Kahal is a boutique hotel that blends serenity with Mérida’s art of living. Located on Paseo Montejo, near the iconic Casas Gemelas, it pays tribute to Yucatán’s cultural and natural richness. Its name comes from the Mayan word K’a’ajal, meaning to remember and belong.
Opened in 2024 after a three-year restoration, Kahal preserves the essence of a 19th-century colonial mansion, featuring masonry walls, original woodwork, and pasta tile floors combined with travertine marble. The architectural project, led by AJ and awarded by the Association of Architects and Interior Designers of Mexico, maintained traditional techniques, while GS Ambientación enhanced its spaces.

The hotel offers twelve rooms in various categories, including suites with private terraces and pools. Its interior design features a neutral palette inspired by henequen, complemented by local materials such as tzalam wood, chukum finishes, and embroidered textiles. Amenities include sustainable and cruelty-free products.
Kahal’s spaces are designed for relaxation and enjoyment. The Porch offers privileged views of Paseo Montejo, while the interior courtyard, with its limestone walls and soothing water features, provides a tranquil retreat. The library-bar houses books on Yucatán’s archaeology and gastronomy. The rooftop terrace, with jacuzzis and a solarium, allows guests to enjoy the warm climate and panoramic views of the Historic Center.

The restaurant, set in one of the mansion’s main halls, is distinguished by its natural light, tropical wood furniture, and cannage weaving. The culinary offerings celebrate Yucatán’s authentic flavors, featuring standout dishes such as Kahal chilaquiles in chile morita sauce, huevos encamisados with fried chaya, Oop tostadas with pickled chicken, and pumpkin seed hummus. The mixology includes unique cocktails like the Kaab, made with Yucatecan gin, melipona bee honey, and sour orange. Guests can also book mezcal and chocolate tastings.
The Kahal experience extends to My Memories of Yucatán, a photography exhibition showcasing emblematic sites such as Izamal, Uxmal, and the Xocempich cenote. Each image includes a QR code linking to a digital travel journal narrating a ten-day journey through the region.

Additionally, the hotel offers wellness services such as in-room massages and personalized tours to cenotes, archaeological sites, and haciendas.
More than just a place to stay, Kahal is a sanctuary where contemporary travelers can experience the warmth and history of the White City.

Team:

Architectural Design: Roger González Escalante

Interior Design: AJ Interiorismo and GS Ambientación

Architects: Anabel Cervantes, Juliana Rubio Ávila, and Interior Designer Gabriela Silva

Engineer: Eduardo Márquez Sierra

Construction Company: JGK Desarrollos

Photographer: Courtesy of Kahal Boutique Hotel, David Yawalker

Materials Used:

Limestone: Sustainably used in the new construction and recycled to clad the main wall of the central patio.
Chukum: A natural coating derived from the resin of the Metopium brownei tree, applied to some rooms and jacuzzis.
Pasta tiles: Preserved in the original house and combined with travertine marble in the new rooms.
Masonry walls: Restored in the original 19th-century house.
Local wood carpentry: Maintained during the restoration of the original house.
Travertine marble: Incorporated in the new rooms alongside pasta tiles.