Just returned from a 3 day trip in Puebla. It's a fanstastic destination for anyone who appreciates authentic Mexican food (this is where mole, among other things, was invented), Mexican ceramics, and other indigenous arts and crafts. I'd recommend staying in the historic center. We stayed at the San Sebastian, a 16th c. home built with a courtyard and now a small hotel. Situated on the same block as El Sueno Hotel and Spa as well as Meson Sacristia de Capuchinas, it follows them with the same idea of juxtaposing the very new with the very old. I'd say that San Sebastian isn't quite as consistently successful as either of the other two in terms of its aesthetics, and the rooms on the first floor are very dark (there are no windows except the glass doors that open onto the now enclosed courtyard). But the hotel is quieter because the courtyard does not do double-duty as a restaurant and the room rates seem lower and more flexible. The bedding is dingy and the brick floors always seemed dusty, but the exposed brick walls, 20 foot high beamed ceilings and other lovely details provide a lot of historical style. The service professionals were friendly and accommodating (my sense is that they know little English). The lighting in the room is very poor--it's impossible to read. But each room has cable TV and a lovely antique wardrobe. Most of the rooms are outrageously large. My recommendation would be to stay here if they offer you a rate at least $30-$40 U.S. dollars less than their two competitors (Sueno and Sacristia de Capuchinas) down the street. But also note that breakfast is often included in the rates of the latter and it is not offered at San Sabastian. I'd strongly recommend the cafeteria in the art museum on the corner for breakfast. It looks like a very stark cafeteria, but the food is excellent (the usual Mexican breakfast options well done) and it's very inexpensive. We also ate breakfast one morning in the ultra modern breakfast room and bar at El Sueno; it was a more pleasant room but the food didn't compare to the museum. Ask for an upstairs room if you stay here.