Habitas has been taking the hotel world by storm in recent years, setting up outposts in upstate New York, Saudi Arabia and Tulum. Now, the eco-luxe brand has welcomed guests to its third property in Mexico, Habitas San Miguel.
Nestled in the countryside surrounding the historic UNESCO world heritage city of San Miguel de Allende, the property has been designed to have minimum impact on the environment.
Set among the colorful wildflowers and cacti lie 60 spacious rooms that have been carefully built using modular, light-touch construction. Despite this sustainable approach to design, Habitas certainly hasn’t scrimped on luxury.
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Each of the ‘earth-inspired’ accommodations feature beautiful limestone walls, dark wooden floors and huge glass sliding doors that open onto private terraces and gardens. The rooms are finished with super-soft bedding and bespoke furnishings crafted by local artisans. If you’re looking for somewhere to completely unwind and relax away from the bustle of the city, this is your place.
“Habitas San Miguel is the perfect intersection of nature and culture, an experience that synchronizes with the creative pulse of San Miguel de Allende and its vibrant art, cuisine, music and film,” said Habitas co-founder and CEO, Oliver Ripley.
“Our location offers a quiet, relaxing place to rest and recover, with hot springs, vineyards and a sustainable farm. It is an ideal base from which to discover the city, while our brand’s innovative, sustainable design allows our community to celebrate the creative human spirit, its mindfulness and well-being.”
When it comes to dining, the culinary offering at Habitas San Miguel is also centered around sustainability. At the farm-to-table eatery, Comunidad, many of the contemporary Mexican dishes are made using ingredients grown at the on-site farm.
There are plenty of veg-friendly dishes to choose from including roasted carrots dotted with a smoked goat’s cheese mousse, and seasonal mushrooms topped with a creamy pumpkin seed pesto and roasted cambray onions.
Seafood also features heavily on the menu; you can’t go wrong with the tuna tartare tortilla, or the ever-changing catch of the day served with a chinicuil and pumpkin sauce. As for drinks, there’s an impressive selection of mezcal and tequila-based cocktails, and an impeccable wine list.
In a nod to the area’s rich creative heritage, Habitas San Miguel offers an array of programs from artist residencies and cultural workshops to film screenings, art walks and live concerts. There are also plenty of activities that allow guests to make the most of the stunning surroundings including horseback riding, mountain biking, hot air ballooning, painting classes, and meditation with Tibetan singing bowls.
Slightly further afield, around a ten-minute drive from the property, guests can explore the cobbled streets of San Miguel de Allende. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, the city is filled with remarkable examples of 16th-century Spanish baroque architecture, alongside an incredible selection of fine dining restaurants, boutique shops and galleries.
Habitas San Miguel is also part of the brand’s charity arm, RISE. Aiming to empower local communities and support conservation efforts, Habitas raises funds – including $10 for every guest visit – for a range of initiatives from coral reef regeneration and reforestation to education and cultural programming.
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