Drift Hotels has inaugurated its maiden outpost, Drift San José del Cabo, in the historic Gallery District of San José del Cabo, Mexico. Housed across a former eight-key inn, the boutique concept evokes a laidback, industrial Baja chic vibe informed by the city’s lifestyle. Locally based studio RIMA collaborated with owner and operator TMC Hospitality to renovate and expand the property, which was originally designed by Torres Trueba & López Letayf Arquitectos.
“When you enter Drift, you are brought into a modern experience that reflects Mexico’s cutting-edge design,” says TMC cofounder and CEO Philip Bates. “In that sense, the setting of the arts district and the modernity of the hotel work together to create a treasure that is different from, but fits perfectly into, the local fabric. A true boutique hotel in a cultural center is rare for Baja and that is very much what we wanted to bring to the market.”
Locally sourced materials—from copper piping and steel window frames to mango wood and handmade textiles and ceramics—compose the design. A restrained materiality of wood, stone, and steel honor a minimalist ethos and form a soothing backdrop for the abundance of lush greenery found throughout the property. In addition to the poolside Mezcal Bar at Drift San José, onsite social hubs also include the rooftop terrace and the spacious central outdoor courtyard, which can be reconfigured as an event space.
Ranging from 215 to 322 square feet, the hotel’s 29 guestrooms and suites include varying amenities like balconies or floor-to-ceiling windows. Organic textiles and woven baskets, also all locally made, are installed against vibrant bursts of color that contrast the polished concrete surfaces of each chamber as well.
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