This post shares our experience staying at El Patio 77, a sustainable bed and breakfast in Mexico City, set in a charming historic building.
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About El Patio 77
Tucked away inconspicuously in the peaceful suburb of San Rafael, El Patio 77 is the first eco-sustainable bed and breakfast in Mexico City.
Set in a historic, 1890 mansion with just eight unique rooms, each is themed on a different Mexican state.
El Patio 77 reimagined our traditional image of ‘eco’.
Forgoing tropical vibes and yoga retreats, in favour of a sophisticated style and opulent luxury. We felt like we could be right at home in an Agatha Christie novel, with the checkerboard tiles, winding staircases and velvet lounges.
Although El Patio 77 is by definition a boutique hotel, the B&B element is what stands out. During our time here, we felt like we were staying at a friend’s house, not anonymous guests of a hotel.
We were made to feel comfortable and at home, a rare feeling in a city as large as Mexico City.
🏡 Sold already? Book your stay at El Patio 77 here
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- El Patio 77: Sustainable Bed and Breakfast Mexico City
Getting to El Patio 77
El Patio 77 is strategically located in the central San Rafael neighbourhood of Mexico City.
You’ve probably never heard of it, but this charming, peaceful area is slightly off-the-beaten-track. Although it’s still a stone’s throw from Reforma, Juarez, Centro Historico and the popular Roma Norte and Condesa areas.
It’s also home to Taqueria El Califa de León, a recent Michelin star recipient!
The San Cosme metro station is less than 500 metres away, and navigating to and from El Patio 77 with Uber is simple and affordable.
The rooms at El Patio 77
There are just eight rooms at El Patio 77, which amplifies the comfortable, homely feeling.
Each room is completely unique, styled on a different Mexican state surrounding Mexico City.
The different rooms can cater to a varying number of guests, so you can choose according to your group size.
All rooms are simply yet tastefully decorated with artisan furniture, procured from local artisans.
Another thing that is consistent across all rooms is the use of windows. Larger suites feature external windows and private patios. But even the smaller rooms utilise windows to the two internal courtyards to bring in natural light and fresh air, which we appreciated.
We stayed in the Veracruz Suite and loved the grand four-post bed, aerial views of the leafy dining room, and the lavish bathroom.
The chandelier-lit shower was strong and hot, which does not go unacknowledged after the countless lukewarm showers we had in Mexico. Talk about tile goals too!
The bed and linens were blissfully comfortable, and we slept soundly each night, which was a blessing after a very early wake-up the day prior to fly over Teotihuacan in a hot air balloon.
The entire house is a haven from the busy and bustling city, and it is almost silent at night and in the early hours of the morning. If you’ve spent any time in a city as large as CDMX, you’ll know what a rarity this is.
We were also lucky enough to have a sneak peek of some of the other suites, and each was as stunning as the last!
We toured the Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca suites. Wow, is all I can say.
These three suites are all external rooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies. They are bright, light and airy spaces, each with a design nod to their namesake state.
I think on our return, I would choose Oaxaca. I fell in love with the contrasting style of rich reds and dark woods in the bedroom, and pastels and whites in the bathroom. Plus, a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows never goes astray.
No matter which room you choose, you will enjoy the stunning design, tasteful details and historic vibe of El Patio 77.
🛏️ Browse the rooms at El Patio 77 and secure yours early – there are only 8 to choose from!
Communal amenities at El Patio 77
Being housed in a historic mansion, the communal areas at El Patio 77 feel like a home, not a hotel.
You won’t find any front desk or formal restaurant area. Rather a simple kitchen that is open for guests to use if they wish, and a grand lounge that serves as an informal check-in area.
The heroes of the mansion are two internal courtyards that fill the house with natural light. The first greets you as the entry point, and this open-air space is filled with lush greenery and a decorative fountain.
The second serves as the dining room, where the crooked bookshelf and hanging greenery draw your eyes upwards to the vaulted sky-light-covered ceiling, which filters natural light throughout the whole house.
The room is filled with chairs and tables, occupied in the morning by the daily breakfast service, and throughout the day as a temporary workspace for busy travellers. We spent hours working in the dining room, and I can tell you time passed by very quickly and it did not feel like a chore to sit and enjoy the tranquil space.
The wifi throughout the property is also very strong, so if you need to get some work done, you won’t have any problems.
The staircases leading to the second floor are original to the house, and you can feel the history as they creak underfoot. A kaleidoscope of colour moves across the landing of the second floor throughout the day as the sun streams through the ornate stained glass window in the ceiling.
These communal spaces do a wonderful job of connecting travellers staying in the house, as a place to chat with each other and the lovely manager Elvia throughout the day. And of course to give plenty of pats and cuddles to the resident doggy, Juanito.
Dining at El Patio 77
Included in every stay at El Patio 77 is a freshly made daily breakfast. Served each morning from 8:30 am in the communal dining room, you will be treated to a two-course meal with coffee and freshly squeezed juice.
The first is a light plate of fruit, yoghurt and granola. The main course changes each day, and you might be treated to a Mexican speciality or a classic breakfast dish.
No matter the option, it will be light, healthy and freshly made on-site with local and in-season ingredients.
We were treated to delicious chilaquiles our first morning, and delightfully simple eggs on toast with avocado the following day.
Sustainability at El Patio 77
Besides the stunning interiors, historic aesthetics and cosy service, what really drew us to El Patio 77 was their sustainability practices.
When I asked the manager Elvia what their approach to sustainability was, her response was mindfulness. I love this and resonate so much with that.
There are operational changes that can be implemented in any hotel to be more ecological (and these don’t go astray at El Patio 77). But a big part of being sustainable is being mindful of our impact and footprint. As businesses, as travellers and as individuals.
Having awareness at the forefront of everyday operations and big decisions puts El Patio 77 a step above the rest.
El Patio 77 has taken a lot of steps to ensure the house operates in an environmentally friendly way and the historic mansion was renovated in 2009 to make it more sustainable.
They use solar panels to produce power and heat water. And they have a sophisticated water system that involves capturing rainwater for use in bathrooms, and then a greywater filtration system that cleans and repurposes water from showers and sinks for use in the toilets.
There are gentle reminders to guests in the bathrooms to minimise their use of water, educating them about the water shortage crisis in Mexico City, which continues to be a major issue.
You won’t find any plastic in the house, and filtered water is distributed to rooms in glass pitchers daily, with refills freely available from the kitchen. Bathroom products are in reusable containers. These, along with all cleaning products, are organic and chemical-free.
The commitment to sustainably extends just beyond the ecological and the entire business is geared towards supporting and contributing to the local community.
Staff are local, and the food used to prepare breakfast each day is sourced locally from within the community, avoiding large chain supermarkets. There is a strong desire to share authentic Mexican culture through the cuisine, decor and art.
Our experience at El Patio 77
Our first impression upon arriving at El Patio 77 was ‘is this the place?’.
Completely unassuming from the outside except for some decorative tiles marking 77, once you open the ornate steel front doors, you enter another world.
We were so glad that our stay at El Patio 77 was during our second visit to Mexico City after we had done most of our sightseeing because we did not want to leave!
It is such a calming oasis from the bustling city. The space is decorated so beautifully that it draws you in and keeps you there.
We had seen most of what we wanted to in the city, so we were happy to spend a large part of our days hidden away in El Patio 77. We slept in, had breakfast late, worked in the dining room on our laptops and lazed about soaking up the space.
We enjoyed getting to know Elvia and Juanito, and we experienced the perfect balance of welcomed but not overwhelmed. We felt we could move about the house freely but still enjoy some quiet time and space to ourselves.
We loved that breakfast was a little later in the morning, from 8:30 am, as it meant most guests were awake and dined together. As early risers, it was lovely to stay in bed a little longer than usual and head down for breakfast at a very civilised hour.
Our time at El Patio 77 passed too quickly, but we are already looking forward to our next visit and dreaming about which room we might stay in…
Final thoughts on El Patio 77
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Mexico City, we highly recommend El Patio 77.
We don’t know why anyone would choose an international chain hotel that replicates the exact same experience all over the world, when you could choose something as considered and carefully curated as El Patio 77.
Although unassuming from the outside, this hidden gem delivers big on the inside and offers a haven for travellers seeking a unique, sustainable home base in Mexico City.
🌿 Find out more and book your stay at El Patio 77 here
