Summary
Introduction to La Valise San Miguel
The new hotel is five years in the making. Coming off its successful outlets in Mexico City and Tulum, La Valise Hotels chose UNESCO World Heritage City — and a favorite destination among GoTravelDaily readers — San Miguel de Allende for its newest hotel, which just opened on Sept. 1, 2022. The historic, multi-century-old property, with existing artwork by Pedro Friedeberg adorning the walls, is set to become one of the city’s standout hotels. Its six suites each feature a feeling of history, ancestral magic, and artisanal Mexican design.
A perfect setting for a company whose mantra is “as unique as our guests,” Yves Naman, founder of the La Valise brand, remarks, “La Valise San Miguel is like Friedeberg’s art: surreal.”
Location and Ambiance
Located in the very heart of the colonial city, on a pedestrian-only cobblestone street, La Valise San Miguel hides an oasis of tranquility behind its vermillion façade. As you step inside the courtyard, the eye goes directly to the double staircase. Beyond the courtyard is a lush garden outfitted with a lemon tree and an array of leisurely spaces for sauntering in the shade, including a plunge pool and a fountain. Consequently, the vibrant action of the streets of San Miguel dissipates, and an air of peace reigns.
Design and Suites Overview
La Valise is largely known for its Tulum property with an alfresco rollout bed, perfect for stargazing (the Mexico City property features one as well). “When we started in Mexico in 2014, La Valise was the first really small hotel, probably in the world, with just three rooms,” Naman states.
By 2016, he was searching for a property in San Miguel, a city he fell in love with. “When the estate was first presented to us, what struck us most was the surrealist art embedded in many of the walls by Pedro Friedeberg,” Naman explains. “We could not believe the scale of the art and uniqueness of the property and instantly knew this property was the right one for La Valise.”
The project took more than five years while Naman established his company, Namron Hospitality, and opened five hotels in Tulum and one in CDMX. Naman’s entire hospitality approach is quite unorthodox. Not only does he create hotels with fewer than 20 rooms, but he also breaks traditional hospitality rules at every juncture. For example, the Mexico City property doesn’t have a lobby, saving the space for more extravagant suites. “We also usually don’t work with interior designers, but rather people with genuine taste that will put their full love into it,” he adds.
Each space feels like a cabinet of curiosities or as though you’re stepping into Wes Anderson’s wildest dreams. As valise means “suitcase” in French, each space unveils an array of design decisions and objets d’art as if one would bring them in their suitcase from all the corners of the world. Thus, each room creates the artful, cozy ambiance of a meticulously designed home.
Guest Experience and Amenities
La Valise San Miguel has been thoughtfully designed by Naman and decorated by Roberto Ayala, who is neither architect nor interior designer, but boasts eclectic taste that resonates with the brand.
La Valise San Miguel features six suites, branching off from the courtyard and toward the rooftop (from which guests can see the entire city). Each of the suites is named to reflect Friedeberg’s design inspiration. The Cóatl suite pays homage to the mural in the garden. Located on the ground floor next to the interior Zen gardens, this breathtaking room has high wood-beamed ceilings and soothing stucco walls adorned with soft textiles. The Genesis Suite, on the other edge of the property, was inspired by Diego Rivera’s famous Anahuacalli Museum. This suite features three grand arches carved from local stones reminiscent of a Mayan temple.
The Ollin Suite features a temazcal-inspired Roman soaking tub enclosed in metal. The room is outfitted with handcrafted parota wood furniture, and its name nods to the ethereal Aztec concept “Nahui Ollin,” which means “four movements.”
The San Miguel hotel is just four hours from the CDMX property. La Valise encourages guests to explore the two Mexican cities. Private transportation is available between the two, including special packages to help guests uncover the best of both locations. Other perks for guests at La Valise San Miguel include a complimentary organic breakfast as well as bespoke spa services.
As San Miguel becomes more popular among tourists, it is properties like La Valise San Miguel that urge us to turn our journeys inward to explore in more meaningful ways and, ultimately, find a more profound connection with the local culture.
Rooms at the newly opened La Valise San Miguel start at $342.
