Soho House Breathes New Life into a French-Colonial Manse in Mexico City

Since debuting this past year, Soho House Mexico City set the standard for the brand’s Latin American expansion. Situated inside the bones of a 19th-century baroque mansion, the property is making waves with a culinary program developed by Michelin-grade chef Christopher Kostow, over 150 original artworks by local talents such as Alinka Echeverria and Gonzalo Lebrija, and 62-foot pool serviced by a European-style greenhouse café.

Below, Surface speaks with Danielle Vourlas to get the scoop.  

What drew Soho House to this property?

Soho House Mexico City is historic and grand, once belonging to General Juan Prim, who commanded the Spanish expeditionary army in Mexico and sympathized with the Mexican liberal cause. Preserving the character of the existing casa was paramount—honoring the traditional architectural elements and strong French influences, while also pulling through contemporary Mexican design influences.

How did you approach the brand’s first Latin American property?

With its rich history, architecture, and culinary scene, Mexico City has established itself as a vibrant cultural capital and the perfect gateway to South America for us. Next up in the region is Soho House São Paulo, which opened this month.

How did you strike that balance between old and new?

Many of our houses are thoughtful restorations; we have an affinity for buildings with past lives and aim to transform or reestablish them into creative hubs. We took a deconstructed approach, paring back its original opulence while salvaging many of the original finishes, including the existing parquet flooring, fireplaces, and frescoes. We complemented those details with bold colors, a mix of contemporary and vintage furnishings, and fixtures by local artisans. 

What are your favorite spaces? 

Mexico City’s tropical climate supports an incredible variety of landscapes. The original property had such beautiful gardens, and it was important to salvage as much as possible. One of my favorite spaces is the sun-soaked Pool House, which embraces the romanticism of European greenhouses and is nestled among the lush greenery of the pool 

Ideal cocktail to sip by the pool?

I suggest our signature Picante with mezcal, agave nectar, lime juice, and coriander, garnished with chili pepper. 

What’s the perfect song for the Vinyl Room?

“Anchin Kfu Ayinkash” by Hailu Mergia and Dahlak Band. It sets a vibrating beat against the rough original stone wine cellar walls, all left as we found them. 

Art Collection Manager Anakena Paddon on the house’s art curation: 

“The choices highlight the talent and creativity of artists born, based, or trained in Mexico City, representing as many varying practices as possible. The House is among our largest spatially, which allowed us to play with impactful scale. 

Pieces that work in harmony with the space stand out to me among the more than 165 in our collection. We have several site-specific commissions including a floor-to-ceiling textile work, wrapping all four walls of the reception area, by Gabriel Rosas Alemán and Mariá Fernanda Camarena, who form the art duo Cuerpo Celeste.”