Where to Stay in Oaxaca: Boutique Hotels for Every Budget
Most people plan a trip to Oaxaca around the food, so where you stay comes down to how close you want to be to the markets, the mezcal, and the Zócalo. We’ve had an amazing time eating our way through the city and staying in its historic center. These are the six boutique hotels that will add the most to your experience, from a budget stay with a calming courtyard to an adults-only luxury retreat in the hills, plus one apartment we loved with a huge private balcony.
👉 Speaking of the food, our sister site Foodie Frontiers has a full guide to where to eat in Oaxaca, from market comedores to the omakase counter that first put Oaxaca on our radar.
Where to Stay in Oaxaca: At-a-Glance
| Best For | Accommodation |
|---|---|
| location and views | Los Amantes |
| atmosphere | Hotel Escondido |
| food lovers | Casa Oaxaca Hotel |
| a budget pick | Hotel Boutique Parador San Miguel Oaxaca |
| a historic splurge | Quinta Real Oaxaca |
| a luxury retreat | Casa Santo Origen (adults only, outside the center) |
| a hotels with a pool | Escondido, Quinta Real, Casa Santo Origen |
| an apartment stay | Casona Soledad |
6 Best Boutique Hotels in Oaxaca
All but one of these are in the Centro Histórico, so you can walk to the markets, the mezcalerías, and the Zócalo.
1. Los Amantes: Best for Location and Views
Los Amantes is our pick for a combination of location and views. It’s across the street from Santo Domingo and an easy stroll to the pedestrian street and the Zócalo. We had an evening of mezcal and wine on the rooftop restaurant and watched the sunset change the light on the cathedral for perfect photos. It was beautiful. The hotel takes its name from the Mezcal de Los Amantes brand, and each room is curated with art by Guillermo Olguín. It’s small, so book well ahead.
2. Hotel Escondido: Best for Atmosphere
Escondido is our favorite for atmosphere. The rooftop bar and lounge are swanky and fun, and the small vegetable-forward restaurant downstairs is elevated and built around local ingredients. It’s a 12-room boutique with hand-built sabino wood furniture, a small rooftop pool, and a café that also does lunch. It’s about a 10 to 15-minute walk to the Zócalo, though on more uneven streets than the walk from Los Amantes, so wear good shoes. We love the energy here, but a few others on the list are closer to the Zócalo and pedestrian street.
Pro Tip: Some of the lower rooms are partly below street level and get their light from a skylight instead of windows. If a bright room matters to you, ask for one of the balcony or upper level rooms when you book.
3. Casa Oaxaca Hotel: Best for Food Lovers
Casa Oaxaca Hotel is a seven-room 18th-century colonial townhouse with a courtyard restaurant from chef Alejandro Ruiz, serving breakfast and dinner. His flagship, Casa Oaxaca El Restaurante, is a short walk away and is one of the most famous restaurants in the city. The courtyard restaurant at the hotel is smaller, more private, open to non-guests, and in our experience even better than the flagship. You can book a table here without staying the night. The rooms are spacious, if a bit plain, and the courtyard is lovely. Since most people build an Oaxaca trip around food, a room here adds to the experience.
4. Hotel Boutique Parador San Miguel: Best Budget Pick
You can definitely find cheaper guesthouses in Oaxaca, but Hotel Boutique Parador San Miguel is our boutique hotel budget pick. It’s a restored colonial building close to the Zócalo with a beautiful courtyard. Ask for a courtyard-facing room, since the street out front is busy and can be noisy. You’ll see tour groups here, but it’s a straight walk down to the Zócalo, and the price is right for the location. We had a lovely mole dinner at the on-site El Andariego restaurant, which is a casual dining room at street level.
5. Quinta Real Oaxaca: Best Historic Splurge
Quinta Real may be worth the splurge for the historic ambiance. The hotel is the former convent of Santa Catalina, built in 1576, with tiled corridors, original frescoes, gardens, and a courtyard pool close to Santo Domingo. Two things to know before you book: there’s no elevator, and the on-site food and drink prices are high. We heard high praise for this boutique hotel in the heart of Oaxaca city, but we skipped it because it was expensive, and Oaxaca has so many great options for less.
Luxe-for-Less Tip: If you want the historic-building feel without the Quinta Real rates, Los Amantes and Casa Oaxaca both put you in beautiful colonial settings in the city center.
6. Casa Santo Origen: Best Luxury Retreat
Casa Santo Origen is an adults-only luxury option about a 15-minute drive outside the Oaxaca city center in the foothills of San Felipe del Agua. So, you won’t get walkability, but you will get a quiet oasis with easy access back into the city. Casa Santo Origen has eight suites, each named for a region of Oaxaca and filled with local art, plus an infinity pool and a Mediterranean restaurant called Entre Sombras. It’s held a Michelin Key for a few years, with rates starting around $400. Book this one if you’re looking for a luxurious retreat. We plan to spend a few nights here next time we visit Oaxaca.
Where to Stay in Oaxaca: Which Area Is Best?
For a first visit, stay in the Centro Histórico. Five of the six hotels above are located here, and it puts you within a walk of the markets, the mezcalerías, Santo Domingo, and the Zócalo. The blocks around Santo Domingo and the Andador Turístico (the pedestrian street) are the most convenient base, and that’s where you’ll find Hotel Los Amantes Oaxaca, Casa Oaxaca Hotel, and Quinta Real Oaxaca.
If you’re looking for a quiet retreat close to the city, San Felipe del Agua, where Casa Santo Origen is located, is a residential area in the hills about a 15-minute drive away. You give up the convenience of walking everywhere, but you get a calm space and a nice infinity pool to come back to.
👉 Looking for what to do and where to eat in Oaxaca? Read our full guide here: Oaxaca food and experiences guide.
Bonus: Best Oaxaca Apartment Option
If you’d rather have an apartment than a hotel room, we stayed at Casona Soledad in a two-bedroom apartment on a plaza with a huge balcony. It was a little longer of a walk to the Zocalo and pedestrian street, but it was worth it for the space and price.
Where to Stay in Oaxaca: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best area to stay in Oaxaca?
The Centro Histórico is the best area for a first visit. It’s walkable to the markets, the mezcalerías, and the Zócalo, and most of the city’s boutique hotels are located near here. Stay near Santo Domingo and the pedestrian street for the most convenient base, like Los Amantes or Casa Oaxaca Hotel.
Are there hotels in Oaxaca with a pool?
Yes. Hotel Escondido has a small rooftop pool in the center, Quinta Real has a courtyard pool in its convent setting, and Casa Santo Origen has an infinity pool in the hills outside town.
Is Oaxaca expensive for hotels?
Oaxaca is very affordable with options at any budget level from $60 a night to over $500. You can stay central and comfortable without booking at top prices, but even the 5-star hotels like Quinta Real Oaxaca and Grand Fiesta Americana Oaxaca are affordable by international standards, coming in at $400 to $600 a night.
Do you need a car in Oaxaca?
No, not for the city itself. The Centro Histórico is walkable, and the markets, restaurants, and sights are close together. You’d only want a car or a driver for day trips to places like Monte Albán, Hierve el Agua, or the mezcal palenques, and those are easy to arrange with a tour or a hired driver.
Have you been to Oaxaca? Let us know where you stayed in the comments.
Explore More of Our Latin America Adventures!
