Gran Hotel Ciudad de México

The Gran Hotel Ciudad de México occupies one of the most striking buildings in the historic centre. It opened in 1899 as El Centro Mercantil, a department store of the Porfirio Díaz era selling goods imported from Europe. Its great Art Nouveau stained-glass ceiling, by the French artist Jacques Gruber, was completed in 1908, and the hotel describes it as one of the largest of its kind in the world. The store closed in 1958, and after a long conversion the building reopened as a hotel in time for the 1968 Olympics. A renovation between 2003 and 2005 gave it its current name and reduced the number of rooms to 60.

The city's tourism office singles out the Gruber ceiling and the original lifts as the building's most notable interior features, alongside a grand main staircase that was demolished in the 1960s. The ceiling crowns the central atrium, so you see it the moment you step inside.

Room types include Junior Suites with views of the Zócalo, at around 26 square metres, and Master Suites of around 45 square metres facing either the square or the interior of the building. A private lounge named after Jacques Gruber offers snacks, drinks and games, and there is a gym open from 6:00 to 22:00. Parking is through a partner car park on Calle de la Palma.

The rooftop terrace restaurant is the hotel's most popular feature, with views over the Zócalo, the Palacio Nacional and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Its views make it a good meeting point even if you are staying elsewhere. The tourism office also notes that rates are relatively affordable for such a historic building.

The hotel suits couples and history lovers who want to stay in the heart of the old city and walk to the sights. The Zócalo, the cathedral, the Templo Mayor and the Palacio Nacional are all on the doorstep, and the Portal de los Mercaderes and the old city hall are within a few dozen metres. When taking a taxi, ask the driver to stop at the corner of 16 de Septiembre and Calle de la Palma, as the hotel suggests.