City Centro Oaxaca: The Definitive Review [2024]

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Are you planning a trip to Oaxaca City and want to know if you should stay at City Centro Oaxaca?

Finding the ideal hotel in Oaxaca is very difficult because there are hundreds and hundreds to choose from.

While there are some great options out there, it’s important to choose the perfect hotel to ensure that your trip is everything that you want it to be.

The last thing that you want to do is choose a bad hotel and return home disappointed and frustrated.

To make sure that doesn’t happen, I’ve set out a comprehensive guide to City Centro Oaxaca so that you can find out everything that you need to know before making your decision.

Let’s dive right in.

*All images of City Centro Oaxaca in this article are credited to Expedia.com and City Centro Oaxaca*

City Centro Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Where is City Centro Oaxaca?

City Centro Oaxaca is a modern 103-room hotel situated within walking distance of the historic center of Oaxaca City in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.

If you aren’t familiar with Oaxaca, it’s a vibrant city in southern Mexico that is known for its rich cultural heritage and colorful traditions.

Probably the most famous of these is the Day of the Dead festival, which is held in Oaxaca each year from 31 October to 2 November.

Other attractions of the city include its countless beautiful colonial-era buildings that date back to the time of Spanish rule in Mexico during the 16th century.

And if that isn’t impressive enough, just a short drive outside the city you’ll find Zapotec ruins that are literally thousands of years old.

Let’s take a look now at how to get you to City Centro Oaxaca.

City Centro Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

How Do I Get To City Centro Oaxaca?

Getting to City Centro Oaxaca is a simple two step process.

The first step is to fly into Oaxaca International Airport (OAX). The second step is to book a private transfer, get a taxi or rent a car to drive to the hotel.

I’ve set out the steps you’ll need to take to get to City Centro Oaxaca as simply and efficiently as possible.

Flying Into Oaxaca

To reach City Centro Oaxaca, you’ll need to first fly into Oaxaca International Airport (OAX), which is around 5 miles from the hotel.

In North America, you can get a direct international flight from Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston or Los Angeles.

From elsewhere in the world, you’ll need to fly into Mexico and take a connecting flight. There are regular flights to Oaxaca from Mexico City, Tijuana, Cancún, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexicali.

Flights from Mexico City are by far the most frequent. Unless you’re planning on stopping over in one of the other cities listed above for a few days, I recommend you fly via Mexico City.

Oaxaca Airport to the Hotel

Once you arrive in Oaxaca airport, you’ve got a few options to get to City Centro Oaxaca. You can book a private transfer, take a taxi or rent a car.

I’ve gone through each of these below.

Rent a Car

If you’re staying in Oaxaca for more than a day or two, I recommend that you rent a car at the airport.

Even though City Centro Oaxaca is very centrally located in the historic center of Oaxaca, many of the best attractions in Oaxaca are outside of the city, so having a rental car is the ideal way to get around.

Getting a car at the airport is very easy. You can book ahead and pick up your car in the arrivals hall of the terminal when you get off the plane.

City Centro Oaxaca offers free on-site parking, so you don’t need to worry about where to park the car once you have it.

I recommend using DiscoverCars to book the best deal available ahead of your arrival. You can expect to pay around US$30 per day plus gas for a basic rental car.

Book a Private Transfer

The simplest way to get to the hotel is by booking a private transfer on a platform like Viator. There are plenty of different providers for you to choose from, and prices start at around US$25 for a couple.

If you prefer to get a local recommendation, you can reach out to the staff at Casa Oaxaca Hotel. Their contact details are below:

Take A Taxi

If you haven’t booked a car with the hotel, the simplest way to get from the airport to the hotel that requires absolutely no planning whatsoever is taking a taxi.

You’ll need to be able to tell the driver your destination and agree a price for the trip. The journey should cost you around US$15 – US$20 and you may need to haggle to get the driver down into that range.

You’ll also need to make sure that you have Mexican pesos with you, as the driver may not accept US dollars and won’t take credit cards.

Now that you know where it is that you’re going and all of the options that you have for getting there, let’s get into the review itself.

City Centro Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Review Of City Centro Oaxaca

City Centro by Marriott Oaxaca, as it is formally known, is a modern hotel located in the vibrant Jalatlaco district of Oaxaca City, just to the west of the historic center of the city.

Its defining characteristic is its instagram-able hot pink color that is used not only on the outside of the building, but throughout the entire hotel, including in the rooms and in some of the hotel furnishings.

Although it is a modern hotel, it holds true to the Spanish colonial architectural theme of many Oaxacan hotels. You’ll see this immediately once you enter the spacious interior courtyard surrounded by the pink pylons connected by graceful arches.

The hotel has a spacious roof terrace, Terraza Centro, with a pool area, bar, and lots of open-air seating. There is also a restaurant downstairs, a gym, and bicycles available for use at no extra charge.

If you are interested in holding an event, there is a large outdoor courtyard area as well as a large meeting and conference room. There’s also a co-working area available.

I’ve set out below a summary of the hotel, the rooms, hotel facilities, dining options and nearby attractions.

After that, I’ve given you a list of pros and cons of the hotel and given my personal view on whether you should book City Centro Oaxaca for your trip.

Let’s jump right in.

1. Location

City Centro Oaxaca has a great central location in the Jalatlaco district (Barrio Jalatlaco), which is within walking distance to the historic center of Oaxaca City.

You’ll find it on Aldama between De La Noche Triste and Manuel Hidalgo, just a few blocks to the west of El Llano. El Llano is a lovely park in the historic center known for its statue of Benito Juárez, Mexico’s most famous president.

Barrio Jalatlaco is one of the oldest and most vibrant areas of Oaxaca City. Around the corner from the hotel, you’ll find the simple but very beautiful Templo de San Matías Jalatlaco, which is believed to have been built in the late 17th century.

There are also lots of local cafés, bakeries, restaurants, ice-cream shops and boutique art galleries close to the hotel where you can try local food like pan de yema and Oaxacan chocolate and check out some great local artists.

The closest major landmark to the hotel is the Templo de Santo Domingo, and you can reach it in 10 to 15 minutes on foot. If you’re not familiar with it, it is a beautiful building designed in the neo-Spanish baroque architectural style dating back to 1551.

From there, you can head south to the Zócalo, which is the heart of Oaxaca City and from which you can reach all of the city’s other many attractions with ease.

Whatever you want to do or see, City Centro Oaxaca is a great base for you to explore the city.

2. Price

The price per room at City Centro Oaxaca starts at around US$210 per night for up to two. That price doesn’t include breakfast, which you can have for an additional US$10 per person at the on-site restaurant, Deli.

Discounted offers may be available from time to time, so it is worth checking prices in advance of your travel dates to see if you can get yourself a deal.

Check out Booking.com or Expedia.com for prices and availability on your travel dates, or you can use the search box below:

3. Rooms

There are 103 rooms at City Centro Oaxaca, each with a modern minimalist design following the hotel’s pink theme.

You can choose from one of the King Rooms or one of the Double-Queen Rooms. The rooms are all the same size and have the same design, but the King Rooms have a king-sized bed and the Double-Queen Rooms have two queen-sized beds.

I’ve set out more detail on the rooms available at City Centro Oaxaca below.

King Room

The King Room is 291 sq. ft. and comes with a king-sized bed and a private shower-only bathroom. Each King Room is air-conditioned and has a view of the inner courtyard and patio area.

You’ll have access to a flatscreen TV with cable channels, free WiFi, a telephone, and a small desk and chair. In the bathroom you’ll find a large wall mirror, towels, toiletries and a hair-dryer.

Room service is also available if you’d like it.

The King Room starts at US$210 per night and sleeps up to two.

Double-Queen Room

The Double-Queen Room is also 291 sq. ft., but comes with two queen-sized beds rather than a king-sized bed. Like the King Room, it is also air-conditioned, has a private shower-only bathroom and has a view of the inner courtyard and patio area.

You’ll have access to the same amenities available in the King Room, including room service if you would like it.

The Double-Queen Room starts at US$220 per night and sleeps up to three adults and one child.

4. Hotel Facilities

City Centro Oaxaca has a great range of facilities, including a rooftop terrace, rooftop pool area, a gym, meeting spaces and a co-working area.

Free parking is also available and you can borrow bicycles for no additional charge.

I’ve set out some more details on the facilities below.

Rooftop Terrace

City Centro Oaxaca has a fantastic roof terrace area, Terraza Centro. The rooftop area is huge, with plenty of space for you to find a private space to enjoy a drink or just relax in the sun and stare at the passing clouds.

By night, the rooftop area is beautifully lit up, and the walls are lined with enormous cacti, which look fantastic under the light of the deck-lamps.

Pool Area

The pool area at City Centro Oaxaca isn’t enormous, but it’s very modern and in a fantastic location up on the roof of the hotel building.

There’s also a nearby pool bar where you can order yourself a cocktail or two and relax on a sun lounger by the heated pool.

The pool area is open from 8:00am to 8:00pm every day of the week, and pool towels are provided.

Interior Courtyard & Garden Area

The hotel also has a large interior courtyard area, surrounded by columns connected by arches in a very hip pink take on the traditional Spanish colonial architecture.

The area is quite large with plenty of seating in the courtyard area and also in small adjoining shady gardens.

Breakfast is served in a part of the hotel right next to the courtyard, so you can also enjoy your breakfast in the open air, if it takes your fancy.

Gym

City Centro Oaxaca offers a decent range of exercise gear in the onsite gym if you’re trying to keep fit or get back into shape during your trip.

The equipment available includes a full set of dumbbells, two treadmills, a rowing machine, a cross-trainer, and two exercise bikes.

The gym is open from 6:00am to 10:00pm every day, and towels and water are provided.

Meeting area

If you’re planning an event with a large group, the hotel also has a large room available and can help you furnish it with whatever you need for your event.

The room has a capacity of up to 80 people and would be great for weddings, birthdays or other events.

Co-Working Area

If you are a digital nomad or need to work during your stay for any reason, the hotel also has a dedicated co-working space that is ideal for private meetings or working.

The co-working area is air-conditioned and fitted with comfortable chairs, couches and tables as well as power decks for you to charge your electronic devices. 

5. Dining Options

City Centro Oaxaca has an onsite restaurant and bar called Deli that is located right next to the interior courtyard area.

There is seating within the restaurant and also in the courtyard area if you’d prefer to eat and drink in the fresh air.

The restaurant offers a buffet breakfast service and is also open for lunch and dinner.

6. Reviews

City Centro Oaxaca has a rating of 8.6 out of 10 from over 600 reviews. Taking into account the number of reviews received, that rating is very respectable.

The story that those reviews tell is that people love this hotel. Despite not being in the historic center, people particularly love the Jalatlaco neighbourhood and its fantastic wall-art and places to eat out.

The roof terrace and pool area is also a major highlight of the hotel, as is the unique but beautifully executed hip hot pink theme of the hotel.

7. Check-In and Check-Out

Check-in at the hotel is from 3:00pm to midnight, and check-out is before 1:00pm.

Late check-in and check-out can be provided subject to room availability, but you’ll need to confirm with the hotel staff in advance.

8. Pet-Friendly?

Yes, City Centro Oaxaca is pet-friendly.

You should be aware, though, that you’ll need to pay 350 Mexican pesos (US$20) per pet per night, and that pets over 32lbs (15kg) aren’t permitted.

9. Family-Friendly?

Yes, children of all ages are welcome at City Centro Oaxaca.

Rollaway beds aren’t available, but if you choose the Double-Queen Room, you can sleep up to four in the one room.

Cribs for infants are unfortunately not available.

10. Nearby Attractions

City Centro Oaxaca is very close to all of the attractions in Oaxaca City, and you’ll be able to reach everything within the city limits on foot.

Don’t forget your sunhat, suncream, and a bottle of water before you leave the hotel.

Attractions in Oaxaca City

If you’re planning to set off exploring the city on foot from the hotel, I recommend that you start by first walking the few blocks east to over to El Llano, the park with the statue of Benito Juárez in the middle.

From the park, you’re only a few minutes walk away from the beautiful Templo de Santo Domingo with its neo-Spanish baroque architecture. It’s one of the primary landmarks in Oaxaca City and an absolute must-see.

The Oaxaca Cultural Museum (Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca) and the Ethnobotanic Gardens (Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca) are also next to the church and has lots of fascinating Oaxacan cultural exhibits.

Once you’ve explored that area, you can take the pedestrian street known as the Andador Turístico south to the Zócalo, which is the center of Oaxaca City. Oaxaca’s stunning cathedral, Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, is right opposite the Zócalo, and the beautiful Teatro Macedonio Alcalá is just a few blocks further to the east.

You can also head south from the Zócalo to visit some of the city’s great markets like the Mercado 20 de Noviembre and Mercado Benito Juárez.

Attractions Outside Oaxaca City

If you have time to do a day-trip out of the city, there are also some fantastic places that I recommend you visit, and some of them are quite close by. I’ve described a few of the best of these below.

You can also speak to the staff at City Centro Oaxaca, who can speak to you about tours offered by the hotel directly.

Monte Albán

The closest attraction outside the city limits is the ruined Zapotec city of Monte Albán. It’s only three miles away from Oaxaca City, so you can reach it easily and can even fit something else in after you’re done exploring.

Monte Albán is built on the top of a hill overlooking Oaxaca. It’s quite large at about four square miles and there’s lots to see. Among other buildings, there are two pyramids, a ball court, and around 170 tombs.

The simplest way to reach Monte Albán is by taxi. It will cost around US$5 – US$10. Make sure you bring Mexican pesos and agree the price before you depart. 

There are also lots of Monte Albán tours available if you’d rather have the trip planned for you. Viator offers lots of different options, and you can often combine it with other attractions.

Hierve El Agua

Hierve El Agua is a unique geological marvel created from two petrified waterfalls about 40 miles to the south-east of Oaxaca.  

The smaller waterfall is called “la cascada chica” and the bigger one is called “la cascada grande”. The waterfalls were formed over thousands of years as mineral-rich waters ran over the edge of the cliff and down the escarpment.  

The plateau above the falls is covered in large shallow pools separated by beautiful mineral formations that look like atolls in an ocean. It makes you think that you are walking on a shallow reef in the Caribbean.

You can also hike to the bottom of the waterfalls, where there some more pools that you can sit in. There are change-rooms and toilets nearby.

The best way to visit Hierve El Agua is with a tour. There are some great tours from Oaxaca that combine Hierve El Agua with a visit to local mezcal producers or other attractions.

The hotel can recommend a tour operator, and Viator also has lots of them to choose from if you’d prefer to arrange a tour yourself.

Mitla

The ancient ruins of the Zapotec city of Mitla is about 30 miles to the south-east of Oaxaca, on the way to Hierve El Agua.  The name is derived from the Nahuatl word “Mictlán”, meaning “place of the dead”.

The ruins are situated in a valley nearly a mile above sea level and the site is thought to have been inhabited as far back as about 500 BC.  The city was a center of religious power in the region and was destroyed by the Spanish shortly after their arrival in the 16th century.

Mitla is perhaps best known for its intricate stone mosaics, which are sometimes called “Zapotec Greco”. You’ll recognize the striking pattern in lots of ancient friezes adorning walls and floors at the site, and it is often used in clothing and other artwork produced in Oaxaca.

My recommendation is to combine Mitla and Hierve El Agua together as a tour. They start at about US$50 per person on Viator, and you can speak to the concierge at City Centro Oaxaca if you’d prefer to organise it through the hotel.

If you prefer to guide yourself, you can reach Mitla with a taxi or the bus, and its about a 90 minute trip each way.

Entrance to Mitla costs US$5 so bring your Mexican pesos with you.

City Centro Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

City Centro Oaxaca: Pros and Cons

To try to pull all of the information above together for you, I’ve set out below the pros and cons of City Centro Oaxaca as I see them.

Pros

Pros are easy here, because there are some genuinely top-notch aspects of City Centro Oaxaca.

Unique hotel Building

City Centro Oaxaca is definitely a one of a kind building, even in colorful Oaxaca City. It’s so distinctive that it’s known throughout Oaxaca City as the “pink hotel”.

It isn’t just the pink color that makes the hotel special, though. The hotel architecture and decoration has been faithful to Oaxaca’s Spanish colonial influence, which you can see in the beautiful interior open-air courtyard.

Having said that, the designers have still managed to seamlessly integrate the beautiful rooftop pool area and terrace into the colonial structure of the hotel, which gives it a great modern feel.

All in all, there’s no disputing that the aesthetic of the hotel is definitely a success.

Great Location

Despite not being in the historic center of Oaxaca City, the hotel receives very high ratings for its location in Barrio Jalatlaco.

The Jalatlaco neighbourhood is known for being very artistic, with lots of great wall-art on street corners and iconic shops and shopfronts.

There are also countless local cafes, restaurants and art galleries that you can check out during your stay.

So although it isn’t quite in the thick of it, the location is actually still fantastic.

Great Roof Terrace

The roof terrace and pool area have to be included here, as they’re definitely the highlight of the hotel along with its distinctive architectural and design features.

The terrace area is spacious, modern and beautifully lit up of a night, making it a great spot to relax as the heat of the day comes to an end.

Rooftop terraces in Oaxacan hotels are always a plus, and this one is no different.

Cons

Although there are some big positive aspects, there are also a few cons to City Centro Oaxaca that are worth flagging.

Noise From Within Hotel

City Centro Oaxaca is a reasonably large hotel, and with that comes the occasional noise from busy parts of the hotel, particularly the pool area, the terrace and the interior courtyard.

Some of the reviews also mentioned that the walls in the rooms are thin, so from time to time you might hear other hotel guests as they’re on their way back to their rooms or to other parts of the hotel.

The pool area closes at 10:00pm of an evening, so the noise shouldn’t be too bad after that. If you’re planning on going to sleep early of an evening, though, you should also ask the reception staff to put you in one of the quieter rooms.

No Spa or Fitness Facilities

City Centro Oaxaca has quite a good range of facilities, including a fitness center, but it doesn’t have any kind of spa facilities at all. Given the size of the hotel, I would that the owners should consider adding at least a limited offering of massage or beauty services.

If you weren’t planning on spending enough time in the hotel to use the amenities anyway, then you won’t even notice that they’re missing.

But if you were planning for a spa treatment of any kind, you should be aware that City Centro Oaxaca doesn’t offer those services.

Limited Dining Options

There is a buffet breakfast available at the hotel’s onsite restaurant, and it is open for lunch and dinner as well.

But if you compare it to Cocina Azul de Oaxaca at Hotel Azul Oaxaca or Entre Sombras at Hotel Casa Santo Origen, it’s not really at that same level.

It’s not at all a problem, because there are lots of nearby options in the vibrant Jalatlaco neighbourhood. Still, if you were looking for a more upmarket onsite restaurant, that’s not really the offer at City Centro Oaxaca.

City Centro Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

My Personal Views

In my view, City Centro Oaxaca has a lot going for it.

It has a unique design and architecture, it’s located in the lively Jalatlaco neighbourhood, and it’s close enough to the historic city center for you to quickly reach it on foot. It also has a great range of facilities, even if there are no spa treatments available.

If I’m honest, pink isn’t really a color that I particularly like. But having said that, I think that the designers have used the color in the interior well, so that it isn’t completely overpowering the way pink can sometimes be, particularly if you’re like me and you’re not normally a fan.

The roof terrace and pool area are definitely some of the best of any hotel that you’ll find in Oaxaca. There are definitely other great roof terraces, like Amá Terraza at Casa Antonieta Oaxaca, but the rootop at City Centro Oaxaca is definitely a big selling point.

The price point of the hotel is quite fair, in my view, especially when you consider the range of services that you’ll be getting. You wouldn’t call it cheap by any means, but for a hotel of its quality, the price is in line with similar hotels in Oaxaca.

Depending on how you’re planning to explore, the Jalatlaco location may not be for you. If you’re looking to explore a lot and planning to do it on foot, then you’re probably better off being a little closer to the action.

But if you’re planning on taking taxis into the historic center anyway, or if you’re looking particularly for a hotel outside of the historic center, then I think the location is terrific.

As long as the hot-pink theme isn’t a deal-breaker for you, I think you’ll have a great time staying at City Centro Oaxaca.

City Centro Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Frequently Asked Questions

Just in case you still have a few questions that I haven’t covered, I’ve set out some responses to a few frequently asked questions about City Centro Oaxaca below.

When Is The Best Time To Visit City Centro Oaxaca?

The best time to visit is during the high season (December to April) because the weather is cooler and there is little or no rain.

However, it’s also more expensive during the high season, so if you’re on a budget and can put up with a little rain, the low season is also a good option.

Is It Safe To Visit City Centro Oaxaca?

There is a 24-hour concierge service at City Centro Oaxaca, so you can be sure that no one will be able to gain entry other than guests of the hotel.

You’ll also have no troubles when you explore Oaxaca provided you take basic precautions. You can read more about how you can stay safe in Oaxaca here.

What’s The Closest Airport To City Centro Oaxaca?

Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) is the closest airport, and is about 5 miles away.

You can reach the hotel by booking a private transfer, taking a taxi or renting a car. If you want to book a private transfer, I recommend using Viator or reaching out to the staff at City Centro Oaxaca.

Why Is City Centro Oaxaca Special?

City Centro Oaxaca is a unique modern hotel with a hot-pink theme located in the vibrant Jalatlaco district of Oaxaca City, just to the west of the historic center of the city.

It’s definitely a one-of-a-kind hotel in Oaxaca City, and you’ll be able to wow your friends with photos when you get back home.

City Centro Oaxaca: The Definitive Review

Final Thoughts

Hopefully you now have all the information that you need to decide whether City Centro Oaxaca is the hotel for you.

If you’re interested in booking, you can get the latest current prices and availability on your dates at Booking.com or Expedia.com.

If you want to check prices of car rentals at Oaxaca airport, you can find out at DiscoverCars.com.

Enjoy your stay!