MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (January 9, 2023) – Consistently ranked among the world’s top places to visit and primed for continued growth, Mexico City is a global capital welcoming more than 12.5 million visitors each year for its renowned cuisine, vibrant culture, rich history, unique neighborhoods, and modern-day travel offerings. A sprawling metropolis bursting with a vibrant personality blending old and new, there are over a dozen distinct neighborhoods or “colonias” each with their own character and charm.
An essential part of the city’s cultural and gastronomic life, the adjacent Roma and Condesa neighborhoods are home to Mexico City’s trendy creative class. The area overflows with diverse dining options and alluring nightlife possibilities, as well as varying architectural styles and bold design. A century ago, when La Romita was a wealthy town of grand mansions, no one would have guessed that by the turn of the millennium, it would home to Mexico City’s hipsters. These days, its neoclassic, beaux arts and art nouveau-style buildings, squares and tree-lined boulevards abound with restaurants, galleries, bars, foodies, artists, eclectic bed and breakfasts and more. In September 2017 an earthquake impacted Roma and Condesa, Mexico City’s most beloved colonias. After, local artists, architects, designers, chefs, and residents have worked to restore and revitalize the area, making them more compelling destinations than ever before.
Utilizing the lockdown over the past two years to renovate and upgrade, Ignacia Guest House has expanded the exclusive bed and breakfast blending history, Mexican artisan tradition and contemporary design with the addition of four new rooms and outdoor spaces. Originally opening its doors in February 2017, the name is derived from the housekeeper who looked after this 1913 Porfirian mansion for over 40 years, Ignacia. Originally occupying half of the Porfirian mansion, Ignacia Guest House contained a master suite, hall, library, dining room, and kitchen in the historic building, and four rooms, each with its own balcony or terrace in the garden area. After acquiring the rest of the property in early 2022, the intimate property expanded its offering with new amenities and four additional rooms. Two rooms have been restored in the original house, and two rooms have been newly constructed located in the terrace sharing a common outdoor space adorned with fireplaces and a jacuzzi framed by treetops.
Once again, interior designer Andrés Gutiérrez, in partnership with construction firm Factor Eficiencia, spearheaded and conceptualized the new renovations. The dual character of Ignacia Guest House consists of a French-style mansion that stands in the heart of Mexico City, with its moldings and woodwork reminiscent of a Parisian mansion, and the Mexican essence of its caretaker Ignacia. The result of these two distinct worlds creates an eclectic design where blocks of color build a common thread and provide a warm and comfortable ambiance for guests. When designing all the spaces, contemporary Mexican design is included with references reminiscent of pre-Hispanic pictographic documents of Mexica origin-spheres, tabs and circular perforations that are subtly integrated into classic French architecture. This generates a dialogue between a traditional past, modern, and contemporary with furniture and accessory designs by Andrés Gutiérrez, ADHOC, Axoque Estudio, Joyful Objects, David Pompa, Victor Torres among others.
Architecture and Design
Ignacia Guest House has been internationally recognized and awarded for its impeccable restoration and bold interior design that present an avant-garde look at Mexico in the 21st century. This contemporary approach seeks to permeate not only the historical details, gardens, public and private spaces, but the entire experience of the stay, from the warmth of the staff to the wonderful cuisine.
History
Ignacia was born around 1914 in Guerrero and arrived in Mexico City in the late 1920s to work in the estate house. She first helped with the cleaning, then began caring for the children, eventually becoming the head housekeeper until the year 2000, at which time she moved with the family that she worked for so many years to an apartment in the south part of the city. She dedicated her devotion to the family for over 40 years and became part of it. Her imprint is still alive in the building; as a character of Pita Amor, Ignacia enjoyed the house as her own and in the end, practically it was – she knew every last corner and administered to it with rigorous discipline. She planted two orange trees in the garden that she crossed thousands of times.
Cuisine
The cooks at Ignacia Guest House hit the pantry bright and early to prepare each day’s breakfast selection and source all ingredients at traditional neighborhood markets. They prepare everything—salsas, condiments—from scratch. Artisanal breads, delicious fruits, and juices one can only find in Mexico complement cooked-to-order entrees ranging from seasoned eggs, regional charcuteries, tamales and chilaquiles to lesser-discovered tastes guests will remember long after their travel ends. Only the highest quality ingredients sourced from traditional markets are used to delight guests, presenting a meticulously curated and fresh glimpse into Mexico’s vast gastronomic tradition. The cooks offer vegetarian and vegan options for all their breakfast dishes and can accommodate guest’s dietary restrictions. Guests can enjoy the complimentary cocktail hour at Ignacia’s garden, under the two orange trees, between 5pm and 7pm daily. From Thursday to Sunday, the mixologist Federico prepares a different cocktail for guests, such as carajillo, paloma, gin and tonic, bloody mary, and more. Ignacia’s signature cocktail is made with grapefruit, sparkling water, mezcal and a hint of Ancho Reyes, a liquor made from the ancho chile. The decoration of the glass has a special touch – chefs add worm salt frosting on one side of the glass along with fresh grapefruit. Celebrating the onset of summer, their newest drink is a mango and mezcal cocktail made with mango and pomelo juices, Eureka lemon, mezcal, Ancho Reyes liquor, mint and rosemary syrup, ginger ale, and ice.
Sustainability
Ignacia Guest House is committed to preserving the environment. Solar panels produce most of the electrical energy consumed on property, preventing 3.8 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each year (the equivalent of planting 85 trees per year). The solar panels reduce fossil fuel consumption up to 60% in bathrooms and the kitchen. The ingredients used to prepare food and beverages (fruits, vegetables, legumes, coffee, eggs, dairy, tortillas, bread) come from small local producers, which guarantees their freshness and quality, as well as fair trade (supporting the local community). In-suite toiletries are provided by Loredana, a Mexican company that specializes in natural, organic products free of parabens, sulfates and EDTA, which are all environmentally friendly and made free of animal cruelty. Water bottles are provided courtesy of Agua Alameda, a mountain spring water from Tehuacan Puebla. Additionally, water is harmonized with intention, through a process of flow forms, light and, music. Only glass bottles are used, so the property does not contribute to plastic waste. The cleaning products used are sourced from Corpo Citrik, a Mexican company that manufactures all its products with biodegradable citric extracts, without chemicals, abrasives, or irritants, Kosher certified and as low foam to promote saving water saving.
One of the biggest trends in travel right now is boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts that feel like a home-away-from-home. Globetrotters are seeking personalized service that go beyond the usual hotel concierge and find that properties with ten rooms or fewer allow them to really slip into local life with total tranquility and ease. With its unique offering of just nine suites, Ignacia Guest House’s guests experience a stay in a chic design-led accommodation that is unlike any other. Whether traveling for pleasure or business, Ignacia Guest House is the perfect basecamp to explore the city. All guests receive exceptional individualized attention from the staff, complimentary Wi-Fi, daily breakfast, daily cocktail hour in the garden from 5pm – 7pm and more amenities. From Thursday to Saturday, starting nightly rates with taxes included in double occupancy are Master Suite Negra ($445USD), Standard Suites Amarilla, Verde, and Azul ($388USD), Junior Suite Rosa ($313USD), Terraza 1 and Terraza 2 ($545USD) and Balcon 1 and Balcon 2 ($487USD. From Sunday to Wednesday, starting nightly rates with taxes included in double occupancy are Master Suite Negra ($420USD), Standard Suites Amarilla, Verde, and Azul ($361USD), Junior Suite Rosa ($288USD), Terraza 1 and Terraza 2 ($520USD) and Balcon 1 and Balcon 2 ($460USD). For more information, visit www.ignacia.mx or email hola@ignacia.mx.
About Ignacia Guest House
Located in the vibrant Colonia Roma neighborhood,Ignacia Guest Houseis an exclusive bed and breakfast with just nine suites, uniting Mexican artisan tradition, history and contemporary design. The restoration of this 1913 mansion celebrates the personality of Ignacia, the mansion’s housekeeper for more than 40 years. In partnership with the interior design studio A – G, Factor Eficiencia finished restoration of Ignacia Guest House in February 2017. With terraces and a harmonious chromatic palette, each guest room creates environments in balance with the entire complex. The cooks at Ignacia Guest House hit the pantry bright and early to prepare each day’s selection and source all ingredients at traditional neighborhood markets and prepare everything—salsas, condiments, everything—from scratch. www.ignacia.mx
Story by Nora Kobrenik.