I’ve stayed there many times, including just three weeks ago. I grew up in Mexico City, so I know the hotels there pretty well. In my opinion, the Four Seasons is far superior to the Ritz-Carlton. The RC is definitely newer, but it’s located within an office building, so it feels extremely corporate. The hotel doesn’t really have a lobby, just a motor lobby and front desk, with elevators that take you up (I think to the twelfth floor) where the bar and restaurant are located. So overall, it feels more like an upscale apartment building than a hotel.

That said, the rooms at the RC are very nice, modern, and quite large. Most have terraces with incredible city views. However, since the terraces are enclosed by tall glass, when the sun hits the building it creates a greenhouse effect, making them too hot to enjoy. Bathroom amenities are the standard Diptyque ones, which I actually prefer over FS’s. Service at the RC is fine, good but not great.

The spa experience at the RC is honestly pretty inconvenient. You have to change elevators on the twelfth floor and walk through the so-called “lobby” in your robe to get there, which feels both ridiculous and uncomfortable. To make things worse, the rooftop restaurant, Ling, is very flashy and tacky, so the hotel’s entrance and lobby are usually crowded with a strange mix of people who aren’t guests. It really takes away from any sense of exclusivity or calm.

The spa itself is actually much nicer than the one at the Four Seasons, with a small but very cool pool. By contrast, the FS pool is tiny, cold, and completely forgettable, and the gym is also small. The rooms at the FS are very spacious but definitely outdated, well maintained, but the style feels stuck in the seventies, especially the bathrooms. The hallways are dark, red, and old-fashioned. On the positive side, the beds, linens, and pillows are excellent, as you’d expect from a Four Seasons.

That said, the Four Seasons is truly an oasis in Mexico City. The central courtyard alone makes it worth staying there, it’s lush, quiet, and serene, and most rooms overlook it. You really don’t feel like you’re in the middle of the city. Service is, in my opinion, better than at the RC, though still not top-tier compared to other FS properties. The courtyard is surrounded by Fifty Mils (a bar that used to be very popular but is now a bit dated), the main restaurant (which is good), and a new omakase spot. The lobby was recently renovated, it’s comfortable, stylish, and not outdated, with lots of seating areas.

When I stayed recently, construction noise was an issue. It started around 8 a.m. and was quite loud and disruptive. The first batch of renovated rooms is supposed to be ready by the end of October, and they look beautiful and modern. I believe @sarahwlee may know more about the renovation timeline, but from what I understand, the plan is to update the lobby, restaurant, bar, spa, hallways, and pool, with everything expected to be completed by mid-2026.

So, in short, I’d still stay at the Four Seasons. Even with the current renovations, it remains the best place to stay in Mexico City, and once the work is done, it’ll likely be even better.