The moment I walked into Soho House Mexico City, tucked away behind a cast-iron gate in the heart of Colonia Juárez, I knew that the term “house” was something of a misnomer. A more accurate term would be Soho Palace, perhaps, or at the very least Soho Compound: the creative members club and hotel is spread out over 25,000 square feet, an almost unfathomable amount of space for a centrally-located property in one of the world’s busiest metropolises. Taking up most of it? An opulent Baroque building that was the former residence of General Juan Prim, a notable Spanish general and statesman in the 19th century.
I’m torn on whether or not to walk in or stay out: beyond me is a courtyard of luxurious leisure filled with very, very stylish people. (“Is it just me or is everyone, uh, incredibly attractive here?” My friend asks. I’m too distracted by a rare mini Kelly to respond.) Some are lounging by the 62-foot-long pool, whose sapphire water is lined with yellow-and-white striped chaises or gray-and-white striped cabanas. Others sip beet-and-coconut cocktails, as well as caviar with tortilla chips and grilled baja lobster, on the outdoor patio. On Sunday, you can switch the tostadas for seafood paella, which is served as part of a culinary extravagant buffet for brunch. (The menu was developed by three-Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-winning chef Christopher Kostow, who wanted to highlight local produce and flavors of the region.)
Just beyond that? A tequila bar—which is where I decided to settle in. When in Mexico City.
It would have been an easy aesthetic choice for Soho House to adorn their interiors with antique-inspired furniture to match the centuries-old bones of the place. But instead, they embarked on an adventurous au courant route: in the Salon—Prim’s former living room—works by contemporary Mexican-born or residing artists hang on the gilded walls, including Alinka Echeverria and Gonzalo Lebrija. In fact, there are over 150 artworks hung throughout the house, many of which are impossible to miss: when I walk by the check-in desk, the attendants are standing in front of a colorful textile installation by the artistic duo Celeste. Meanwhile, the furniture embodies the cozy boho-chic style that Soho House has popularized through the last decade, while also embracing sumptuous jewel-tone velvets to up the grandeur.
The property is stunning during the daytime when the design details are easy to spy. Yet it’s at night when it really comes alive: DJs spin beats by the pool, and well-dressed guests pack the indoor bar while slinging back libations. The restaurant—housed in a glass greenhouse of sorts—is packed to the brim.
Needless to say, if you book one of Soho House’s hotel rooms, be prepared for a social stay: the house doesn’t close until 2 a.m. on the weekends, and many of its revelers attempt to linger even past then. Yet, if you are looking to visit Mexico City to indulge in the famous culinary and nightlife scene, there’s no better place to have an upscale, and, well, fun stay: the trendy bars and restaurants of Roma—including Elena Reygadas’s celebrated Rosetta, as well as Licorería Limantour—are less than a ten-minute Uber away. (Cafe Nin, also helmed by Reygadas, is about five.) And who says you need to have dinner with your drinks? Neighborhood chocolatería La Rifa offers a secret mezcal and chocolate pairing menu.
Still, each room comes with earplugs if you really need them. But, as they say, joy is infectious—I stayed out enjoying the poolside scene as late as they’d let me.
