Rosas & Xocolate

Rosas & Xocolate sits a stone’s throw from Paseo de Montejo, the historic centre of Merida, lined with palaces and colonial mansions. It is housed in two mansions which lay abandoned for decades, before being expertly renovated using traditional Mayan techniques such as chukum – a natural dye which is responsible for the hotel’s eye-catching hue.

The rooms and suites at Rosas & Xocolate follow the same style as the rest of the hotel, with wooden furnishings and a pink-and-cream colour scheme. The ceilings are toweringly high, the light floods in and the characteristic sleek walls are the result of the Mayan chukum technique, which uses chukum tree resin and plaster.

The bedrooms have flatscreen TVs and Bose sound systems, alongside terraces, hammocks and open-air tubs, with touches including locally-made rose and chocolate soap. Some have views over the hotel’s water gardens or pool, while the Rosas Suite has its own private terrace overlooking the Paseo de Montejo.

The restaurant is a stylish, modern space where a range of delicious dishes are served up based on Mexican cuisine, and Yucatan specialities in particular: the octopus starter, chicharron de pulpo, is a long-time favourite, as is the brisket. A range of cocktails accompany the food, from the creative (chocolate martinis) to classic mojitos. Dine on huevos motulenos (fried tortilla with eggs) for breakfast and in the evening listen to some jazz in the rooftop lounge, tequila in hand.

Living up to the hotel’s name, the treatments on offer at the hotel spa make extensive use of cacao, roses, and other organic products, drawing on traditional Mayan healing techniques. Try one of the xocolatherapy treatments, which feature pure cocoa, and relax by the palm-fringed pool in the interior courtyard. Should you have over-indulged in the chocolate shop, there is a well-equipped fitness centre too.

Bicycles are available for guests to use, and are a great way to explore the colonial streets of Merida. Any trip should take in the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, which houses fantastic exhibits telling the fascinating history of the Mayans; and the Casa de Montejo, a colonial mansion dating from 1549. Slightly further afield, two of the most significant Mayan archaeological sites, Chichen Itza and Uxmal, are approximately a 1.5-hour drive away: both are must-visits while in this area.