Moments from Mérida: The Photos

The charming boutique hotel Rosas & Xocolate is an oasis of calm and riotous color. The courtyard and pool are the centerpiece of two restored hacienda. I literally stepped outside my room and into this view.

Off the hotel’s main courtyard.

In Room #3, a shower and bath open to the sky. Here’s the view looking up.

Designed by Mexican architect Salvador Reyes Rios, Rosas & Xocolate houses a spa specializing in chocolate treatments.

Old world meets older world in Merida’s historical center, with its cobblestone streets and decaying limestone mansion that speak to its faded grandeur.

The bustling town center.

Some of the best moments in Merida come by walking down its alleyways, with its brilliantly colored facades.

Be sure to check out Merida’s latest haute cuisine at Nectar, run by chef Roberto Solis, (pictured here) who has done time in the kitchens of Noma and Per Se. The restaurant officially opens in September but go now if you want to be assured a seat at his table.

A private garden in Merida.