Hotel Review: Umbral, Curio Collection by Hilton [2024]

My review of Umbral, Curio Collection by Hilton in Mexico City

Moments away from Mexico City’s historic Zócalo, the Umbral, Curio Collection by Hilton, sits proudly as a unique boutique hotel preserved by historic architecture. With the central heart of CDMX just minutes away, guests of the Umbral are also treated to an art gallery, rooftop pool and terrace, hanging garden, cinema and vinyl record collection.

With the property being member of the Hilton family, I had high expectations for my stay here. Here’s a comprehensive hotel review of my experience at Umbral Hotel.

About Umbral, Curio Collection by Hilton

Rooftop pool at Umbral Hotel

One thing that will immediately stand out about Umbral is its preserved historic architecture. Set in a charming rustic building just blocks away from Zocalo square, staying at the Umbral feels like you’re staying in somewhere steeped in history.

Only a select few hand-picked properties around the world are part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, with Umbral being one of them. Being a Curio Collection hotel usually means that the property is exceptionally unique and full of character. After learning about this, it’s not hard to see why the Umbral is a part of the collection.

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Getting to Umbral Hotel

Reaching the centrally located Umbral Hotel is very easy. Located right in the heart of Mexico City’s Historic Centre, there are several easy connections to the hotel using Mexico City’s efficient Metro system.

If you’re coming from Mexico City International Airport (MEX), Umbral is only about a 20-minute drive away, depending on traffic. It’s possible to also get to the hotel using public transport – however I would recommend getting to the property by taxi, Uber or DiDi (another rideshare app used in Mexico), as these are all affordable in CDMX.

The hotel also offers a curated pick-up service for those travellers seeking to waste minimum time at the airport.

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My room at Umbral Hotel

Comfortable bed at Umbral Hotel

My room at the Umbral was exquisite. Upon entering a rustic door, the first room was the study room. To the right, the main bedroom’s unique interior design immediately caught my eye. With its effortlessly chic touches of beige and gold, the Umbral certainly had a lux feel to it.

Taking advantage of the reading corner in my room

Over on the other side of the room, a convenient reading nook sits prettily by the window. Continuing further into the room, Umbral’s spacious bathroom is another impressive piece of architecture.

Bathroom at Umbral Hotel

It’s clear to see that the designers at the Umbral had premium comfort in mind, and I definitely got to take advantage of this during my stay.

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Food and Beverage at Umbral Hotel

Front entrance to Paxia Restaurant by Daniel Ovadia

The Umbral Hotel is home to Paxia restaurant, pioneered by famous chef Daniel Ovadia. The restaurant serves beautiful, modern Mexican cuisine.

Enjoying my delicious breakfast!

For breakfast, I was treated to delicious big pastries, omelettes, hot chocolate, fresh juices and other delicious goodies. Not only was the food great, but the service was top notch.

Breakfast venue, overlooking CDMX’s streets

I really enjoyed eating my breakfast with an overarching view of CDMX’s historic streets.

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Facilities, Hotel Grounds & Other Activities

Walking around the grounds of Umbral Hotel

The grounds at Umbral feel a little bit like an art gallery, as you’ll find charming vintage pieces in every corner. Once you’re done exploring these details, head over to the pool.

Me at Umbral’s swimming pool

Umbral’s swimming pool was one of my favourite things about the hotel, as it’s lined with cactuses and other Mexican plants. It also features a view overlooking the historic city streets.

Umbral Hotel’s fitness room

On the same floor as the pool, you’ll also find the chic, brightly lit fitness room - which I really enjoyed using.

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Staff

Art gallery section of Umbral

The staff at Umbral were no doubt a highlight during my stay. The hospitality in Mexico is always top class, and Umbral’s staff are excellent examples of this. From the moment I walked into the hotel, I was greeted with friendly smiles and that was consistent throughout my stay.

During my stay, I asked the staff for advice on several things (such as places to eat, things to see, how much cash I should bring), and they never ever hesitated to help out.

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Final Verdict – Should I stay at Umbral, Curio Collection by Hilton?

Should you stay at Hotel Umbral?

Yes! This was my first hotel stay ever in Mexico, and the Umbral, Curio Collection by Hilton was an amazing way to get acquainted with such a gorgeous country.

Not only was my stylish room super comfortable, but I also loved using the extra facilities the property had – such as the rooftop swimming pool and fitness centre. The one thing that will really stick out to me for years to come, though, is how welcoming and helpful the staff were. Thank you so much for making my stay a great one!

You can take a closer look at Umbral, Curio Collection by Hilton by clicking here.

For more information about the resort or to make a booking, check out Umbral’s Official Website.

Are you visiting Mexico City? Let me know in the comments below!

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