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When you have a city like Oaxaca that is bursting with character and history, it’s almost a guarantee that cute, small-luxury boutique hotels are not far away.
Actually, during the months I lived in Oaxaca as a nomad, I saw many quaint boutique hotels, guest houses, and family-owned B&Bs.
But as it goes, sometimes the nicest ones are hidden from view; tucked behind quaint courtyards and implanted in or between former historic sites.
Despite its relatively small center, there are over 200+ hotels in and around the downtown area, many of which are charming boutique hotels!
Of course, the best boutique hotels are located right in the heart of Oaxaca City, where you’ll also find the best mezcal bars (mezcalerias), restaurants (both local and international), cafes, markets, and more—all within easy walking distance!
Each boutique hotel in Oaxaca featured below has something unique to offer—be it gorgeous interior design, historic significance, or personable touches.
Whether you are searching for the perfect boutique hotel for a romantic getaway with your special someone or are simply wishing to stay in Oaxaca in style, then read more below to discover my top recommendations for boutique and small-luxury hotels in Oaxaca City.
The Best Boutique Hotels in Oaxaca
1. Casa Antonieta
- 📍 Location: Calle Miguel Hidalgo 911 (Centro)
- 💵 Price: $$$ | $250/night
- ➡️ Click here to book
I don’t think there is a more beautiful and well-thought boutique hotel in Oaxaca de Juaréz than Casa Antonieta.
True to the nature of a small and personable hotel, Casa Antonieta only has a handful of rooms—there are nine currently, but soon seven more will join the second floor.
Cozy, intimate, and gorgeously designed, each suite will make you feel like you’re returning to your own tranquil oasis.
The hotel’s atmosphere combines the charm of Oaxacan hospitality with design-forward amenities, winning it several press mentions for being one of the best boutique and design hotels in Oaxaca, as named by Forbes, Food & Wine, and Sunset Magazine, among others.
And despite being in the center of Oaxaca, you can hardly tell Casa Antonieta exists.
The only reason we discovered Casa Antonieta is that we used to frequent its lovely rooftop and ground-floor cafe for coffee and Wi-Fi (unsurprisingly, it became one of our favorite cafes in Oaxaca).
As we came to discover, the hotel was relatively new, opening its doors at the end of 2021.
But there’s more than meets the eye in this chic and characteristic building. Not only is this new “hotelito” housed inside a former convent, but it also belonged to the owner’s grandmother.
What’s amazing about this small-luxury hotel is not just its history, but also its prime location at the edge of Oaxaca’s historic city center.
If you are looking for the quintessential boutique hotel in Oaxaca, this is it!
🌿 Check rates/availability at Casa Antonieta Oaxaca
2. Boulenc Bed & Bread Hotel
- 📍 Location: Calle Porfirio Diaz 211 (Centro)
- 💵 Price: $$+ | $150/night
- ➡️ Book here
If you’ve never heard of Boulenc before, it is one of Oaxaca City’s signature bakeries.
Now, they’ve opened up a 4-star boutique hotel with only seven charming guestrooms, and it’s arguably one of the cutest (and best-smelling) places to stay in Oaxaca!
Inside this cozy and understated hotel, beautiful, earthy hues of deep jade and desert pink surround you.
The atmosphere of this place gives off lovely Oaxacan desert vibes mixed with the perfect balance of coziness and comfort — like a warm blanket!
Everything from the luxurious shower to the soft bed linens to the unique furniture to the private balconies just shines with comfort and detail.
It’s pet-friendly, too in case you are traveling with a pup or kitty in tow!
What’s more, you won’t need to wander far to discover some of the best breakfast and brunch in town — just head downstairs.
As for upstairs, relax and unwind in one of the rooftop sofas for unhampered views across the city.
In terms of location/proximity to all the things to do in Oaxaca, just take a step outside and you will be within easy walking distance to the historic center and some of the city’s best mezcal bars, restaurants, and markets.
🥐 Book your stay at Boulenc Bed & Bread here
3. AYOOK
- 📍 Location: Calle Madero 112
- 💵 Price: $+ | $70+/night
- ➡️ Book now
If you’re looking for a boutique hotel on a budget, don’t overlook AYOOK.
Located on the edge of the historic center of Oaxaca City, this small contemporary hotel is teeming with Oaxacan history and art and is just a short walk away from the city’s top attractions (9 minutes from the Zócalo).
Built from the remains of an 18th-century home, AYOOK (from ayöök jayu, meaning “the people with the language of the mountains” in Mixe languages), oozes character.
Its twelve chic rooms are beautifully and minimally designed and decorated in Oaxacan art and folklore.
And not only can you enjoy the art as you explore the property, but you can also purchase some of the pieces you see; most are sustainably and locally made by artisans in Oaxaca.
Your stay at Ayook also includes free daily breakfast from their Oaxacan menu, complimentary toiletries, HD TV with Netflix, room service, fast independent Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and more.
🏺 Check rates/availability at AYOOK here
4. NaNa Vida Hotel Boutique
- 📍 Location: Calle Murguía 405
- 💵 Price: $$ | $100+/night
- ➡️ Click here to book
NaNa Vida is another wonderful choice for budget-friendly boutique accommodation in the heart of Oaxaca City as it brings together Oaxacan flavors, art, and hospitality.
The fourteen airy rooms inside NaNa Vida are surrounded by an inner leafy courtyard and decorated with handcrafted by local artists—for example, mural art by Jomer Homerus, paintings by Irving Cano, textiles by Catalina Martínez, etc.
Rooms also feature comfortable bedding (Deluxe King, Deluxe Doubles, or Standard), handmade vegan soaps, TVs, wardrobes, and more—everything you might need for a comfortable, no-fuss stay in Oaxaca.
Perhaps best of all, the hotel is located on the eastern edge of the historic center, only 600m from the Santo Domingo Church and Convent, and mere steps away from myriad mezcalerias, rooftop bars, cafes, restaurants, shops, and the historic and cute neighborhood of Jalatlaco (which is a must-see while in town!).
🎨 Check rates/availability at NaNa Vida
5. Casa de las Bugambilias B&B
- 📍 Location: Calle Reforma 402 (Centro)
- 💵 Price: $$ | $90-150/night
- ➡️ Click here to book
Casa de las Bugambilias is more of a Bed and Breakfast than a boutique hotel, however, it is very much “boutique hotel” style in its design, detail, history, and ethos.
This endearing and colorful family-owned hotel is tucked away near the heart of Oaxaca Centro, on the beautiful Reforma street.
You will be located just a block from the ethnobotanical garden and cathedral, plus many gourmet restaurants, shops, and the Jean-Marc food hall.
With only nine rooms, you will have the comfort and amenities of a regular boutique hotel but with the welcome and attentive service of a locally-owned B&B.
Plus, I really appreciate this hotel’s commitment to sustainability.
From organic food to biodegradable soaps to recycling to energy consumption, Casa de las Bugambilias is making small actions a big part of the business.
The owner, René—whom I had the opportunity to meet as he was our mezcal farm tour guide (an activity which I highly recommend doing while you’re in town)—actually grew up in this home before he and his family converted it into a modern B&B in 1988.
René is also well-connected in the community and I’d recommend any solo female traveler, couple, or family looking for a comfortable, authentic experience of Oaxaca City to stay here.
Overall, Casa de las Bugambilias is a truly Oaxaqueño place to stay filled with indigenous and artisanal art and friendly, attentive staff.
🌸 Check availability at Casa de las Bugambilias
6. Pug Seal
- 📍 Location: Calle P. Díaz 212
- 💵 Price: $$$$ | $400+/night
- ➡️ Check reviews & availability
For a luxury boutique hotel experience in Oaxaca City, check out Pug Seal.
The hotel—from the concept to the design to the details—is inspired by the Oaxacan indigenous Zapotec culture, which you will see and feel throughout your stay.
“The architectural canvas created by Rafael Uriegas encompasses Zapotec legends, stories, symbols and values; the artist Sabino Guisú was in charge of the installation on the staircase, a symbol of fertility; and the walls intervened with brass inlays with Zapotec motifs by the artist Manuel Lozano. Each of the twenty rooms has a unique design full of Mexican inspiration.”
PUG SEAL
Design-wise, this boutique hotel stands out from many others in the heart of Oaxaca.
The “Pug Seal Experience” extends beyond just the atmosphere and architectural significance, however.
With your stay, you will get treated to a daily gourmet breakfast, in-room minibar, eco-friendly toiletries, private rooms for meetings/remote working, personal concierge service, and more.
All of their rooms, from Standard to Deluxe to Master Suites, etc, are chic and spacious and have an edgy, artsy touch.
🎭 Check rates/availability at Pug Seal
7. Hotel Casa de Sierra Azul
- 📍 Location: Calle Hidalgo 1002
- 💵 Price: $$ | $130+/night
- ➡️ Click here to check reviews
History, comfort, and service are the pillars of the Casa de Sierra Azul—the gorgeous boutique hotel housed in a 19th-century Oaxacan mansion that’s classified as a National Historic Monument.
A stay here means steeping in the historic charm of Oaxaca, which you’ll notice in the hotel’s classic style architecture, like in its regal wooden door and elegant balconies.
Take one peep inside this historic building and you’ll be swooned by the plant-filled inner courtyard and modern-minimalist bedroom decor and amenities.
The 3-star boutique hotel lies just two blocks away from the Zócalo and five blocks from the Templo de Santo Domingo de Gúzman, making it ideal for central stays in the heart of Oaxaca.
🪴 Check rates/availability at Casa Sierra Azul
8. Grana B&B
- 📍 Location: Calle 5 de Mayo (Centro)
- 💵 Price: $$$ | $150+/night
- ➡️ Book today and save
Spacious, airy rooms, modern and chic wood furnishings, and a perfect location in the very heart of Oaxaca Centro—that’s Grana B&B!
This unassuming boutique hotel is set in a former 18th-century mansion tucked on the corner of the quaint Jardín Antonia Labastida—right by the Templo de Santo Domingo and the ethnobotanical garden, on 5 de Mayo street (one of my favorites in Oaxaca).
The suites all come equipped with flat-screen TVs, wardrobes, and desks, and if you upgrade to the King Suite you can have your own in-room spa bathtub surrounded by plants.
🌵 Check rates/availability at Grana B&B Oaxaca
9. Casa Santo Origen Boutique Hotel
- 📍 Location: Calle Loma de Guajal (5km from centro)
- 💵 Price: $$$$$ | $550+/night
- ➡️ Click here to read reviews
If you’re looking for accommodation that’s a bit more private and removed from the historic center, then consider Casa Santo Origen located in the foothills of northern Oaxaca City.
Set in a cozy, stone building with an on-site pool, terrace, and garden, this beautiful, adults-only boutique hotel is ideal for upscale romantic stays and honeymoons.
The only downside to this hotel is that is indeed removed from the historic center, so you’ll need to drive twenty minutes to reach it or take a taxi (the cost of which is around $5 USD one-way).
But if that sounds perfect to you, then you’ll love staying in this remote boutique hotel that’s almost reminiscent of a charming, small luxury hotel somewhere in the countryside of Italy.
The suites are named after each of the eight regions of the State of Oaxaca and feature local art, luxury furnishings, and more.
💎 Check rates/availability at Casa Santo Origen
10. Hotel Quinta Real
- 📍 Location: Calle 5 de Mayo
- 💵 Price: $$$ | $250+/night
- ➡️ See reviews, rates, and more
Another fascinating boutique hotel located in a typical Oaxacan historic site is the Hotel Quinta Real.
Inside this restored 16th-century convent (formerly the Convent of Santa Catarina of Siena) is a preserved bygone era waiting to be discovered.
“Offering the perfect balance of old-world charm and modern amenities, the guestrooms and suites feature colonial-style décor in spacious yet cozy settings, with large windows overlooking the manicured gardens, captivating courtyards, or the streets of Oaxaca.
quinta real oaxaca
All stays are complemented with impeccable service and facilities including a travel agency, taxi, laundry, dry cleaning, concierge and 24-hour room service. Guests also enjoy the garden pool, and well-equipped gym.”
Thanks to its elegant interior, wellness services, on-site restaurant, and reputation, the Quinta Real often plays host to wedding parties, honeymoons, and romantic getaways.
If you are in search of a luxurious boutique hotel equipped with modern hotel comforts, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips here.
✨ Check rates/availability at the Quinta Real
11. La Noria
- 📍 Location: Av. Hidalgo 918
- 💵 Price: $$ | $75-150/night
- ➡️ Book now
Simple comfort and style come together at the La Noria boutique hotel.
Conveniently set two blocks from both the Zócalo and the Templo de Guzman, you will be within easy walking distance of all that Oaxaca City’s historic center has to offer.
You’ll find more of your typical hotel amenities here—bedside telephones, ceiling fans/AC, hairdryers, and coffee/tea makers—but that doesn’t make it any less of a unique place to stay in Oaxaca.
With a beautiful courtyard and pool, clean rooms and bathrooms, and classy decor, it’s an understated accommodation option in Oaxaca Centro.
La Noria has been serving guests since 1993 and has great reviews and friendly, reputable service.
🛏 Check rates/availability at La Noria
12. El Callejón Oaxaca
- 📍 Location: Callejon Morelos 103
- 💵 Price: $$$ | $250+/night
- ➡️ See details
My last recommendation for boutique hotels in Oaxaca comes adorned with adobe walls, plant-filled gardens, and excellent services and amenities.
El Callejón is a popular sustainable and eco-conscious boutique hotel located in the trendy and colorful neighborhood of Xochimilco, in between La Reforma and the historic center.
El Callejón has integrated the history, art, food, and flora of the traditional neighborhood and integrated those aspects into its decor and daily activities.
Here, you’ll find an on-site bar serving artisanal mezcals, beautiful curated gardens and terraces, and more.
Also, to lighten their environmental footprint, they:
- 🗑 Separate organic trash to make compost
- ♻️ Recycle aluminum, glass, and PET
- 🌧 Capture and filter rainwater for human consumption
- 🌱 Filter gray water to water their garden and plants
It’s great to see small-scale hotels in Oaxaca making commitments to preserve both culture and resources.
🥃 Check rates/availability at El Callejón Oaxaca
One reason why I enjoy staying at boutique hotels when I travel is that, most often, they are more eco-conscious in their business ethos and actions than larger, sprawling hotels.
Boutique hotels also highlight and incorporate important aspects of the local culture, art, food, language, and more, into their decor, amenities, and operations—all things that make travel special and meaningful.
When you travel, it’s important to make better choices that support local communities and host environments.
That said, I’m confident this list will help you find the ideal place to stay so you can enjoy Oaxaca City to the fullest!
If you have any questions about these boutique hotels, or if you have another one you’d like to see listed here, please drop me a comment below.
Check out my other guides to Oaxaca:
☕️ Oaxaca’s Best Cafes and Coffee Shops
🇲🇽 Oaxacan “Tejate” and Where to Try It
🚘 The Best Oaxaca Day Trips and Tours
📸 How to Visit Monte Albán in Oaxaca City
🌳 Biking to the Giant Tree of Tule in Oaxaca
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