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Though there are few traces of its past left now, this luxury hotel on the Caribbean coast of Mexico was once a mansion owned by Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar.
2017-07-25
Casa Malca, a stunning Mexican hotel near Tulum, was bought by renowned New York art collector and gallery owner Lio Malca in 2012.
Malca renovated the building and created a new boutique hotel that he filled with valuable pieces from his art collection, including works from Keith Haring, KAWS, and Marion Peck.
Here's what it looks like inside:
Casa Malca was formerly owned by notorious drug baron Pablo Escobar.
AP
It was abandoned after he died in 1993 and subsequently bought by New York art dealer Lio Malca in 2012.
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It's on the east coast of Mexico, outside Tulum.
Google Maps
When the hotel first opened, it had eight rooms.
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After a series of renovations, it now has a total of 42 suites.
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The rooms have king-sized beds and ensuite bathrooms.
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Rooms range from $515 a night for a junior suite to $840 for the master suite.
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The rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the beach and the garden behind. Some also have balconies.
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Malca's private collection of art is scattered around the hotel.
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The hotel's main restaurant, Philosophy, serves Mexican food with a contemporary European twist. The manager is Italian, and the head chef hails from Catalonia in Spain.
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There are also two bars in the hotel, one of which is inspired by artist Keith Haring.
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The hotel leads out onto a long stretch of beach.
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There are plenty of places to relax.
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The hotel has two swimming pools: one outside and another indoor, which is connected to the outside pool by a staircase.
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The house is surrounded by lush rain forest. And with plenty of outside space, it's also a popular place to host weddings and parties. A spokesperson for the hotel said that the main event is New Year's Eve. Last year, owner Lio Malca hosted more than a thousand people.
Design Hotels
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Mary was an editor on the business news team, where she worked with reporters and editors to cover sectors including technology, finance, transportation, retail, careers, and real estate.Previously, Mary was a senior retail reporter based in New York and London, covering apparel, luxury, fitness, big-box, and grocery companies. She has reported on major brands including Victoria’s Secret, Lululemon, LVMH, Costco, Dollar General, and Peloton, providing in-depth analysis of trends shaping the industry.Mary earned a master’s degree in Business Journalism from CUNY Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. She has appeared on several TV and radio outlets, including BBC Business, Cheddar, and Good Morning America, and has taken part in industry panels and conferences about trends shaping the retail world.
Kara Chin was a video producer for Voices of Color. Her work has been published at The New York Times, FiveThirtyEight, Advertising Age, Gothamist and DNAinfo. She is an alumna of Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY and sits on the school's Alumni Board.
