STAY MEXICO CITY: SOFITEL REFORMA

Over the past few years, almost every travel publication and travel website I frequent has listed Mexico City as one of the best cities to visit. As you can imagine, this means Mexico City has been on my list and I’ve been supremely anxious to discover this city known for its food, design, culture, art and more.

It felt like perfect timing when I got the news- for the first time in a decade, a brand new luxury hotel was arriving in Mexico City and it promised to combine all that makes Mexico City unique with a special touch of French influence in the form of the French luxury hotel brand- the Sofitel Reforma Mexico City. I actually didn’t realize that there exists a natural intersection between Mexico and France, something that became much more evident once I arrived.

In 1862, French Emperor Napoleon III maneuvered to establish a French client state in Mexico, and eventually installed Maximilian of Habsburg, as Emperor of Mexico, with France controlling Mexico until 1867. The French definitely left their mark in Mexico City during this time; a little bit of a French accent evident in the architecture around the city. Mexico City even became known as little Paris or Paris of the South with its French styled boulevards and homes for the Uber wealthy modeled after those of the French bourgeoisie. All this to say, there’s a natural nexus between the French branded Sofitel which feels like a welcome and organic fit in Mexico City.

The hotel itself is located in the heart of Mexico City’s historic Reforma Avenue - close to everything you’d want to be close to- shopping, restaurants, sights and neighborhoods like Condessa, Palermo and Roma. You will definitely want to walk through and explore all those neighborhoods. Not that you’d want to leave the hotel in your first few days, as there’s so much happening on this property, you would almost have to pull yourself away.

Before I talk about the rooms, I’ll give you a quick rundown of some of the property highlights:

There are 2 restaurants on property and 3 bars (that have a smaller food menu- mostly local cuisine - tacos, aguachilies etc). Balta was a favorite for breakfast, offering an impressive spread to start the day and Cityzen Rooftop bar was delightful at sundown for views of the city and experiencing an amazing breeze as you wind down at the end of the day.

For a one of a kind dining experience, Bajel offered up such a unique experience that I can understand how it’s likely the reason so many people have rebooked a stay here. We had a 5 course meal based on fermentation; an idea that scared me but which utterly tickled my palate- I love pleasant surprises like that.

But above all of that- let’s get to where you’ll be spending the most time, and that’s your room or suite. There are 4 major room categories - not including the $6000 + per night Opera Suite and Imperial Suite. Those are made for the once in a lifetime splurge or for those that roll that way.

But fear not, you don’t have to be in one of those extravagant suites to feel like you’re surrounded by luxury. Each room type offers expansive views and spacious bathrooms with luxe Hermès body products. You can tell that every detail was well considered for ALL guests.

If you’ve been looking for the final push to make your way to Mexico City- it’s here. You could tell how excited the city was for this opening. The launch party “La Nuit” was attended by local and international celebs as well as industry insiders- it was a beautiful celebration. Another beautiful touch was the commissioning of 4 local artists to design and create 4 murals spread across the city. If you do take the trip- make sure to check them out- somewhere at the intersection of where Mexico 🇲🇽 meets France 🇫🇷.