The 32-key boutique property Hotel Matilda has opened its doors in the historic colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The vibrant, gallery-like hotel is filled with contemporary art and features the work of local architect and general contractor was Marco Martinez Valle Arquitectura, while Tatiano Bilbao of Mexico City served as consulting architect. Responsible for the interior design is McAlpine Booth & Ferrier Interiors, Nashville/New York/Atlanta. “Our cutting-edge, lifestyle-focused guest experience at Hotel Matilda is defined by an evocative and comfortable ambiance, personalized service, sophisticated amenities, and striking contemporary art that engages and animates guests,” says general manager Andres Sanhueza.
The hotel’s guestrooms and suites-most of which feature a balcony or terrace-incorporate Mexican calcutta marble floors, art by acclaimed Mexico City photographer Eduardo Zaylan, and 400-thread-count linens. Meanwhile, the 4,700-square-foot Spa Matilda, developed by Tucson-based Under a Tree Consulting, offers four treatment rooms, including a couple’s room; spa suite with a steam shower and soaking tub; two patios; indoor/outdoor relaxation lounge with a fireplace for pre- and post-treatment quiet time; and fitness facility. An infinity-edge swimming pool features a deck with lounge chairs and market umbrellas, food and beverage service, and verdant garden ambiance planted with species indigenous to the local area. The pool is anchored by a water feature where water flows out of the pool down a large water wall into the spa garden. F&B options include Restaurant Matilda and Bar Matilda.
In addition, the Hotel Matilda art collection exhibits the works of renowned contemporary artists. Most notable are the energetic and imaginative pieces, commissioned specifically for the hotel, by three emerging stars of the Mexican art world: Aldo Chaparro, Nacho Rodriguez Bach, and Bosco Sodi. The art connection, moreover, gave the hotel its name: Hotel Matilda is eponymously named for the subject of a famous 1940s portrait of Matilda Stream by revered Mexican artist Diego Rivera; the original remains in the hotel owner’s private collection while an image hangs in the hotel.
Green features are also an important part of the hotel’s design, including photo-voltaic panels producing electricity, solar panels heating water, automatic lighting system, composting of organic waste, sustainable bath amenities, and indigenous landscaping.
