Lonely Planet Review

With over 700 rooms and half a dozen restaurants and cafes spread over 33,000 sq meters of grounds, the Camino Real is a truly monumental endeavor. It's also a national architectural landmark, boldly designed by Mexican Ricardo Legorreta, whose trademark geometric solids and great swathes of colour lend it a refreshing simplicity.

Opened in 1968 to host the Olympic Games, the hotel primarily caters to business clientele, and paunchy execs roam the premises and conference halls. Murals by Rufino Tamayo and sculpture by Mathías Goeritz add cachet, though Legorreta's original 'hotel-museum' concept seems exaggerated. Off the broad arc of the reception desk lie the main garden and pool, surrounded by honeycombed structures that house the guest rooms (some say their pyramidal shape allowed the buildings to withstand three earthquakes). Accommodation is certainly luxurious, though other than a bold colour scheme it has fairly standard business-class design and amenities. Among a set of internationally themed restaurants is a branch of New York's Le Cirque, possibly Mexico City's most exclusive place to dine. For after-hours entertainment, the Blue Lounge has live jazz, with tables on plexiglass over a pool.