Kahal opens its doors in Mérida, Mexico

Unhurried serenity and Mérida’s art of living seamlessly intertwine in the essence of Kahal, a boutique hotel embedded in the unique architecture of a colonial mansion with vernacular touches. A space that invites guests to rediscover the Yucatan Peninsula, offering the comforts of a home away from home.

Image credit: Kahal / David Yawalker

Located on the stately Paseo Montejo avenue and a few steps from the emblematic Casas Gemelas (Twin Houses), Kahal is a multi-sensorial tribute to the richness of a region renowned for its lush vegetation, its aromas and flavours, and its glorious pre-Hispanic past. In its very name, the property proudly evokes local culture and its ancestral roots through the Mayan word K’a’ajal, which means to remember and belong, establishing a link between memory and experience.

Kahal is the result of a meticulous restoration project that lasted more than three years. As a building listed by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the process required a balance between preserving the original splendour and bringing it up to date, with a restrained and refined elegance. The renovation, led by the architectural firm AJ and awarded by the Association of Architects and Interior Designers of Mexico, incorporated traditional techniques to preserve elements such as the masonry walls, the original woodwork, the high ceilings that keep the interior cool, and the cement tile floors, which were combined with travertine marble.

As part of this transformation, the firm GS Ambientación contributed to giving prominence to different spaces in Kahal that pay tribute to Mérida’s renowned savoir-vivre. The Porch, at the front of the property, offers a privileged view of Paseo Montejo, the city’s main avenue, laid out at the end of the 19th century and reminiscent of the Champs Elysées in Paris. The interior courtyard, meanwhile, is a haven of tranquillity where the limestone-clad walls—a material found in abundance in the peninsula—and the subtle sound of water invite contemplation.

Image credit: Kahal / Diafragmas

In the library, which combines functions as a bar and reference room, guests can immerse themselves in literature through copies of books such as the Popol Vuh and special editions dedicated to the archaeology and gastronomy of the region. The restaurant, occupying one of the mansion’s principal spaces, stands out thanks to its lounge flooded with natural light, which emphasises the cement tile floors in reddish tones and the tropical wood furniture with hand-woven ‘cannage’.

Image credit: Kahal / Diafragmas

On the rooftop, a terrace offers a panoramic view where sky and greenery blend seamless over the tree-filled historic centre. With jacuzzis and a solarium, it is a perfect refuge to enjoy the warm weather throughout the day and, at sunset, to hear the birds singing.

Kahal shelters twelve rooms in different categories: Deluxe, Junior Suite, Superior Suite, Master Suite and Superior Master Suite—the latter with private terrace and pool—all designed to offer maximum comfort. Amenities include products made with organic, sustainable and animal cruelty-free ingredients. The interior design favours a neutral chromatic palette inspired by the tones of henequen and complemented with endemic materials such as tzalam wood, worked by expert cabinetmakers to create unique pieces.

Decorative elements such as embroidered cushions and ancestral finishes such as chukum, which is made from a natural resin of the Metopium brownei tree, together make for a handcrafted stamp of local communities.

Staying at Kahal is also an invitation to discover the photographic exhibition My Memories of Yucatán, a visual tour of 38 images that capture the essence of emblematic sites such as Izamal, Chicxulub, the Xocempich cenote, Sotuta de Peón, Yaxunáh, Maní, Uxmal and the historic neighbourhoods of Mérida. Each photograph features a QR code that links to a digital travel journal, narrating a ten-day journey through the region and offering guests an immersive experience of its landscapes and memories. The hotel experience is complemented with wellness services such as in-room massages and personalised tours to cenotes, archaeological sites, and haciendas.

Main image credit: Kahal / Diafragmas