Where to Stay in Oaxaca

Mexico › Best Places to Stay in Oaxaca
Updated: October 17, 2024

My Favorite Hotels
• Centro/Zócalo: Casa Antonieta
• Santo Domingo: El Callejón
• Jalatlaco: Los Pilares
• 5-Star: Quinta Real
• 4-Star: Casa de Sierra Azul
• Budget: Santa Cecilia
• For families: El Callejón
• For couples: Casa Antonieta

The landmark Mexican Baroque church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán with it's two domed towers, ornate façade, and stone walls in the Santo Domingo neighborhood of Oaxaca.

The landmark Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán is a masterpiece of Mexican Baroque architecture. The church is also home to the Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca and the Ethnobotanical Garden.

Best Areas to Stay in Oaxaca

We love Oaxaca. Its historical center is among the most beautiful in Mexico, its fiestas are exuberant, and its art and dining scenes are second to none. Most of its attractions are concentrated in central, very walkable neighborhoods. Outlying sights, like the Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán, can be reached by cheap and ubiquitous taxis.

Centro, Oaxaca’s historical heart, is where you’ll find the majority of Oaxaca’s best hotels in all budget ranges. The upscale ones mostly fall into the boutique category (only one or two hotels can be described as “luxury”), and are found inside former colonial mansions that dot the streets around the Zócalo (the main square, AKA Plaza de la Constitición) and the Santo Domingo cathedral, several blocks further north. Good midrange and budget options can also be found in the outlying barrios (neighborhoods) of Xochimilco, Jalatlaco, and La Noria, fanning out from Oaxaca’s center.

You’re likely to spend most of your time in Oaxaca’s historical center – a logical and easy-to-navigate grid of streets, lined with centuries-old architecture. Centro can roughly be divided into two halves. The blocks of streets around the Zócalo are centered on Oaxaca’s main plaza and its imposing Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (more commonly called Oaxaca Cathedral). This is where you’ll find craft stalls, churches, numerous restaurants, markets, and a couple of museums. The other half of Centro, Santo Domingo, north of Calle Independencia and Zócalo, is centered on the imposing Santo Domingo church. The cobbled streets around the church are rich in attractions, from museums and art galleries to some of Oaxaca’s best dining and nightlife.

The ostentatious Art Nouveau facade of Teatro Macedonio Alcala with arches, Corinthian columns, busts, and a dome in the Centro neighborhood of Oaxaca.

The Teatro Macedonio Alcalá in Centro hosts tons of events, including concerts by the Oaxaca Symphony Orchestra, traditional dance, and live broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera from New York City.

North of Santo Domingo and across Hwy 190 is the compact neighborhood of Barrio de Xochimilco, Oaxaca’s oldest. There’s a sedate, village-like feel to it with its textile workshops, traditional eateries, and a handful of accommodations. Bordering Xochimilco to the east across the dry river bed is Reforma, a large, affluent neighborhood where you’ll find international dining and boutiques, though little in the way of sights.

South of Reforma and separated from Santo Domingo by Calzada de la Republica street, Barrio de Jalatlaco is a small, hip, and arty neighborhood with plenty of street murals, good coffee shops, some offbeat restaurants, and a good mix of budget and midrange digs. Quieter and more laidback than Santo Domingo, it’s a short walk from the Santo Domingo Church.

The compact grid of streets that makes up Barrio de la Noria borders Centro to the southeast. It’s the quietest neighborhood in central Oaxaca, mostly residential with colorful, single-story houses, a few family-run restaurants, and inexpensive places to stay. It’s a 10-15 minute walk to the Zócalo.

The Best Places to Stay in Oaxaca

An imposing Baroque cathedral as seen from the Zócalo in Oaxaca.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (AKA Oaxaca Cathedral) as seen from the Zócalo in the Centro neighborhood.

A night market under rainbow papel picado in the Santo Domingo neighborhood of Oaxaca.

A night market at Labastida Park in the Santo Domingo neighborhood of Oaxaca. PAN:AM Bed & Breakfast is in the pink building across the street.

Best Places in Oaxaca for…

Massive ancient ruins of temples, pyramids, and stairs in Monte Albán outside of Oaxaca.

Monte Albán, a complex of ancient Zapotec ruins, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most important archaeological zone near Oaxaca.

Best Neighborhoods in Oaxaca for Sightseeing: Centro, Santo Domingo
Oaxaca’s entire historic core – Centro – has been a Unesco World Heritage site since 1987. Whether you base yourself near the Zócalo or in Santo Domingo, you’re ideally placed to check out several excellent museums, contemporary art galleries, street art, and historic churches. The heavyweight attractions are the Zócalo square itself, as well as the Santo Domingo church and the adjoining Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca – one of Mexico’s finest archaeological museums. There’s one other major attraction outside the city limits, the Pre-Columbian archaeological site of Monte Albán. To get there, join a tour group or take a taxi (most convenient) or shuttle (budget-friendly) there and back.

Best Neighborhood in Oaxaca for Nightlife: Santo Domingo

There are a handful of bars in Reforma and around the Zócalo, but you can’t beat Santo Domingo for the sheer variety and quality of its watering holes. There’s something for everyone, from dedicated mezcalerías (mezcal bars) for serious connoisseurs to high-end cocktail bars specializing in original drinks to craft beer breweries – and even a sports bar or two. Some stay open until the early hours of the morning.

Best Neighborhoods in Oaxaca for Food and Restaurants: Santo Domingo, Centro, Barrio de Xochimilco, Barrio de Jalatlaco
Oaxaca’s dining scene is phenomenal; you won’t go hungry in any neighborhood. For the most creative fusion and Mexican fine dining, head for Santo Domingo; unmissable restaurants include Casa Oaxaca, Pitiona, and Los Danzantes. The streets surrounding the Zócalo feature a mix of international offerings, hip cafes serving single-origin coffees and hearty brunch, and locally renowned taco joints. You can also get super-cheap tacos and other street food at stalls on the fringes of Mercado 20 de Noviembre. If you’re brave, buy a bag of dried grasshoppers with chili and lime juice as a snack. Xochimilco is good for unpretentious local food and family-run eateries, while in Jalatlaco you’ll also find some excellent typical Oaxacan food, as well as good Italian restaurants, and coffee shops.

The ornate stone façade of San Matias Church in Oaxaca with colorful buildings in the background in the Jalatlaco neighborhood of Oaxaca.

Stunning little San Matías Church in the colorful Jalatlaco neighborhood.

Best Neighborhoods in Oaxaca for Families: Centro, Barrio de Xochimilco, Barrio de la Noria

While none of Oaxaca’s neighborhoods specialize in family-friendly attractions, Centro is a good bet if you’re looking to explore the city’s main attractions, and don’t want to tire out little feet by having to walk too far. Older kids may appreciate the art galleries and colorful street art around Centro, as well as the Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca in Santo Domingo. Zócalo is quieter at night than Santo Domingo, and Barrio de la Noria is even better in that respect, and not too far from Centro’s attractions. Barrio de Xochimilco is another good bet, being laidback and pretty quiet, though it’s farther away from Centro, and you’ll need to take taxis to and from.

Best Neighborhoods in Oaxaca to Stay for First Timers: Centro, Santo Domingo
No doubt about it: you’ll want to base yourself either in the Zócalo or the Santo Domingo part of Centro. Both are within easy walking distance from Oaxaca’s many cultural attractions – museums, art galleries, markets, etc – so you just have to decide whether you want to be closer to the nightlife and upscale restaurants of Santo Domingo, or the more casual dining and quieter streets around Zócalo.

Most Romantic Neighborhood in Oaxaca: Santo Domingo
It’s hard to beat the subtly-lit cobbled streets, beautiful architecture, luxurious boutique hotels, and fine dining of Santo Domingo if you’re on a romantic vacation with your other half. Place yourselves on Calle Macedonio Alcalá just south of Santo Domingo Church on a weekend afternoon, and you’re almost guaranteed to be swept up into a calenda, a boisterous, traditional, wedding parade with a live band and folk dancing.

Best Neighborhoods in Oaxaca for a Local Vibe: Barrio de Xochimilco, Barrio de Jalatlaco
The oldest part of Oaxaca, the former Pre-Columbian settlement of Xochimilco predates the present-day city by several millennia. Barrio de Xochimilco is a unique and attractive part of Oaxaca, with its colorful, hilly streets, low-key family restaurants serving typical Oaxacan cuisine, and textile and tin workshops. Barrio de Jalatlaco is another distinctive slice of Oaxaca. Long ago when the dry river bed separating it from Centro was a proper river, it was considered to be a separate village. It’s more trendy than Xochimilco, also with beautiful, hilly streets, and a good mix of traditional dining and hipster cafes, and a proliferation of street art.

Best Neighborhoods in Oaxaca for Shopping: Barrio de Xochimilco, Reforma, Centro
Xochimilco is the place to check out traditional textile workshops, where fine weaving is often practiced by many generations of the same family. Reforma has some international stores that you won’t find elsewhere in Oaxaca, while around the Zócalo you’ll find craft stalls selling clothing and souvenirs. There are also three markets taking up several blocks south of the Zócalo: Mercado Benito Juárez is particularly good for cooking ingredients you’ll want to bring home, such as a bewildering collection of moles (“MO-lay” the sauce – not “mole” the animal). Mercado 20 de Noviembre is a bustling food market selling fresh produce, while the Mercado de Artesanias de Oaxaca sells a mix of mass-produced souvenirs and some quality regional crafts. Several specialty coffee shops in Centro sell bags of locally grown and roasted beans, and you can buy bottles of hard-to-find mezcal from small local producers both in stores around Centro and in bars such as Mezcaleria In Situ. Oaxaca is known for its unique ceramics, and you’ll find pieces made of black clay and red clay at stalls and craft markets (though for the best selection and fair prices, head for the Colectivo 1050° store in Santo Domingo).

Safest Areas of Oaxaca
Oaxaca has a relatively low crime rate. Neighborhoods frequented by visitors, such as Centro, Santo Domingo, Barrio de Xochimilco, Barrio de la Noria, Barrio de Jalatlaco, and Reforma are considered generally safe. That said, opportunistic pickpocketing does happen, so be aware of that while exploring the area around the Zócalo and the markets. Standard precautions apply: don’t flash lots of cash, expensive jewelry, or electronic gear, and avoid empty, poorly-lit streets at night. Take a taxi back to your hotel if you’ve stayed out late.

Unsafe Areas of Oaxaca
Visitors are advised not to wander off into the suburbs outside central Oaxaca. While much of the crime in Oaxaca (and Mexico in general) is confined to cartel-on-cartel violence, occasional violent robberies do take place.

Staying in Centro/Zócalo

A view of a street lined with colorful buildings and flowering trees in the Centro neighborhood of Oaxaca.

The heart of Oaxaca, a.k.a. Zócalo, is where all the action is. Downtown Oaxaca is centered on the large historic square, the Zócalo (officially, Plaza de la Constitución) overlooked by the massive Oaxaca Cathedral. If it happens in Oaxaca, it happens here: fiestas, peaceful protests, craft markets, and more. The square is lined with souvenir stalls, though if you’re serious about shopping, it’s worth checking out the three markets a few blocks south of the Zócalo. Centro is a regular grid of narrow streets (some pedestrianized), lined with typical, brightly-painted, one- and two-story houses. In between the Zócalo plaza and Santo Domingo, you’ll find several excellent museums (Museum of Regional Textiles, Museum of Pre-Hispanic Art, Contemporary Art Museum), a handful of small art galleries with local art for purchase, and many places to eat, from traditional to distinctly international. Some of Oaxaca’s best hotels are here, and visitors are likely to spend much of their time exploring Centro.

Best Hotels in Centro

Staying in Santo Domingo

A bride in white and women in vibrant, traditional skirts hold baskets on their heads while dancing in the Santo Domingo neighborhood of Oaxaca.

The northern half of Centro, Santo Domingo is arguably the most beautiful part of Oaxaca, with its cobbled streets and gorgeous architecture. This neighborhood has the best of everything: Oaxaca’s top sights (Santo Domingo Church, Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca in the cloisters attached to the church, the ethnobotanical garden filled with regional plants, etc), the city’s best bars, the most celebrated restaurants, and the best luxury and boutique hotels. Zócalo is just a few blocks south.

Best Hotels in Santo Domingo

Staying in Barrio de Jalatlaco

Colorful papel picado streamers hanging in over a street with floral murals on the sides of buildings in the Jalatlaco neighborhood of Oaxaca.

A compact, tranquil neighborhood that grew around the 18th-century church of San Matías Jalatlaco. Just east of Centro, across the dry river bed, Barrio de Jalatlaco is filled with charming, cobbled streets, colorful single-story houses, family-run restaurants serving traditional Oaxacan dishes, and popular taco stands. Several hip coffee shops are a nod to the neighborhood’s recent gentrification. It’s a bit of art enclave as well with tons of of colorful street murals. Apart from that, Jalatlaco is light on attractions but is a mere 10-15 minute walk from sights in Centro and Santo Domingo.

Best Hotels in Barrio de Jalatlaco

Staying in Barrio de Xochimilco

A mural showing a young girl in a floral dress with birds in a row of colorful buildings on a split-level street in the Xochimilco neighborhood of Oaxaca.

North across the highway from Santo Domingo, Xochimilco was the original pre-Hispanic settlement that eventually grew into present-day Oaxaca. Traditional crafts still thrive here, and walking around the hilly, colorful streets, you’re likely to see family-run textile workshops and artisans at work. It’s a quiet and low-key neighborhood, with small, wallet-friendly eateries serving traditional fare. You can also buy fried grasshoppers and tamales at the Mercado de Pochote. There’s one notable sight here: an 18th-century aqueduct that rises high above the dry river bed that separates Xochimilco from Reforma to the east. Santo Domingo and its attractions are a 15-20 minute walk. Consider taking a taxi, especially in the hotter months.

Best Hotels in Barrio de Xochimilco

Staying in Barrio de la Noria

A woman in a cobbler apron walks on the sidewalk past a vibrant mural in Barrio de la Noria in Oaxaca

There isn’t much to Barrio de la Noria, a compact, residential neighborhood just south of Centro, though if you’re looking for peace and quiet at night while being within an easy walk of Oaxaca’s main attractions, it makes a good base. There are a few low-key restaurants here, while the Zócalo is just a 10-15 minute walk away.

Best Hotel in Barrio de la Noria

Staying in Reforma

A typical, neutral-color, tree-lined street in the low-key Reforma neighborhood of Oaxaca.

If much of Oaxaca has a very distinctive vibe and look, Reforma could almost be anywhere. Younger than historic Oaxaca, this large, spread-out neighborhood north of the highway from Santo Domingo lacks Centro’s handsome architecture, though it does have the lion’s share of international restaurants and boutiques, wine stores, and other trappings of an affluent place to live. Some visitors prefer staying here, as it minimizes culture shock, while others feel it’s not ‘real Oaxaca’. Good dining, but no sights to speak of. Sights in Santo Domingo and Centro are a short taxi ride or 15-25 minute walk away.

Best Hotels in Reforma

19 Best Hotels in Oaxaca

1. El Callejón – Santo Domingo

The art-filled living room with a mix of antique and contemporary furniture in a room at El Callejon Boutique Hotel in Oaxaca.

Stunning boutique hotel with generous accommodations, an open-air Oaxacan restaurant in a courtyard garden, and thoughtfully curated art and handicrafts from local and regional artists and artisans. Rooms, suites, and the casa fuse contemporary design with pre-Hispanic techniques and materials, including cactus mucilage and natural pigment from the soil. All have king-sized beds, many with private balconies or rooftop terraces, some with kitchens; the largest spreads over two floors and sleeps up to five guests. A Oaxacan-American breakfast is always included. Delightful location on border of Santo Domingo and Barrio de Xochimilco, an equal walking distance from the Aqueduct in the heart of Xochimilco and the Santo Domingo Church and sights in Centro.

2. Casa Antonieta – Centro

A chic two-bed suite with a wall textile nude, neutral palette, and green accents at Casa Antonieta hotel in Oaxaca.

Romantic boutique hotel set in one of the oldest buildings in the city, a grand convent from the 16th century. Accommodations are arranged around a leafy, central courtyard with a café on the ground floor and a rooftop terrace serving light fare and drinks. Each room and suite is unique, but all offer king or queen-sized beds and locally-made textiles; two have private patios. Adults only. Pet friendly. Excellent location in Centro, just steps from the Zócalo, markets, and dining.

3. Pug Seal – Santo Domingo

In the atrium of Pug Seal boutique hotel with abstract murals on all walls of both floors, a fountain in the center, ceramic art, and wood beam ceilings in Oaxaca.

Art-forward boutique hotel set in a colonial heritage building from the early 1800s. The hotel is filled with colorful murals depicting legends and scenes from Zapotec culture, plus fun touches like a pair of swings in the open-air courtyard. Rooms and suites vary in size and layout, but all have king-sized beds and free minibars, some with dual vanities, and three with private balconies. Two rooms here are wheelchair accessible with roll-in showers. The complimentary, a la carte breakfast is a highlight with Oaxacan, Mexican, and international recipes and a host of vegan and vegetarian dishes. Beautifully situated in Santo Domingo, about a 5-minute walk north to Santo Domingo de Guzmán Church and or south to the Zócalo.

4. Hotel La Casona de Tita – Santo Domingo

Deep red exterior of the hotel Casona de Tita, built on an elevated stone walkway with wooded double doors in Oaxaca.

Intimate, upscale boutique hotel in a 19th-century hacienda with just six rooms, each decorated individually with antique and modern furniture, Oaxacan textiles, and original artwork. Rooms have one king or two double beds and sleep up to four guests. The Mezcal Room is wheelchair accessible. The hotel also has a two-bedroom apartment a short walk from the main building with a full kitchen, two patios, and a private parking garage. Service is friendly and attentive with staff waiting to organize tailor-made excursions and experiences. Complimentary breakfast is made fresh daily and is served in a sunny courtyard. Located in Santo Domingo, just a short walk from the church, gourmet restaurants, and delicious food stalls at La Cosecha Organic Market.

5. Quinta Real – Santo Domingo

The pale pink with red trim exterior of Quinta Real hotel, set in a 16th-century colonial building with a clock tower as a corner in Oaxaca.

Impeccable luxury hotel set in a 16th-century convent with carefully restored frescoes, well-tended gardens, and a pool. One restaurant and two bars serve a range of Mexican and international dishes, craft cocktails, and an extensive selection of mezcals. Rooms and suites have king or queen-size beds and colonial-style furniture fitting with the architecture. Rooms tend toward the cozy size; book a Gran Clase or Suite Gobernador for more space. With 91 rooms and suites, this is one of the largest hotels in the city center and a popular spot for weddings and events. Steps from Santo Domingo de Guzmán Church, photography exhibits at the Centro Fotografico, and Oaxaca’s best restaurants.

6. Hotel Hacienda Los Laureles – San Felipe del Agua

A formal dining room inside a greenhouse at Hacienda Los Laureles hotel in Oaxaca.

Polished boutique hotel nestled in the hills above Oaxaca, just five km from the city center. The early 1800s hacienda has a lush garden, pool, and a small spa with a temazcal. Its signature restaurant, Los Cipreses, serves a menu of Oaxacan, Mexican, and international favorites in a romantic setting. Rooms and suites have one king or two double beds and either a shared or private balcony or patio. The hotel operates as an adults-only property during high season (Day of the Dead through New Year’s and during the Guelaguetza Festival) and welcomes families the rest of the year. Tucked away in a residential neighborhood with a handful of restaurants within walking distance. Guests will need to rent a car or rely on taxis for stays here.

7. Grana B&B – Santo Domingo

A homey kitchen with a green tile backsplash, stenciled archway, comal, and long wooden breakfast table at Grana B & B in Oaxaca.

Stylish bed and breakfast. This 18th-century building still has its original tiles and windows, while all decor was sourced from within Oaxaca state. A buffet breakfast is always included, along with twice-weekly yoga on the rooftop. An all-day bar offers wine, mezcal, local beer, and non-alcoholic refreshments. Sunny rooms and suites all have ceiling fans (in addition to air conditioning). The Loft adds a kitchenette; one King Suite has a private balcony. Wonderful, walkable location in Santo Domingo at leafy Labastida Park, where you’ll find a weekend art market, and less than a five-minute walk to the church and Ethnobotanical Garden.

8. Boulenc Bed & Bread – Santo Domingo

A softly lit room with eclectic, romantic decor at Boulenc Bed and Bread in Oaxaca.

Cosmopolitan B&B that’s also one of Oaxaca’s culinary hotspots with an incredible artisanal bakery, a hip bar and restaurant, and a provisions shop. The complimentary breakfast is incredible, plus a tapas bar is included every evening on the rooftop. Curated gastronomy experiences include private mezcal tastings and jam-making workshops. Its seven adults-only rooms are on the smaller side, most with queen-sized beds, some with king beds, and some with balconies. Junior Suites are the largest (28 square meters) and have balconies. Ideal location in Centro, equidistant from Santo Domingo Church and the Zócalo.

9. NaNa Vida – Santo Domingo

The leafy, shaded courtyard of Nana Vida hotel with a stone patio, dining tables, and umbrellas in Oaxaca.

Cheerful boutique hotel filled with vibrant murals, handwoven and hand-dyed textiles, and original paintings in each room – all made by Oaxacan artists and artisans. Rooms have one king or two double beds, all centered around a green garden courtyard. A continental breakfast is included; a main course can be added for an additional price. Excellent central location surrounded by fantastic restaurants, near the food stalls of Mercado de la Merced and Santo Domingo Church.

10. Casa de Sierra Azul – Centro

A row of bicycles in the shaded arcade of a hacienda courtyard at hotel Casa de Sierra Azul in Oaxaca.

Sweet boutique hotel in the heart of the city. Set in a lovingly restored, colonial-era home, this hotel offers pet-friendly rooms for up to four guests with one king or two double beds, each with a private or shared terrace. Double-pane, soundproof windows are fitted in each room, a necessary step for a hotel this close to the Zócalo (just two blocks away, less than a 5-minute walk). Excellent, walkable location, but the hotel also offers free bicycles that make exploring the farther corners of the city a breeze.

11. Casa Carmen Morelos – Santo Domingo

Deep golden exterior of the single-story Casa Carmen Morelos hotel on a gentle hill in a row of colorful buildings in Oaxaca.

Romantic, cozy hotel with just four suites set around a courtyard. The minimalistic design and toned-down furniture help to spotlight the fine art collection scattered throughout the property. Suites all have king-sized beds; Deluxe and Superior Suites add sofabeds and sleep up to three guests. Breakfast is included and features wonderful versions of Oaxacan favorites like chilaquiles and memelitas. Wonderful location in a quieter part of the historic center, just steps from the ornate, Baroque-style Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude and about a 10-minute walk to either Santo Domingo de Guzmán Church or the Zócalo and Oaxaca Cathedral.

12. Hotel Palacio Borghese – Santo Domingo

A rooftop terrace with a white gazebo and a direct view of Santo Domingo de Guzmán church at the hotel Palacio Borghese in Oaxaca.

Refined, adults-only boutique hotel in a hacienda, home to an opulent courtyard and a rooftop sun terrace with spectacular city views. Spacious rooms and suites all have king-sized beds, jetted baths, and brocade tapestries; some add sofabeds. Thoughtful perks include free daily aguas frescas, welcome fruits, and complimentary wine on your last evening there. Continental breakfast is included with each booking, served to the courtyard, rooftop, or directly to the guest rooms. LGBT+-owned and friendly. Amazing spot just a block from Santo Domingo Church, surrounded by restaurants and fresh food markets.

13. AYOOK – Centro

A deep gold building with a rooftop terrace under a canopy at Ayook hotel in Oaxaca.

Chic, adults-only boutique hotel with a cafe tucked away in a residential area at the west end of Centro. The stunning, contemporary property was rebuilt from an 18th-century house that was abandoned for over a hundred years. Most rooms are small (about 17 square meters) with queen or double beds. Rooms 6 and 12 are the largest at 37 square meters, both with minibars; Room 6 also has a private interior courtyard with a hammock. An a la carte breakfast is included with different choices each day.

14. Hotel Parador de Alcalá – Santo Domingo

Stree view of Hotel Parador de Alcalá, an 18th-century mansion with a golden exterior, across from a red building with jaguar heads on the front and papel picado strung above the road in Oaxaca.

Gorgeous boutique hotel with a rooftop pool, sun terrace, and a fab Oaxacan restaurant and bar in a grand courtyard (breakfast always included). Rooms and suites have high ceilings, marble bathrooms, and either one king or two double beds. About as centrally located as possible, right in between Santo Domingo Church and the Zócalo, on Calle Macedonio Alcalá, a pedestrianized street lined with shops and dining, a popular spot for calendas (traditional wedding parades).

15. Casa Los Cántaros – Reforma

Exterior of Casa los Cantaros hotel, a low-slung, modern building in eggshell and brown, shaded by trees, with pedestrians passing by in Oaxaca.

Modern boutique hotel set in the understated Reforma neighborhood, near myriad restaurants and a handful of shopping malls. Facilities include a jewelry store and Oaxacan restaurant set in a leafy garden. Rooms and suites feature traditional terracotta floors and wrought iron and wood beds. Deluxe suites have two beds and more space.

16. Los Pilares – Barrio de Jalatlaco

View from the street of the colonial-style Los Pilares hotel with a shade tree in Oaxaca.

The best hotel in Jalatlaco, Los Pilares boasts a vibrant rooftop hangout spot with a pool, jacuzzi, and dining. Cuisine is phenomenal at the restaurant, Intercambio Terraza, with a fusion of local, Italian, and international fare, paired with natural wines and craft cocktails. Rooms are all decorated individually with one king, one double, or two double beds, but all are about the same size and sleep two guests maximum. Fantastic location in colorful Barrio de Jalatlaco, surrounded by murals, cafés, and boutiques, and just a short walk to San Matías Church.

17. Hotel Azul – Santo Domingo

Outside of a one-story blue building with bougainvilleas in different colors growing in all of its windows at Hotel Azul in Oaxaca.

Cosmopolitan boutique hotel with an art gallery, an all-day cafe, rooftop craft cocktail bar, and a courtyard Oaxacan restaurant. Each room and suite was styled by a different artist along with an interior designer. All are unique but feature light woods, mid-century-inspired furnishings, and colorful tiles. Some suites have soaking tubs. Wonderful location in Santo Domingo near the church, Ethnobotanical Gardens, and Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca.

18. Santa Cecilia – Barrio de Xochimilco

Bright red, two-story Hotel Santa Cecilia, set on a slight hill with a scooter zooming by in Oaxaca.

Affordable hotel in historic Xochimilco, just steps away from the aqueduct. Most rooms have king or queen-sized beds for two; Quadruple Rooms have two double beds for four guests. Suites and some Double Rooms have balconies. A simple breakfast (fruit, bread, coffee, and tea) is available each morning on the rooftop terrace, and there is a small bar open throughout the day. Quiet location in a residential neighborhood with a handful of restaurants and cafés nearby. The main attractions of Centro are about a 20-minute walk or 10-minute taxi ride away.

19. PAN:AM Bed & Breakfast – Santo Domingo

A pink interior courtyard with lights strung overhead and a bell tower of the Baroque church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán visible in the background at Hotel Pan:AM in Oaxaca.

Charming bed and breakfast just around the corner from Santo Domingo Church. Cozy rooms have red brick ceilings, tile floors, and minimalistic decor and either a double or two single beds. Oaxacan breakfast is complimentary daily in their open-air courtyard or on the covered terrace. Centrally located at Labastida Park with the city’s best dining, nightlife, and sights right at your feet. The street in front is a main thoroughfare for taxis, making it incredibly convenient to get around even to farther destinations.