TRAVEL SERIES || The Legacy of Boutique Hotel Casa Hoyos in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
As the world slowly re-opens post-pandemic, the desire to discover new lands and experiences is at an all-time high. Our travel series seeks to inspire you with unique travel options and itineraries worldwide, spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and beyond. Join us as we explore Casa Hoyos, a vibrant and colourful boutique hotel in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Bright colours, breathtaking views, and whimsical architectural elements are just some of the ambience that boutique hotel Casa Hoyos offers. Located in San Miguel de Allende, and originally acquired by Julián Hoyos at the beginning of the twentieth century, Casa Hoyos is the architectural legacy that continues to warm the hearts of guests with every stay. This boutique hotel offers an exclusive getaway, with 16 beautifully furnished guestrooms available.
Truly, the history of this colonial building is the heart and soul that creates the identity of this marvellous hotel. Today, the grandiose building is upkept by the fourth generation of the Hoyos family. The interior design and custom furnishings by A-G Studios pay tribute to the family legacy through the conception of this unique dwelling space.
Three key moments in the history of Casa Hoyos act as the foundation of the family’s legacy. First, the arrival of Julián Hoyos from Spain, then the opening of the first currency exchange office. Lastly, its conversion into a store of grains and seeds. Each of these moments inspired the materials and decorative elements that converge to blossom into this boutique hotel.
Vibrant colours makes every space pop in this boutique hotel. Photo Credit: Diego Padilla for A-G studio
BRIGHT COLOURS
A bright-and-inviting yellow serves as the predominant colour throughout Casa Hoyos, from the interior design to the cuisine and refreshments. This focal colour can be seen in glazed clay tiles, accented by ochre and red tones on the wooden floors and wool textiles. Plates of refreshing greens from avocadoes and cucumbers, and the addition of juicy-red tomatoes, blend perfectly with the hotel’s colour palette.
The beautiful arches framing the courtyard perimeter are adorned with salmon-coloured clay tiles, representing the belly of the snakes that make up the Hoyos family’s heraldic shield. Radiant colours paint the furniture that fills the spaces: luxurious red armchairs that are also reading nooks, pink wooden cabinets in the hallways that soften the bright-yellow walls, and earthy-red hanging lamp shades that spice up the common area decor. Keeping these bright colours in balance are the naturalistic elements that are customary to San Miguel de Allende: cacti. The organic pigment of cacti green serves as the holistic backdrop of this magical domicile.
Sink into the suspended chairs at the rooftop bar to catch the sunset. Photo Credit: Diego Padilla for A-G studio
Lounge chairs beckon guests to stretch out and unwind. Photo Credit: Diego Padilla for A-G studio
ROOFTOP BAR || BEKEB
Relax on the rooftop bar BEKEB, just as the sun sets, before welcoming the arrival of the night sky. String lights drape effortlessly around the rooftop, twinkling against the evening clouds.
Share a drink with your significant other at the rooftop bar BEKEB, a name unique to the word for drink and keb, which means seed. Or enjoy dinner with breathtaking views of San Miguel de Allende, where the rich and earthy tones of the neighbouring architecture and mountains seem to be just within arm’s reach.
Mixologist Fabiola Padilla helms the rooftop bar and serves up delicious handcrafted cocktails. Photo Credit: Adriana E. Tinajero for BEKEB
Refreshing eats compliment the year-round warm weather in San Miguel de Allende. Adriana E. Tinajero for BEKEB
Enjoy artisanal cocktails under the warmth of the sun or under a canopy of twinkling lights at night at BEKEB. Photo Credit: Adriana E. Tinajero for BEKEB
BEKEB offers a variety of palate-pleasers. Try their emblematic elixir, the BEKEB cocktail, and you will be delighted by the burst of citrusy flavours, made with a fusion of elderflower liqueur, lemon verbena, pineapple, Sotol, and Mezcal. Mixologist Fabiola Padilla combines plants, flowers, and roots with agave to conceive exclusive and exquisite creations that will prove delightful for your palate. These aromatic and refreshing ingredients elevate the stellar dishes on the menu, from their tapas to their wrapped cheese and shrimp ceviche. At BEKEB, food and spirits are about reconnecting the guest with the pleasure of delectable and nature-focused ingredients.
A grid-style skylight casts unique shadows on the concrete walls. Photo Credit: Diego Padilla for A-G studio
WHIMSICAL INTERIOR ELEMENTS
With a concentric interior layout, the spaces of the hotel are distributed evenly around an open central patio, bordered by Andalusian-style balconies, reminiscent of a typical house in southern Spain. A-G Studio designed every piece of furniture within the sixteen guestrooms, marrying contemporary concepts with the elements of the colonial baroque. Borrowing simple circular and orthogonal shapes, the rooms present a minimalistic style that fashion a sense of tranquillity. The courtyard is enclosed by a simplistic skylight that draws an abundance of natural light into the atrium, adding a glow to the concrete wash of the courtyard walls.
Rounded mirrors and colourful ochre tiles stay blend modern design details with traditional earth tone colours. Photo Credit: Diego Padilla for A-G studio
Unique lighting fixtures reflect light off the wall, creating a relaxing ambiance in the rooms. Photo Credit: Diego Padilla for A-G studio
Custom furnishings in the 16 guest rooms provide a photo-worthy backdrop for your warm-weather getaway. Photo Credit: Diego Padilla for A-G studio
EXPERIENCE SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
Casa Hoyo’s prime location also offers guests proximity to San Miguel de Allende’s most popular activities. With the support of experienced concierges at the hotel, available 24/7, guests can discover the city’s major attractions, cultural sites and adventures. Whether you fancy spending a visit to an archeological zone, horseback riding, deep-relaxation at a thermal spa, or an impromptu flight in a hot-air balloon, the team can help to arrange what is sure to be an unforgettable stay.
Add a trip to San Miguel de Allende with a stay at Casa Hoyos to your travel bucket list and become a part of the family’s legacy.
Photo Credit: Adriana E. Tinajero for BEKEB
With a background in architecture, Ray Liu wishes to bridge the space between architecture and writing—to write content about architecture that is easily consumable by those outside the niche field. He is an aspiring author in fiction, a lover of all music genres, a skincare enthusiast, and a lifelong fan of Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki.
