Otro Oaxaca
Oaxaca City, Mexico
Centro Historico
Vibe
Behind a discreet historic facade, concrete pavilions and quiet garden courtyards create a brutalist sanctuary centered around a shared cultural salon.
“Brutalist craft retreat”
Raw concrete, local red brick, and green limestone frame an interlocking pavilion layout inspired by ancient Mitla.
A subterranean brick dome houses a circular heated plunge pool lit by an open skylight cenote.
Interiors feature custom timber furniture, handwoven Oaxacan linens, and leather drapes crafted by regional artisans.
In Centro Histórico along pedestrian Calle Macedonio Alcalá, directly across from Santo Domingo Church.
“... they’ve had help from the local architect João Boto Caeiro, who has masterfully mixed traditional Oaxacan textures and materials — and overt references to Zapotec archaeological sites — with modernist geometries and minimalist interiors.”
Rooms
Interiors feature ribbed vaults, raw concrete, and leather drapery, while select multi-level suites open to private courtyards with personal plunge pools.
“A boutique stay by Grupo Habita, Otro combines the classic aspects of Brutalism—bare concrete, rugged facades, and simple, block-like forms…”
Wellness
Descend beneath the courtyard to find a cenote-inspired heated plunge pool, cold plunge, herbal steam room, and treatment rooms for regional healing rituals.
“the high red terracotta walls of the 16-room Otro Oaxaca give little hint of what lies beyond – which is an intriguing sequence of interlocking pavilions”
Backstory
Local practice RootStudio designed the 2023 compound, opening a railroad-tie entry hall into cross-shaped pathways referencing the pre-Hispanic stonework of nearby Mitla.
Eat & drink
Dine on regional cooking in the tree-shaded courtyard restaurant, or sip artisanal mezcal at the rooftop bar beside the open grill.
The neighborhood
Stepping onto pedestrian Calle Macedonio Alcalá puts you directly opposite the Baroque facade of Santo Domingo Church and surrounding artisan workshops.
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The app
This is one hotel. The app has every one we rate, in your pocket, for the whole trip.
Our shorthand
What makes a hotel special, how well they pull it off, and what it feels like outside the door.
How well they pull it off
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
They did this well. You’ll notice.
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Architecture and interiors lead. There’s a creative vision at work.
The guest is conspicuously well cared for. Requests met before they’re made.
Rooted in place. Local character runs through the whole stay.
Energy and scene. Where the city goes out, whether or not it’s sleeping here.
A building with history. The story of the place is part of the stay.
Built around feeling better. Rest, sweat, soak, spa.
A hotel the city grew up with. Same rituals, same regulars.
A world of its own. No reason to leave the property.
Scene — what’s outside the door
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
A place apart: the property is the destination.