The first detail you’ll notice upon check-in to Casa Antonieta is the open-air courtyard, lush with overflowing bright green plants of all shapes and heights. The central courtyard brings in streaming sunlight, a developing humidity, or an afternoon storm, depending on your visit. The focal milieu features remote workers, gathering friends, and business meetings, all coalescing into a soft, buzzing lull of activity that feels inclusive.
A mere block from downtown Oaxaca’s Zócalo, Casa Antonieta occupies the city’s oldest building: the San Pablo convent, once a 1500s parish for the surrounding Indigenous communities. After its Franciscan days, it became a mansion in the late 1800s—now reimagined as a hotel by the mansion’s grandson and named for his grandmother. Original Spanish Colonial columns and arches remain, now show-stopping interiors that leave you agape.
I stayed in a standard ground-floor room that opened onto the lobby and courtyard. Spacious for one at roughly 375 square feet, the room featured a king-sized bed that somehow looked even larger than expected. Raw floors and hand-applied, ecru-toned clay plaster walls gained warmth from hanging textiles, printed art, and rugs woven by Zapotec artisans in the nearby village of Teotitlán del Valle. Handmade rattan headboards, intricately beaded pendant lamps, and macuil wood details gave the room a calming, neutral palette. Even the tissue box cover and cabinet knobs reflected a handmade sensibility. Yoga mats, bathrobes, and slippers were ready, should you need them.
While lounging in that bed is certainly tempting, heading up to the rooftop is the better move. There, Amá—the on-site wine bar and restaurant—offers a place to idle for hours, soundtracked by a curated playlist. I found it the ideal setting for a remote work session, a morning cappuccino, or a lingering breakfast. As the sun began to set, I sipped a mezcal margarita and watched the city’s rooftops glow in golden light. No one rushed me, hurried me along, or questioned the hours I spent basking in the Oaxacan sun. Truly, there’s no wrong time of day to enjoy this rooftop.
You’ll also find a tiny gift shop up here, filled with handmade homewares and special pieces from local (and widely celebrated) blind ceramist Jose Garcia Antonio’s studio, Taller Manos Que Ven. His work is easy to spot: signature engraved faces and a recognizable burnt orange clay peek out from potted cacti and shaded corners around the rooftop.
Downstairs, Muss Cafe is the go-to for your morning coffee if you’re headed out for a day of exploring. Grab a strong cold brew (a lifesaver during the heat of Oaxaca’s summer), mingle with locals who frequent this Aussie-style café, and sample the local roast layered with hints of cocoa nibs. There’s also a robust tea selection and gluten-free pastries for those skipping the caffeine or gluten.
Choosing Casa Antonieta means you’ve nailed the location—close to the city center, yet removed from the more boisterous bar scenes that can spill into side streets. Cross the street to visit the Mezcal Museum, and if you get caught in an afternoon downpour, take cover at its bar and restaurant to sip a mezcal cocktail while watching the storm roll through another open-air courtyard. It’s also an excellent spot to pick up a bottle of mezcal as a souvenir, straight from the source. Pop into the textile museum next door to the hotel—Oaxaca’s deep-rooted textile culture comes alive here. The museum gift shop is especially fun, with intricately stitched clothing, woven accessories, and cozy blankets (plus a change purse, perfect for all those peso coins).
Whether you're here for a quick overnight, a long weekend before heading to the coast, or a deep dive into Oaxaca’s rich craft culture, Casa Antonieta offers a cultivated stay rooted in generational history—from Franciscan prayer to family legacy.
Top Takeaways
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
Rating: 5-star
Food + Drink: Bites and drinks are in the ground-floor coffee shop and cafe, Muss, plus there’s a rooftop restaurant, Amá, to enjoy all day with a daily complimentary drink.
Amenities: A cafe/coffee shop and a wine bar.
The Vibe: Verdant oasis, historic, and chill.
Our favorite thing about the hotel: The lush rooftop terrace for breakfast, remote laptop work, or happy hour beverages.
What’s nearby? Mezcal Cultural Museum and Restaurant, Textile Museum of Oaxaca, Zócolo, San Pablo Cultural Center, Botanical Garden
Any personal neighborhood recs? The hotel is a stone’s throw (read: literally next door) to an art center at the San Pablo Cultural Center that showcases contemporary art exhibits in the historic convent space. It brings together something old and something new of Oaxaca, and if you can visit in the late afternoon, you’ll catch some golden light adorning the architectural details.
Rooms: Nine rooms that include one apartment-style room and eight standard hotel rooms
Pricing: Rates start at $280 per night.
Closest Airport: Oaxaca International Airport (OAX)
