Moving in step to the slow rhythm of Mérida and the cultural richness of the Yucatán Peninsula, Kahal is a serene addition to the city’s design hotel scene; an elegant restoration of a colonial-era mansion along Paseo Montejo, reimagined for the contemporary traveller.
Opened in early 2024, the twelve-room boutique hotel is housed in a building protected by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History. Its meticulous three-year renovation — led by award-winning studio AJ — preserves original features like cool cement tile floors, soaring ceilings, and intricate woodwork, while integrating locally sourced materials such as travertine marble and tzalam wood. Neutral tones inspired by henequen are offset by handcrafted details including chukum-finished walls, embroidered cushions, and custom furniture made by Yucatán artisans.
Kahal’s design evokes Mérida’s grand past, while embracing the present. The shaded front Porch offers a wonderful view of Paseo Montejo and the iconic Casas Gemelas. Inside, the Library Bar doubles as a quiet reading space stocked with titles on Mayan history and regional cuisine, whilst a limestone courtyard centres the property with calm. Lastly, the rooftop terrace — with its jacuzzis and solarium — offers epic views across the treetops of the centre.
Dining is an extension of Kahal’s ethos. Breakfast is served until late afternoon, with a menu celebrating locals flavours: morita chilaquiles, huevos encamisados, and Oop tostadas with pickled chicken and sweet orange sauce. The drinks list highlights local spirits and ingredients, including honey from melipona bees and gin infused with native herbs.
Guests are invited to explore beyond the hotel through a curated photo exhibition, My Memories of Yucatán, which documents the region’s archaeological and cultural landscape via 38 images, each paired with a digital travel journal.
Whether through its architecture, cuisine, or curated experiences, Kahal Boutique Hotel is a quiet celebration of Yucatán’s enduring beauty; a considered blend of heritage, hospitality, and design that captures the essence of Mérida’s past and present.
Photography, courtesy Kahal Boutique Hotel, Mérida / © David Yawalker / © Diafragmas.
