Uma Casa is located in the affluent residential suburb of Lomas de Chapultepec, west of Mexico City’s historic centre and minutes from the vibrant neighbourhood of Polanco.
Planes
Bénito Juárez International Airport is Mexico City’s main airport. Flights arrive here direct from across Europe and the US. By car, it takes 30 minutes to an hour to reach the hotel, depending on traffic. Taxis to and from the airport cost around US$40, or US$55 if travelling early morning.
Trains
Lomas de Chapultepec is primarily a residential neighbourhood so the nearest Metro station – Auditorio (Line 7, the orange line), is just over a 30-minute walk from the hotel. The Mexico City Metro is efficient, but can be crowded and complex to navigate if you don’t speak Spanish, so we’d recommend getting around by taxi.
Automobiles
There is a private carpark with a charge of around US$55 an hour or US$180 for 12 hours. With ride-hailing services such as Uber or Didi so widely available, it’s not necessary to hire a car unless you have a specific need.
Other
Along with the Metro, Mexico City’s public-transportation system also includes buses and eco-friendly options like the Ecobici bike-sharing program.
Worth getting out of bed for
Uma Casa’s location means you’re moments from the vibrant hotspot of Polanco, but you can also reach the trendy and culture-rich neighbourhoods of Roma and La Condesa in under an hour by taxi. Hotel staff are always on hand to plan your excursions.
Once you’ve shopped till you’ve dropped on the affluent avenues of Polanco, (and we’re not just talking designer clothes – make room for locally-made artisan homeware in your suitcase, because the hotel will give you ideas), it’s time to take a breath in the sprawling Chapultepec Park. There’s around 1,700 acres of it, making it one of the largest parks in the western hemisphere.
If you’re not laden with shopping, a good way to explore the park is by renting an Ecobici bike. Here you’ll find the Chapultepec Castle which has fantastic panoramic views of the city. The Anthropology Museum has a vast collection of artefacts from the ancient Maya, Aztec, Olmec, and Zapotec civilizations, so set aside a good few hours to see everything.
Along the impressive city skyline you can’t miss the shimmering and curvilinear Soumaya Museum building. This houses works by European old masters, Mexican art, contemporary pieces and a large collection of Rodin sculptures and casts, while the Jumex Museum is home to 2,800 works of modern art (Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Marcel Duchamp, Olafur Eliasson, Donald Judd).
Staying at Uma Casa, you’ll likely have a soft spot for design and architecture, so check out Casa Estudio Luis Barragán. This is the former residence and studio of the renowned Mexican architect and a Unesco World Heritage site, decked out in bright planes of color.
Local restaurants
The hotel’s surrounding areas offer some of the finest food on the world stage. Head to Carmela y Sal, led by renowned chef, Gabriela Ruiz Lugo, and try the short rib with chirmol (smashed tomatoes), octopus tostadas and chiles en nogada (peppers stuffed with ground meat, dried fruits, nuts and spices, covered in a creamy walnut sauce and garnished with pomegranate seeds).
Puntarena should be high on the list if you’re in the mood for fish and seafood (try the Ensenada lobster) or head to Aitana for Mediterranean – particularly Spanish-inspired – fare. Tempting courses include grilled tuna (with hazelnut ajo blanco, organic tomato chutney and garden-leaf crisps) and sticky date cake (with vanilla glaze, fresh pomegranate, walnuts and yogurt ice cream), all beautifully presented.
Local bars
After a few mezcal cocktails you’ll take to the dancefloor with Polanco’s young it-crowd at Fiera rooftop bar, just a 10-minute stumble away.
