Volga, tucked off a secondary street in Mexico City’s Colonia Cuauhtemoc neighborhood, is evidence of the Mexican capital’s rise as a premiere destination for experiential accommodations. Combining an energetic rooftop bar with windows overlooking Reforma with onsite art activations and a hidden basement speakeasy, no one could blame the hotel’s guests for not wanting to leave the property at all during their stay, even despite the pull of the street tacos, world-class museums, and a cafe culture that rivals Paris all within walking distance. Traveling to a sprawling major city is better when you know you’ll arrive to comfort and convenience, and for that, this hip new hotel just off the famed Reforma street is best in class.
Photo: Tim Wenger
Mexico City’s Most Instagrammable Hotel Combines Unique Architecture, Fine Dining, and Incredible Views
The “swimming channel.” Photo: Tim Wenger
Volga bills itself as a “live music entertainment experience” hotel. What stuck out the most to me was the “experience” aspect. It would be very easy to arrive at Volga and spend multiple days onsite without ever feeling the need to leave, due to the abundance of amenities. All rooms face the interior courtyard below, with jawdropping view down to one of Mexico City’s most Instagrammable inside locations, the lounge area on the hotel’s main floor (see the photo below).
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Dining and drinking at Volga
The best meal of the trip. Photo: Tim Wenger
The Mezcalita cocktail is on point. Photo: Tim Wenger
The speakeasy. Photo: Tim Wenger
Mexico City is home to a large Japanese diaspora comprising more than 3,500 people, largely concentrated in the Cuauhtémoc municipality in the heart of the city. Volga is a block from Reforma, one of the most bustling arteries of the city, and within walking distance to many of the area’s best Japanese restaurants, several of them operated by Edo Kobayashi, which runs Volga and its onsite restaurant, Elora. Here, Chef Juan Manuel González blends contemporary Spanish-Mediterranean trends with Mexican cooking traditions to craft a menu that is unique even within the global reach of Reforma’s culinary scene.
I had the chicken dish and it was the single best meal I ate over the course of two weeks in Mexico – and that says a lot in a place that my wife and I visit each year specifically for the food. Chef González came out to discuss the dishes, which included vegetarian options and a wine list to pair with anything on the menu. The service was stellar – our glasses never went dry, and the kitchen was able to accommodate dietary restrictions including an onion allergy, no small task in a Mexican kitchen.
The rooftop bar serves an impeccable Mescalito. If you go, grab the table near the “hole in the wall” overlooking the city – the view is so good it’d be easy to spend hours gazing over drinks and reveling in the sounds and sights of the city below. It’s possible, however, to completely escape the grind of big city life on the hotel’s bottom floor. Here, a speakeasy bar hosts DJs and and dance parties weekly for a crowd that comingles hotel guests, hipsters, and locals who appreciate good vinyl.
Other amenities at Volga
The Instagrammable lounge, viewed from above. Photo: Tim Wenger
Looking up (see next photo). Photo: Tim Wenger
Looking down. Photo: Tim Wenger
Aside from a small sign lighting the hotel’s name near the front door, you’d be hard-pressed to know from up the street that inside this monochrome cement facade on the corner of Río Volga and Río Nilo is one of the city’s most exquisitely designed hotels. Walking in the door, guests are greeted with a view looking down to the lounge, deep grays and vibrant yellows combing to form a calming, if unsuspecting ambiance. It’s only once you begin to interact with the staff at the check-in counter that the spirit of hotel comes alive. They’ll immediately direct your attention to the courtyard behind you, where you’ll look up and see reverse angle view of what you’ll look down upon from your room. The hotel encircles this inner lounge courtyard like a silo.
In room, the vibe is worthy of “MTV Cribs.” All rooms feature couch and chair seating overlooking the inner-silo, as I began to call it. A minimalist aesthetic characterized by deep colors and earthy tones is in direct contrast to the bustling city outside. Rain showerheads, ample lounge space, and king-size beds round out the experience.
Looking out at the city from the rooftop bar. Photo: Tim Wenger
The hotel hosts rotating art pop-ups and vendors that connect guests to locally-made clothing, furnishings, and, of course, art. The hotel has a small gym and a rooftop “swimming channel,” as its dubbed, offers views of the surrounding high-rises. Cabanas surround the pool, though the aforementioned lounge area is arguably a better place to relax over a book and a cocktail. Yoga classes are offered on the rooftop patio, as are mixology lessons
Deluxe rooms and suites with a separate bedroom are available, with some suites including a balcony overlooking the courtyard. Rooms start around $217 per night. 