Pug Seal Allan Poe: Home Sweet Home in Mexico City

Mexico City needs little introduction. It is a high-octane 24-7 megalopolis boasting world-class museums, colossal monuments, bustling markets, tasty street food, fine dining, vibrant neighborhoods, and hotels for all travel styles, satisfying all visitors. 

In the heart of the exclusive Polanco neighborhood, a block from Avenida Presidente Masaryk, Mexico City’s answer to Rodeo Drive, the 20-room Pug Seal Allan Poe is a stunning and luxurious boutique hotel, transformed from a three-story 1930s private residence into two adjacent buildings. 

My only previous experience at such a converted and restored residence was at J.K. Place in Florence, Italy. The general manager there described it as “like staying at your rich uncle’s or rich friend’s home.” I had not seen the concept replicated until I spent a two-night stopover in the Mexican metropolis. 

Here, it’s a bespoke, stylish, curated property, entered through wrought-iron gates on a residential block of upscale Polanco—on a street named after author Edgar Allan Poe. It feels a lot more like finding your way into an architecturally designed home in London’s Mayfair or New York’s Upper East Side than it does a boutique hotel. 

The Pug Seal is under the umbrella of the Tesoros group, which boasts over 38 properties in 12 Mexican states. Its sister property, Anatole France, located around the corner, is another Pug Seal boutique. Casa Pug Seal in Coyoacan is an Airbnb; the only Pug Seal outside of Mexico City is Zapoteco in Oaxaca. 

Inspired by the Aztec Quetzalcoatl deity, the Pug Seal’s whimsical and visually appealing design is the work of the art firm Rococo. It incorporates nostalgic and futuristic touches inspired by Mexico’s historical culture. An eclectic collection of textiles, mosaics and other furnishings, adapted from 18th and 19th-century motifs, make this a tasteful departure from the busy city. 

All plush junior and master suites have comfortable beds with goose-down pillows, mini-bars, flat-screen televisions, robes, and slippers, with bottled water and coffee supplied. The complimentary breakfast includes Mexican favorites like chilaquiles. A cozy “living room” features an Honor Bar, open at all hours to guests who may enjoy an after-hours drink. There’s even a wellness retreat off the courtyard garden. Guests may borrow bicycles to explore nearby Chapultepec Park and other locales. 

“Our guests come to our hotel to explore the city but return to their relaxing oasis in Polanco,” said innkeeper and manager Paula Fernandez. “Here there is some of the best dining and shopping in the city, all within walking distance.”

If you prefer a quirky boutique hotel that feels like a Mexican home, Pug Seal Allan Poe is in a league of its own. Room rates range from $210 to $350 per night.