Just across the road from the National Auditorium and within easy walking distance of the Polanco neighbourhood’s upscale boutiques (as well as, mind you, arguably some of the hottest tables in town), JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City Polanco is a cool and comfortable base from which to explore the Mexican metropolis.
While the building’s facade may no longer be the most contemporary or stylish, a fun fact hides behind it that puts JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City Polanco in a special position within the larger brand portfolio: This was the very first JW Marriott property to open outside of the United States, when its doors swung open for the first time in 1996. As such, the hotel has been a matter of pride for the brand and the wider Marriott company, and it continues to be run with the warmth and intelligence you’d expect from a hotel seeking to position the mothership for global expansion.
Guests arrive at either one of its two entrances, ideally facing Polanco on one side and Reforma Avenue, the single largest artery running through town, on the other. Given our late arrival, we appreciated the team’s proactivity in making our check-in as smooth as possible. A porter handled our luggage before we ever had to say a word, and the team at reception understood that while we always appreciate exchanging a pleasantry or two, we were also ready to close the door behind us and kick off our shoes. Luckily, upon stepping into our room, we found it had already been turned down, allowing us to slip into bed after a relaxing bath. Such are the small luxuries that make all the difference when you’re a tired traveller.
JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City Polanco is home to 314 rooms, including 45 suites, and when we awakened the following morning, we did so in a 43 sqm (463 sqft) Junior Suite with sweeping views of the National Auditorium and Chapultepec Park. Our suite felt spacious and neatly laid out, with a corner bench and a desk in front of floor-to-ceiling windows sitting across from a king-size bed. We also liked the bathroom with marble detailing and a large walk-in shower alongside a freestanding bathtub, a mirror with built-in lights and Aromatherapy Associates toiletries to sweeten the deal.
An original idea or two, including a fantastical, wooden ’Alebrije’ spirit animal sculpture we’d found on our room as a welcome gift, alluded the country’s incredible wealth of artistic expression and culture, although the breezy beiges, blues and greys that dominate guest accommodations would run the risk of falling into dental practise territory, if it weren’t for the occasional brass light and a few tasteful, albeit tame, artworks adding moments of warmth.
There’s no denying that JW Marriott sits on the more corporate end of the luxury hospitality spectrum, and this does come with amenities particularly valuable to solo and business travellers – the top-floor, 150 sqm (1,614 sqft) Presidential Suite is the most generously appointed accommodation of all here – but those on a romantic getaway or those looking to feel wholly embedded in Mexican culture from the moment they open their eyes will likely find the rooms a little plain.
Interestingly, we thought the communal areas at JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City Polanco were quite a bit more design-forward, featuring coffered ceilings, backlit, angled wall tiles and even trees that grow from black water features (fans of Japanese minimalism will love these). Adjacent to the hotel’s lobby, guests can also grab an iced coffee before they head out for the day, or a nightcap post-dinner at Estación 29, a sleek bar and lounge area whose low-slung seating and moody lighting lend themselves to some late-night chit chat with your fellow guests – or with the barkeepers, who will tell you about the inspiration behind the venue, the 1889 railway station that was Mexico City’s first.
A cluster of other food and beverage outlets (including the Tahona Mezcal Room, available for tastings of the famously smoky spirit) also sits on the ground floor; however, among the restaurants, only Sendero isn’t operated by a third party. It’s also where breakfast is served, offering both a classic buffet as well as a few menu items that come at an additional charge. Struggling a little to find varied options that suited our plant-based diet, we asked for scrambled tofu and were glad to find the team was able to prepare some, although we’d really have loved a vegan-friendly pastry or two, as well, and think this isn’t too much to ask for when there are at least ten different types of baked goods available.
Dinner at the Mexican and Latin-inspired restaurant was more plant-curious, with plenty of vegetarian or vegan starters and salads that got us excited (none more than the plant-based protein salad with quinoa, chickpeas and tahini dressing), as well as a separate organic menu for clean eaters. Vegetables haven’t quite made their way onto the ‘big plates’ here, and there was just a sole vegan main course available at the time of our visit: roasted sweet potato with peanut mole, purslane and corn tortillas. This was very tasty, and we’d like to think that Sendero’s kitchen has what it takes to offer another, equally indulgent and original veggie main or two, so all guests feel included, regardless of their dietary requirements and preferences.
For your well-being needs, the Organic Spa at JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City Polanco has some rather lovely-sounding treatments up its holistic sleeve (bookings also include access to the adjacent steam and sauna facilities), while a small but well-equipped fitness centre overlooks an outdoor pool fringed by potted trees. Don’t expect the wellness spaces to blow your mind – they’re more functional than immersive, though we can’t say that we minded this much during our visit. In contrast, we found the complimentary yoga and pilates classes overlooking the lush greenery of Chapultepec Park a welcome addition to the hotel’s offering, and a wonderful way to kickstart our mornings here. While some thirty years into its operations, the hotel is no longer the most luxurious in town, it continues to appeal to visitors in search of a great location, comfortable accommodations, and warm and wonderful service.
Photography by Andres Castillo and courtesy of JW Marriott
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While you’re OutThere
The architecturally outstanding and ultra-contemporary Museo Jumex and Museo Soumaya are both obvious, and equally worthwhile, options for a cultural day in Polanco. But for something more intimate in scale and a little less ‘on the map’ (it’s so ‘cool’, in fact, there wasn’t even a website at the time of writing), the Galería López Quiroga is a total gem, having brought Latin American art to the forefront of culture since opening in 1980. We saw a thought-provoking photography exhibition here, and think the gallery belongs on any art-loving traveller’s list.
