Hotel Hercules celebrates Querétaro's industrial heritage

Located in a vast former textile factory, this hotel and brewery in central Mexico makes the most of the building’s high ceilings and huge spaces.

The former textile factory was established by industrialist Cayetano Rubio in the 19th century and is located in Querétaro’s working-class neighbourhood, Hércules. At its peak, the mill employed 10% of the city’s population and was operational for 165 years.

In 2011, Hércules swapped fibres for hops when it was partially converted into a brewery and beer garden by González Muchow Arquitectura. The final piece of the project has been completed with the adaptive reuse of the old factory mansion into a 40-room Hotel Hércules.

Hotel Hércules’ unravels around a central courtyard with an imposing marble statue of its namesake god at the centre. Inside the building are two restaurants, a spa, and a gym and what was once the factory’s carding room is now the hotel’s music venue, swimming pool and volleyball court.

Each of the 40 bedrooms is unique and was designed by local practice El Urdido to recall ‘a more leisurely era when the radio played, and the world listened’.

This bygone era finds expression through exposed brickwork and plasterwork, which has a tactile ‘aged’ appearance and muted colour palette. Suites start from £100 per night and are home to vintage furniture and technology such as rotary phones and brick ceilings.

There’s plenty for guests to explore, with the complex housing the studios of local creative practices and shops run by artisanal micro-producers. Guests can explore downtown Querétaro, a ten-minute walk away, before finishing the day with a beer at the hotel’s on-site brewery.

Av. Hércules Ote. 1, Hercules, 76209 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., Mexico