Kimpton Virgilio: A Vibrant Boutique Home Base in Mexico City

In Mexico City‘s posh, leafy Polanco neighborhood, the 48-room Kimpton Virgilio makes for a great family base to take in the rich local history and culture as well as the thriving arts and food scenes. This stylish boutique property, which debuted just last year, offers spacious, minimalist digs as well as a soaring, greenery-filled atrium and rooftop lounge (where my own family of four played card games while sipping on mocktails and margaritas). It’s also an easy walk to charming cafes, parks and shops nearby. One of beloved Churrería El Moro’s locations is just around the corner, which kiddos will love — simply follow your nose to the piping hot dough swirls generously sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. (Pro tip: Request a fresh batch be fried right before you!)

The hotel’s design elements are eye-catching and the location a major boon, but what makes the Kimpton Virgilio truly memorable ultimately is the feeling that all travelers — couples, families, friends, even pets — are warmly welcomed. No matter whom you are traveling with or what your plans may be, the hotel aims for all guests to enjoy their stay and trip to the fullest.

Review and Highlights of Kimpton Virgilio with Kids

Accommodations

A historic Art Deco landmark, the four-story hotel retains its 1940 exterior, giving way to a modern boutique hotel within. Rooms and suites are decidedly sleek but also feature subtle nods to Mexican heritage in the form of tilework, ceramics, art and woven textiles. Families will want to opt for a two-queen room complete with balcony, measuring 450 square feet, or explore connecting room options. (It’s worth noting that double-queen rooms are not so common in Mexico City, which makes the property an especially great fit with kids.) A basket of local snacks, freshly squeezed juices and small alebrije souvenirs (colorful folk art creatures) awaited us in our room, a standard for all guests.

Onsite Amenities

Among the fun extras on offer are bikes to borrow (ride around the quiet neighborhood streets or even take your wheels to the Museo Soumaya); a nightly social hour with small bites and wines to swirl and sip; morning coffee and tea service; and yoga mats upon request. In addition to the lounge, there’s a rooftop lap pool for cooling off.

The onsite restaurant Pepe Mesa Española offers breakfast and room service, but you’ll want to snag a table on the outdoor patio for dinner and tuck into delicious tapas such as Iberian dumplings, smoked peppers and heirloom tomato tartare, all as you watch locals and tourists amble about the fashionable neighborhood. The hotel team can also share local recommendations and help with reservations.

Upstairs, La Caña is a great spot to unwind after a day about town or after dinner. Families, especially with teens, can hang out and enjoy the views. And if you feel like partying with your crew, a DJ plays music Thursday through Saturday evenings.

What to See, Do & Eat Nearby: The Highlights

Museo Soumaya

With an amorphous shape covered in shimmering tiles, this ambitious art museum is hard to miss. Housing the vast collection of telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim Helu and his late wife (for whom the museum is named), Museo Soumaya showcases works from pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica to 19th- and 20th-century Mexican art to French Impressionism. Admission is free.

National Museum of Anthropology

Spread across 11 galleries, this comprehensive museum within Chapultepec Park is the largest and most visited in all of Mexico. Ogle artifacts such as a massive carved Aztec calendar stone, basalt heads from the Olmec civilization and a replica of Moctezuma’s feathered headdress (the original is in Vienna). Tickets are required.

Coyoacán and Frida Kahlo Museum

The bohemian neighborhood of Coyoacán and its central market are absolutely worth a visit, though the main attraction in the area is inarguably Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo’s home-turned-museum. Walk through the living space, well-preserved kitchen and bedrooms as you view still lifes and self-portraits, personal items and art supplies that chronicle Frida’s life and meteoric rise as an artist. An adjacent, crimson-painted museum, Casa Kahlo, dedicated to Frida’s family relationships and displaying several never-seen-before belongings, just opened this fall. Advance timed tickets required.

As for where to eat, consider top restaurants Masala y Maíz, which brilliantly blends Indian and Mexican ingredients and flavors, and Ling Ling, where you’ll enjoy delicious Asian fare with the gorgeous twilight views. Or join the lively taco tour, with stops at five taquerias, through Sabores México Food Tours.

Relevant Links:

Browse all accommodations and destinations in Mexico on Ciao Bambino

See our favorite ideas for family-friendly city breaks

72 hours in Mexico City with kids

Best places in Mexico for families: San Miguel de Allende

Best things to do on the Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

Photos courtesy of Kimpton Virgilio except where noted.

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.