Hotel Snapshot
Imagine waking up to not only the scent of freshly baked goods but also biting into one for free, right outside your room in an intimate courtyard. That’s what awaits at one of Oaxaca’s top bakeries, “Bed & Bread”. Opened in 2020 in a former abandoned 70s apartment building a few blocks north of the colonial city’s Zócalo, and a few south of the Santo Domingo church, Boulenc Bed and Bread is a seven-room feast for all senses. Offering guests an all-day spread of rotating pastries and house-made preserves, a rooftop terrace overlooking the rolling mountains and church spires that dot the cityscape, as well as flowering plants inside the courtyard, along with an honesty bar to grab a locally made craft beer to sip while soaking in the sunset.
Design & Character
From the outside, you might not notice the well-worn teal-blue façade that blends seamlessly into the city's visual character as you pass by. Once inside, Boulenc and local design firm ArtyFize’s collaborative work of gemstone hues, artisanal furnishings, and various tropical plants visually pop and pull you in, creating a serene technicolor environment within this urban oasis. Each room has its unique detailing and collection of local art, along with distinctive furniture pieces that add a comforting sense of home, further emphasized by the intimate shared courtyard.
The Rooms
There are only seven rooms in total, comprising two standard rooms, one “Master” room, three deluxe rooms with private balconies, and a suite featuring a living room with a sofa bed and a private balcony. All rooms come with a queen bed, except the “Master” room, which features a king-size bed. They are designed to reflect the modern Oaxacan aesthetic, with thoughtfully appointed local art, a mix of antique and new furnishings, and faded tradewind blue tiles on the floor.
The Food & Drink Situation
From each room, guests can congregate in the lush courtyard inside the hotel and gather around the new spread of Boulenc baked goods, seasonal fruits, and in-house-made preserves in both the morning and again in the evening. Guests can either visit the cafe next door, which features a bar, additional baked goods, pizzas, sandwiches, and these great gallettes, or have something from the cafe delivered to their room. There is also a 24/7 honesty bar in the hotel, featuring local craft beer, natural wines, and other drinks. All items are available for you to take, provided you write down what you took and your room number to keep track of your tab.
Amenities
The rooftop terrace wraps around the top of the hotel’s courtyard, offering a shaded refuge above the city with incredible views and comfortable seating for lounging or working, all with an unbeatable view. Facing the street, there is Suculenta, a artisanal grocer with hand made jellies, jams, bottles of wine, cheeses, herbs, fresh wild mushrooms from the Sierra Norte Mountains, and hand crafted goods like clay pottery and wicker bags.
For venturing outside the confines of the B&B, a concierge service is available to book tours or make restaurant reservations at the various well-regarded eateries that comprise the award-winning culinary scene.
Spa & Wellness Scoop
While there is no on-site spa, for something beyond the typical rotation of Swedish, Thai, and Shiatsu, head a few blocks south to the unassuming entrance to En Nativo Spa. They offer distinctive pre-Hispanic services, such as a royal Mayan massage, which begins with a spiritual cleanse and transitions into a full-body massage using a copal (an aromatic tree resin) candle. Local to the region, the Zapotec massage emphasizes work on the stomach area, where the culture believes fear, anger, and sadness reside, and they massage it all out.
The headliner service is the Temazcal. Inside an intimate adobe sweat-lodge-like space, heated with firewood sourced from the mountains, you lie on a bed of local herbs, "Yag garciin," to sweat out all the negativity in your life and emerge reborn.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
Wander the charming narrow city streets, passing colorful colonial buildings spaced between Mexican baroque churches, and sample the famed local and indigenous cuisine at spots like the Michelin-starred Levadura de Olla, or experience the fresh new takes on the ancient style at places like Labo Fermento and Michelin-starred Los Danzantes.
Most destinations, such as the Santo Domingo church with its adjacent museum inside the former cloisters and botanical gardens, are within a short walking distance. Many tours to the region's landmarks, such as Monte Alban, the ruins of a Zapotec city on a mountain top, and Hierve el Agua, a cold spring-fed natural infinity pool in the mountains, typically offer shuttle pick-ups from the nearby Zócalo, only a few blocks away.
Fast Facts
Location: Centro, Oaxaca
Vibe: A sweet treat fiend’s hideout
Rating: 4-star
Room Count: Seven
Pricing: From $170 per night.
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: How can it not be the baked goods? The terrace is stunning with views of all the colonial architecture and mountains, the rooms are visually delicious, but one bite of their cheesecake or concha and you’ll look into extending your stay.
Dining: Boulenc, Boulenc Pan y Café, in-house baked goods.
Amenities: Rooftop Terrace, Honesty Bar, twice-daily baked goods spread, Succulenta store, concierge service, pet-friendly.
Nearby Attractions: Santo Domingo Church, Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca, Oaxaca City Zócalo, Museum of Pre-hispanic Arts of Mexico, Mercado de Benito Juárez.
Airport: Approximately 35 minutes from Oaxaca International Airport (OAX)
