enticing because it lies in the heart of the steamy city of Merida. It’s a serious adults’ pool rather than a children’s splash pool; just long enough for laps, and deep enough to cool off in after a day’s sightseeing or business.
With the shady palm trees and shimmering pool, the central courtyard becomes an oasis for relaxation. Other courtyards are enhanced by fish ponds and with water lilies and gushing fountains, hence the refreshing trickle of water is the background music for a stay at Rosas y Xocolate.
“Xocolatherapy” is the specialty in Rosas y Xocolate’s in-house spa, which is open to both guests and non-guests. Body massages using 100% pure cocoa paste, and facials enhanced with the oils of cacao nectar are some of the most alluring treatments.
The spa has several private treatment rooms as well as an outdoor treatment area for couples that features a whirlpool bath.
Rosas y Xocolate also has an excellent fitness room, with a range of cutting edge equipment that would be impressive in a top resort hotel, let alone a boutique property with just seventeen rooms. So now you can indulge in that chocolate dessert and work of the calories the following day!
The Moon Lounge is positioned on the mansion’s rooftop, above the restaurant, and we reckon that it’s the best place in Merida for evening cocktails. As the darkness falls and the heat subsides, locals and visitors alike climb the spiral staircase to this chic bar.
The lofty perch is ideal for people watching as it overlooks the majestic Paseo de Montejo, where couples stroll in the evening or take a horse drawn carriage along the tree lined avenue.
The Moon Lounge opens daily at 5pm and serves a wide range of cocktails and a good selection of wines and spirits.
The Rosas y Xocolate Tequila bar is another great option for pre or post dinner drinks. This elegant lounge has a world class collection of fine tequilas and is located off the lobby of the hotel on the ground floor.
How to get here
By air
The nearest airport is Merida (about 6 miles away) and the journey to the hacienda takes about 25 minutes by road.
Driving directions
Rosas y Xocolate is located on the prestigious Paseo de Montejo, which lies just outside of (but within walking distance of) the busy central downtown area.You’ll need a map to navigate the city, but once you reach Paseo de Montejo, the hotel is easy to find.
Heading out of town from the very start of the Paseo, you’ll pass the Museum of Anthropology on your left, and then Rosas y Xocolate will be on your right almost immediately afterwards.
You can’t miss the delightful rose pink building! Valet parking is available at the hotel.
