In contrast to the grandeur downstairs, the guest rooms are fairly simple. Wooden furniture and antique lamps project a timeless quality. Pictures on the wall depicting old fables of Guanajuato remind you that this building is part of the town's history.

Book early for the few rooms with patio doors onto Jardin de la Union, or for those with a view down a pretty side street. Many of the rooms have only internal windows or no views, but we're quite happy to spend as much time as possible in the lounge and restaurant or around the lively plaza, and then retire to a quieter room for sleep.

There is no heating in the rooms, but beds have blankets under the patterned bedspreads in preparation for the sometimes cold evenings in Guanajuato. A few rooms have fans, but these are rarely required.

Many different arrangements of rooms are available, from standard rooms with one to three beds to suites with a sofa bed in the living area. The one suite on the fourth floor has direct access to the rooftop terrace, with its superb views over the city. Note that at the moment there are no elevators, and all other guest rooms are on the second and third floors.