Casa de Sierra Nevada, an Orient-Express Hotel, announces the opening of Casa Limón, the newest addition to its collection of historic Spanish colonial mansions in San Miguel de Allende. Just a brief stroll from El Jardin (the center of town), Casa Limón features six distinctive suites, an outdoor heated swimming pool with a wall fountain, a cozy library, a new business center, and a butler assigned exclusively to the casona. Casa Limón is an 18th century style mansion with remarkable features including cloistered outdoor courtyards with fountains, small gardens and al fresco corridors.
This stunning new addition to Casa de Sierra Nevada captures the rich history of the area and is decorated with hand painted tiles, polished copper sinks, claw-foot copper tubs and original regional arts and crafts. Some suites boast rooftop Jacuzzis and views of the city, and all have flat screen TVs.
Directly across from Limón is the lively new fine dining restaurant, Andanza (meaning “an adventuresome and serendipitous walk”), which is reflected in Executive Chef Gonzalo Martinez’s dishes, combining traditional and contemporary Mexican cuisine. The six unique rooms that make up Andanza include: a beautiful open air courtyard with orange trees and a cascading wall fountain; the Art Room, with a cozy fireplace and oversized leather chairs; the decadent Wine & Cava room; the elegant private Dining Room; and the Game Room entices guests to unwind with snug chairs and board games. The Blue Bar’s stylish wooden interior with antique hand-stenciled walls is home to a vast tequila and beer selection. House made sangritas – a tomato-based drink usually spiked with hot chilies and lime that accompanies a tequila – are a must, and live modern Latin music, jazz, and international sounds complete the experience. It will be open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Andanza is the second of three restaurants that will be part of Casa de Sierra Nevada’s culinary offerings. The current Parque Restaurant offers traditional Mexican cuisine in a garden setting with an adjacent bar. The third, Limón, is scheduled to open in early 2008.
One and a half blocks from the Parroquia and main city square of San Miguel de Allende, the boutique hotel of Casa de Sierra Nevada is a mixture of 16th to 18th century Spanish colonial buildings. Its 32 rooms and suites are spread amongst nine colonial mansions, including a 17th century fort, and the former residence of San Miguel de Allende’s Archbishop in the 16th century. With the hotel’s buildings situated around the town rather than in one location, the experience is akin to living in a beautiful, historic apartment, but with the fresh, new amenities and genuine Mexican hospitality provided by Casa de Sierra Nevada, making for a true cultural immersion.
Founded in 1542, the town of San Miguel de Allende is a National Monument of Mexico. Sitting at 6,400 feet above sea level, the cobble-stoned streets of this colonial town are lined with palasios that today are a mixture of personal residences, galleries, restaurants and boutiques.Casa de Sierra Nevada is also a member of Mexico Boutique Hotels. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-728-9098 in the US or Canada or via http://www.mexicoboutiquehotels.com/casadesierranevada/. 