Stepping into Hotel Hércules in Querétaro feels like entering a living museum of Mexican heritage infused with a forward-thinking creative spirit. Tucked in the historic working-class Hércules neighborhood, this boutique hotel stands in a 19th-century textile factory reborn as a thriving cultural enclave. It’s more than just a place to stay – it’s a patchwork of brewery, art colony, and time capsule that welcomes travelers seeking genuine experiences. Hotel Hércules has also earned a prestigious accolade: it was named winner in the “Hotel Design” category at the ‘Iconos del Diseño 2023’ awards by Architectural Digest México, cementing its reputation as a must-visit destination for those who appreciate design, community, and local culture.
Whether you’re flying into Querétaro on your way to our flagship store in San Miguel de Allende or simply touring central Mexico, visiting Hotel Hércules offers an inspiring detour. For us at Espiritu, this stay was more than a weekend getaway. As a lifestyle brand devoted to artistry and tradition, we found a kindred soul in this property and the surrounding neighborhood. Read on for our impressions of how the hotel’s design, rooms, dining options, wellness offerings, and artistic community all harmonize with our love for heritage, creativity, and authentic craftsmanship.
Where Past and Present Intertwine: Design and Concept
Hotel Hércules is a masterclass in adaptive reuse, celebrating Querétaro’s industrial legacy while weaving in modern hospitality. The site’s origins date back to 1846, when a textile factory employed much of the local populace. Rather than demolish and rebuild, visionary architects chose to honor the factory’s bones: towering brick walls, exposed timber beams, and an iconic marble statue of the Greek hero Hercules. You’ll encounter these remnants in the courtyard, alongside a clock tower that once sounded each shift change.
This hotel’s design remains true to its roots: high-ceilinged common areas boast weathered stone arches, salvaged wood furniture, and original metal fittings that evoke the site’s industrial past. Everywhere, a warm, earthy palette sets the tone, ensuring the story of the old factory shines through. At the same time, subtle contemporary touches—such as modern lounge lighting and mid-century vintage furnishings—introduce a softer ambience. This seamless blending of past and present is one reason Hotel Hércules clinched its Iconos del Diseño 2023 award. Simply walking around the grounds reminds you of how powerful good design can be in transforming a piece of history into a living, breathing experience.
Rooms Steeped in Nostalgia
The guest room extends that sensibility of old-meets-new. Each is uniquely curated by El Urdido, an in-house design studio that channels the vibe of Mexico in the 1950s and ’60s. Expect to see retro furnishings—like chunky wooden nightstands, art-deco lamps, and a rotary phone—mixed with rustic textile accents. With the factory’s original stone or exposed brick walls often left intact, these rooms feel warm, nostalgic, and quietly elegant.
Most notably, there are no televisions. Instead, Hotel Hércules provides the luxury of true disconnection. You can open tall windows to let the light stream in, leaf through vintage magazines or a coffee table art book, and savor a house-brewed Hércules craft beer from the minibar. In each room, carefully chosen details—like modern bathrooms, quality linens, and curated vintage decor—make your stay comfortable without losing the one-of-a-kind flair. Sleep here, and you literally bed down with layers of Mexican history.
Culinary Encounters and Craft Beer Culture
One of the biggest draws at Hotel Hércules is its on-site craft brewery, the Compañía Cervecera Hércules. It sits on another part of the old textile complex, repurposed to create a bustling social hub. The aroma of malt and hops occasionally drifts through the air, hinting at the freshly brewed lagers, ales, and more experimental sours available on tap. Guests and locals gather in the beer garden, a tree-shaded courtyard strung with lights, to enjoy cold brews right at the source. This spot often hosts live music or small community events, contributing to an unmistakable sense of camaraderie.
In keeping with the factory’s spirit of reinvention, the hotel offers two contrasting dining experiences. El Comedor, housed under vaulted ceilings and an exposed brick interior, focuses on contemporary Mexican cuisine. Executive chef Santiago Migoya’s menu strikes a balance between heritage and innovation—imagine a succulent, slow-cooked short rib infused with Hércules beer, or a modern twist on tostadas adorned with seasonal produce. Here, the restaurant staff encourages thoughtful beer pairings that add depth to the dishes.
For lighter bites and a breezy coastal vibe, Cocina del Mar is your go-to. This open-air eatery by the pool channels the glamour of 1950s Acapulco: bold retro seating, fresh seafood, and a color palette that suggests you’ve stepped onto a sun-soaked Mexican beach. Between volleyball matches or a lounge in the pool, you can order tangy ceviches or ice-cold micheladas, making it a relaxed daytime hangout. By night, the space may transform with live band performances, adding an extra spark of energy. Taken together, these dining options underscore how Hotel Hércules values social connectivity—food and drink here aren’t afterthoughts but vital touchpoints for conversation, art, and community.
A Spa Among the Ruins: Industrial Serenity
After exploring the city or indulging in culinary delights, the Hotel Hércules Spa offers a refreshingly unconventional path to wellness. Here, the factory’s old structures are reimagined as a labyrinth of steam rooms, saunas, and hydromassage pools. Original stone arches remain, creating a spa environment that is both rustic and contemporary. An industrial gas tank has even been repurposed as an outdoor shower in a nod to the building’s history.
You can alternate between hot and cold plunge pools set against a stunning backdrop of crumbling brick walls. Warm light filters through open ceilings, catching wisps of steam and revealing intricate tile patterns. The contrast between rugged factory remnants and the soothing hush of a spa amplifies your sense of retreat. While modern amenities—like plush towels, tranquil music, and skilled therapists—are present, they blend seamlessly into the industrial-chic concept.
This oasis of calm feels especially magical if you visit around sunset, when soft, golden light streams in. There’s a tranquil energy here, almost as though the spa itself is a testament to renewal. What once powered textile machines now powers your relaxation. By the time you leave, physically refreshed and mentally renewed, you realize Hotel Hércules has turned centuries of labor into an experience of rejuvenation and mindful well-being.
An Artistic and Cultural Playground
More than just a hotel, Hércules is a creative campus where art and design flourish daily. Beyond the brewery and restaurants, you’ll find studios, workshops, and boutiques showcasing local talent. One standout is the Caralarga textile design workshop, which continues to produce striking pieces inspired by centuries-old weaving traditions. As a huarache brand, we at Espiritu celebrate projects like Caralarga’s because much like us, they modernize traditional artisan crafts, preserving cultural techniques while adapting them for today’s global audience. We firmly believe honoring heritage and upholding timeless artistry are key pillars to sustaining local communities—values Caralarga clearly embodies.
Roaming the property, you may also stumble into GOMA Architecture’s office or photography studios that occasionally open their doors to curious visitors. The hotel’s hallways serve as galleries for rotating exhibitions, and the renovated ballroom often features live music or art events that bring together travelers and Querétaro locals alike. This dynamism fosters spontaneous encounters: you might chat with a visiting painter about their creative process, or linger by the workshop to watch artisans manipulate cotton threads on massive looms.
The vibe is one of constant collaboration, reminiscent of how the original factory teemed with workers in its heyday. Now, the “workers” are artists, designers, and entrepreneurs. They shape new narratives in the same spaces that once hummed with textile machines. It’s the kind of environment where, even as a first-time visitor, you feel like you’re tapping into something bigger—a community committed to reinventing local heritage while celebrating its foundations.
Connecting with Espiritu
For us at Espiritu, the weekend at Hotel Hércules was more than an escape; it was a journey that echoed many of our brand’s core values and ultimately keeps inspiring us. Our huaraches are handcrafted by artisans who bring generations of skill to every stitch, just as the Hércules community draws on the rich legacy of textile production. We, too, strive to preserve Mexican heritage in a modern way, ensuring that art, style, and craftsmanship remain intertwined.
Visiting Hotel Hércules is more than an overnight stay. It’s an immersive experience that connects travelers with a creative community rooted in heritage. From the welcoming staff to the revitalized factory spaces, the property showcases Querétaro’s evolution and exudes pride in its past and future. Espiritu’s team, inspired by the hotel’s authenticity and innovation, encourages anyone who appreciates the blend of tradition and innovation to discover Querétaro’s spirit in this dynamic, artful retreat.
