Turning off onto a leafy side-street one evening in Guadalajara, Mexico, our taxi deposited us at the Villa Ganz boutique hotel.
And what a gem of a hotel it is!
Villa Ganz review
Villa Ganz delighted us with its old-world charm.
The 1930s villa is built around a high-walled courtyard garden.
Inside, Villa Ganz has 10 lovingly-restored rooms and suites.
Each is individually furnished.
But you can expect décor touches like beveled glass windows, gilt-framed mirrors and candles everywhere in ornate wrought iron holders.
We speculate Villa Ganz is perhaps the best hotel in Guadalajara?
After browsing the exceptional crafts in Tlaquepaque – eyeing Orozco’s fiery murals in the UNESCO-designated Cabanas and generally exploring as much as we could of Guadalajara – it was a treat to return here at the end of each day to put our feet up and relax in this restful space.
Breakfast included!
Breakfast is included in your stay at Villa Ganz – served until the very civilized time of 12 noon!
We took ours on the covered terrace beside the garden, where we’d linger over fresh-squeezed juice, fruit, sweet buns and delicious omelets, while marveling at the lush plantings of palm trees, ferns and flowering shrubs.
Ideal location
Villa Ganz is perfectly located in Guadalajara’s “Pink Zone,” just a few blocks from many outdoor cafes, bars, designer boutiques and restaurants.
If wondering where to stay in Guadalajara, we can highly recommend Villa Ganz.
Hotel Villa Ganz, Guadalajara: Check rates and availability
Experience more of Mexico!
Zihuatanejo: Want a great beach vacay? See the best beaches in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa.
Mexico City: Check out our 3-day Mexico City itinerary to make sure you hit the best attractions and eat at the best restaurants in this splendid capital.
Puerto Vallarta: Where to stay? You’ll love these beautiful boutique hotels in Puerto Vallarta.
San Miguel de Allende: From riding a vintage trolley through fairytale streets to visiting a unique mask museum, there are many wonderful things to do in San Miguel de Allende.
Cabo San Lucas: Check out our ultimate Los Cabos travel guide. It’s packed with info on where to play, stay and eat.
Our top travel tips and resources
Here are our favorite travel resources:
Hotels: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one. (We especially like their flexible cancellation policy!)
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out GetYourGuide and Viator.
Car rental: Renting a car is often one of the best ways to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.
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Photo credits: 1, 4, 6 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | Remaining photos Villa Ganz
About the authors
Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.
Find destination guides, global food-and-wine stories, luxury hotel reviews, articles on cultural explorations and soft adventure trips, cruise reviews, insanely useful travel tips and more!
Suzanne
Monday 22nd of December 2014
Looks gorgeous - loving that ceiling in the bedroom. Amongst other things!
Francesca
Monday 15th of December 2014
It looks very welcoming indeed! Nice that you had a great stay.
Janice and George
Monday 15th of December 2014
It was a great stay - so many personal welcoming touches. We'd definitely recommend Villa Ganz if you're going to be visiting Guadalajara :-).
Irene S. Levine
Monday 15th of December 2014
What an appealing property! Looks so warm and welcoming~