As the birthplace of some of Mexico’s most famous exports – mezcal, mole, and lush textiles are among the most cherished – Oaxaca has long been a bastion of culture, craft, and multi-sensory artistic expression. But not all tones of the dazzling rhapsody of this southern state can be experienced outside of its borders. Fortunately, with a booming hospitality scene fueled by Mexican entrepreneurs, architects, and designers, the diverse region offers a much-needed variety of culturally-oriented hotels. From a range of urban sanctuaries in and around the UNESCO-recognized city of Oaxaca to a range of eco-friendly beach retreats, discerning travelers looking to experience Oaxaca’s many grandeur finally have a litany of new design hotels to browse.
Outside of Casa Silencio, the home of Oaxaca’s first solar powered mezcal brand.
Photo: Onnis Luque
Casa Silencio comes from Oaxaca’s only solar powered mezcal brand, El Silencio, in the remote Xaaga Valley. More than a hymn of praise to the spirit of the smoky agave, this self-sustaining six-key retreat works with a zero-waste ethos inside and outside of a striking façade made of tapia, stone, glass and accents of old wood. A father-daughter duo, the architect Alejandro D’Acosta and the interior designer Martina D’Acosta, have the property in their local heritage with eccentric furniture, decorative textiles and folkloric décor, almost exclusively by craftsmen from several generations in the state of Oaxaca anchored. The culinary and mezcal tastings are exceptional and take place on a 53-foot communal table carved from a single 17-ton slab of hand-cut basalt.
Pug seal in central Oaxaca offers plenty of visual intrigue. Photo: IG / FB @pugseal
JORGE OMAR MARTINEZ SOLIS
