view from Villa Maria CristinaFor two of the past three years the editor of Luxury Latin America was based in Guanajuato, so we’ve watched a major construction project going on with Hotel Villa Maria Cristina. It bought several buildings facing the street leading up to the Presa de la Olla and acquired more land behind them to expand in two directions.

After years of gutting and demolition in some areas, careful restoration in others, they unveiled the results recently and we got to take a look inside. The results are impressive enough to put this luxury hotel back on the top of the heap in Guanajuato and everything has gone up another level.

Guanajuato luxury hotel poolThis is partly due to a major increase in the facilities. When it had just 13 rooms and a limited footprint, it was hard to offer but so much to guests. Now the extra space has led to a heated outdoor pool in addition to the indoor one that’s part of the spa. Now you get a kids club, a bright gym with a view through a wall of glass, an expanded restaurant bar, and a whole new bar with a well-done Mexican cowboy theme.

There’s also a full-blown screening room that’s a private movie theater. With a large screen, booming sound, and comfortable leather seats, it’s a dream spot for a corporate event or a planned movie night for a wedding party. More function spaces include a fairytale attic type room with wood ceilings and a roof deck with that mountain view you see at the top.

Some of the rooms have that view as well, including a master suite with its own whirlpool tub and a villa suite that can be one to three bedrooms. Villa Maria Cristina is still a boutique hotel, with just 36 rooms, but now there is a wider range of suites. All the nice touches remain, like Moulton Brown toiletries, robes, nice TVs, and quality beds. Nothing was done halfway in the additions. There’s a clear attention to detail from the tile to the furnishings that makes everything blend together seamlessly.

The well-heeled owner of the property is clearly willing to invest where it’s needed, plus this top international hotel in Guanajuato is now part of Relais and Chateaux. That give additional credibility (and accountability) to the main restaurant and should help them pull in the right kind of crowd to fill the rest of the rooms.

See our full detailed review of Villa Maria Cristina luxury hotel in Guanajuato City, Mexico with more original photos.

Looking for where to go to dinner outside the property? Check out the best restaurants in Guanajuato.