The photos of the space, although wonderful, don't capture how truly beautiful the place is! We enjoyed the sunsets from our deck, the colorful tiles, the lemons and figs, the artistic touches, like sculpted plant pots, I could go on and on. The motion sensitive lights were a nice touch when we arrived in the dark. We enjoyed meeting the friendly family who ran the shop across the street, where we purchased our eggs every day, We will return and maybe stay on one of the other floors, as those apartments were also gorgeous. Heather & Gwen, USA
This is an exceptional place to stay, with equally exceptional views. Getting into town is a short, inexpensive cab ride, but we loved walking it, although good shoes are a must as you will be heading straight downhill on uneven pavement. Far preferred Guanajuato over the much more touristy San Miguel de Allende and the Golden Bee turned out to be the prefect place to stay to get more of a local flavor. We likewise hiked UP the hill to the local church, which was also interesting. Heike USA
“What a beautiful place! We could see the love and care that was taken when Sara and Theo built the Golden Bee! The attention to detail to the decor, the personal touches, the amazing view, the garden, filtered water, and much more all contributed to our most enjoyable 1 month stay. The place is on a hill so coming back up is a bit of a hike. Not to worry... buses pass by very regularly right in front of the building and they take you to the center of town. Uber and taxis are also very convenient. Communication with Sara before and during our stay was perfect. Her responses were quick and she even double checked soon after our arrival to ensure that everything was OK. Then there is Carrie, the caretaker who is always on hand to make sure that our every need is met though nothing was needed. It’s all there!! I have no doubt that whoever stays here will love it! Thank you Sara and Carrie!” Shirley & Glen, Canada
Wow what a special place! I absolutely loved my stay at the Golden Bee. Everything was perfect. Sleeping in a enormous comfy bed under the beautiful boveda ceiling was a special treat. Sara was an exceptional host who went out of her way to make me feel welcome and to make sure I was comfortable. The rooms are finished in a beautiful and interesting way. So many lovely details. The location is great too. Close to Centro but up on the Panoramic so you get the spectacular views. It's a really inspiring atmosphere. I would love to come back! Thanks again Sara for an amazing adventure! C: Vanessa Bateau Bay Australia
I spent a lovely month in the Panoromantica for a writing retreat. A lovely oasis that is a 15 minute walk from the centre of Guanajuato. Very much recommend this space to others. Will Toronto Canada
Nos gustó muchísimo el encantador departamento de Golden Bee, tiene todo lo necesario para cocinar, una vista increíble y un baño amplio con agua caliente. Sara y Theo contestan muy rápido, y John y Laura que son los encargados del lugar son la pareja más linda y buena onda que he conocido últimamente. No está tan cerca del centro pero los taxis no son muy caros y vale la pena caminar mucho para disfrutar Guanajuanto. Daniela Morelia Mexico
This place is a work of art. Every little detail is both aesthetically pleasing & physically comfortable. I stayed on the top floor & had an INCREDIBLE view of the city & surrounding mountains. No need to consult your weather forecast for rain, you can just see it. It’s a bit of a walk to the center of town (at least 20 min), but the view is worth it, & cheap taxis are always an option. Other highlights include the skylight, shower space & the beautiful herb & cactus garden on the ground floor, good for a morning coffee or late night storytelling (we indulged in both with the lovely neighboring guests we befriended on the first floor).
Alex & Jaela were most gracious & kind helpful hosts who made me feel right at home. Danny USA
Alex & Jaela were most gracious & kind helpful hosts who made me feel right at home. Danny USA
We stayed in Panoromantica (third floor studio with a terrace, kitchenette, a bathroom, shower, and washing machine). It was amazing. Beautifully designed, very comfortable bed, filtered water, chairs and small tables placed strategically, and artistic, too. Beautiful view of hillsides full of different colored houses ending in bare hillsides. In the mornings, we just hung out on the terrace, drinking coffee and admiring the view, feeling like it was the perfect place to be. There was not much noise; yes, a few dogs, but they stopped barking after 10 or 11 pm, and the occasional bus and other traffic noise were blocked by the projecting terrace and the floors below). Later in the morning, we walked downhill towards downtown, and then through tunnel with lots of pedestrians and cars. It was a pretty easy walk and not too far. We roamed the city (an amazing place) all day and in the evening left its city air in the 35-40 peso taxi ride back to Golden Bee, with its fresh breezes. We stayed for a week. What a beautiful place and a fascinating city. Once, when we were going on a day trip out of town, we took the bus out front; it took us to another bus at a small square on the edge of downtown. And Sara! It was great visiting with you and learning about your new art projects!!! We loved the design of the Golden Bee, the comfort and seclusion of the top-floor studio, , and pretty much everything! The work in progress (the whole Golden Bee retreat project) is fascinating. Guanajuato would be a great place to go to a language school, or to bring a computer project to work on. The taxi to the Leon airport at 5:45 am (for our 7:38 flight) was no problem either—you just have to make the reservation the day before, giving them the cross streets. Back in rainy Portland, I reminisce about the visit to Guanajuato, the sun, cool evenings, and beautiful light. The food was great, too, at least at the places Sara recommended. We want to go back! Ella and Magda Portland OR USA
Beautifully designed studio. Everything worked perfectly in the studio & all the details were thought through really well. The owners are very nice and live in USA but reply to emails very quickly. It is around 1-1.5km down a fairly steep street than through a tunnel to the centro. I recommend getting a taxi (40pesos) or bus (5pesos) back in the evening as the street you need to walk up is steep (great exercise!) but perhaps not the best to do this in the night. There are no restaurants in this area but you can cook in the great kitchen or grab a taxi/bus easily. Kerry Melbourne Victoria Australia
The Golden Bee is an incredibly magical place! My boyfriend and I spent a week in Panoromantica, the third floor. The space itself is beautiful, the ceiling is incredible and the giant patio is perfect for dining and relaxing. The house is about a 10/15 minute walk into the center of town. It's a gorgeous scenic walk to the bottom. We took a taxi home every night and sometimes in the afternoon when we were exhausted to return later for dinner and drinks. It cost about 40-45 pesos (around $4 US). We prefered the distance for the lovely view it gave us and it made for more of a romantic getaway. Sarah responded quickly to all of our inquiries and the hosts, John and Laura were amazing. Besides giving us a warm welcome and checking in every once awhile to make sure everything was in order they helped us when we needed it. Thanks! There are a lot of dogs in the neighborhood, but the best are Galaxy and Tullia. It took a day or two for them to get used to us, but once they did they were incredibly sweet. Dogs do bark most of the night, but we kept the windows closed and it was fine. The nights are pretty cool so it wasn't a problem. Guanajuato is a beautiful city, possibly my favorite in all of Mexico. If we return we would definitely stay in the Panoromantica again! Katie NY NY US
This is that storybook instance where the pictures do no justice, and my 500 allotted words even less. Adjectives, like 'gorgeous', and 'striking', will have to work - along with ones like 'genial', and 'inspiring', so that someone reading this gets the general gist they deserve - but I fear insufficiency. See, I'll spend 15 minutes crafting this review. It took nearly 2 years just to hand build that beautiful, neapolitan rock wall surrounding you, and that spectacular, panoramic view. The Golden Bee is a fortress. Of course, not in the sense of armed defense, but in the grand sense - like you're now the sole emperor or empress of Latin-American luxury. You first walk in, into the open-air ground-floor, admiring the vast community garden, thinking about the coffee -or beer- you'll sip later, while swaying in that distant hammock, before you mosey up to the in-swing patio doors that lead into your personal, third-floor cathedral. First thing, you'll see the crystal chandelier hanging from the high-domed ceiling, reflecting the sun splash, coming from the castle-like cupola above it, and the colorful stained-glass-bottle insets on your left. Then, you'll notice the finer things, like the oversized, walk-in shower where you could comfortably sleep in, or the copper kitchen sink, you could easily take a bath in. Well, no, don't, obviously, but it's big. I stayed at The Golden Bee for over 2 months, from early April to mid June 2016, and it went above and beyond for me, unlike any other Airbnb. Anytime I needed something -anything- it was done quickly, and enthusiastically. On that panoramic patio, there's this metal table set, where you can eat, enjoy sunrises, sunsets, whatever, and somehow the top got a little warped, not unmanageable, but Theo - one of the owners - cured a brand new concrete tabletop on the spot, when I mentioned it randomly one morning. He also paid to upgrade the internet speed, I'm 85% sure just for me. He left in early May - and Treasure and Adam became the new caretakers. They made me dinner, at least seven times, bought me beer -...more than once - laughed at my jokes, and even left me alone, when I was being introspective, or a bit morose. It's funny - each floor has a title, and the third is 'Panoromantica' -and I'm guessing because, like I more-or-less said, it's truly a couple's dream - a romantic transformation vacation where you get to be sovereign kings and queens. The 360 degree scenery, the trek down the cobblestone hill, past all the little mom-and-pop shops, the friendly Mexican people, the gregarious dogs - Guanajuato is amazing. There's an undeniable energy, and The Golden Bee is a microcosm of its city. It lives and breathes for its tenants. I could've been more descriptive, better aggregated other reviews, but - I think - it's as simple as this: I came to Guanajuato alone, but left The Golden Bee with a family. And I loved it. Garrett Madison Wisconsin US
Un lugar muy acogedor con una decoración hermosa. Lo mejor sin duda, la vista. La atención excelente. Dr.Aldo, Mexico
Un lugar muy acogedor con una decoración hermosa. Lo mejor sin duda, la vista. La atención excelente. Dr.Aldo, Mexico
Our expectations were exceeded at Panoromantica! Why, it was almost like coming home!! :) Adam and Treasure were there to greet us, welcome us, and show us everything we needed to know. Their presence and friendly help was much appreciated. Sara and Theo were very thoughtful, helpful and thorough in their communications. Clearly, The Golden Bee is a labor of love! And did I mention the views? Wow! Perched above the city in full view of Cerro de Bufa, the views are jaw dropping wherever you are. Panaromantica is cool and comfortable even during the warmest times the the afternoon. And it's just a 20-minute walk to the jubilant heart of Guanajuato. Or, just stay above it all and enjoy the sights and sounds of this happy city! We loved it!
Robert & John Portland Oregon US
The Golden Bee was a much needed retreat in the sun! The cultural heart of Guanajuato is buzzing and bright, and coming back to the Panoromantica each day provided us tranquility and relaxation after our outings. The 360 view of the town and the mountains all around is simply out of this world, and especially a treat at sunset. The bright color and curvature of the architecture all seem to wrap around the gorgeous gardens and cactus below in a giant hug. It's a great landing place to experience this area of Mexico! Becky Portland Oregon US
We absolutely loved staying at the Golden Bee in Guanajuato. ✨ We were originally supposed to spend our time in Mexico City, but our host cancelled last minute due to the citywide water shutoff. So happy we decided to venture outside the city and found Sara and Theo’s place. From the start, Sara was so helpful, responding almost immediately to questions or requests for recommendations, and offering up tips she knew would prove helpful. So A+ for service. A++ for atmosphere. Seriously. They have created a magical hilltop oasis built around existing mature cacti and with a garden full of more cacti, wildflowers and fruit trees, plus tons of birds and beneficial insects. If you are into nature, this is your jam! If you’re not, don’t spend time in the garden. I didn’t see a single bug inside. Location: it’s only a short walk to the historic center of town (Zona Centro) where all the action is! We were in town for the Dia de Los Muertos holiday, and it was so incredibly fun to be near all the celebrations in Guanajuato! Since the Golden Bee is on a hill, we would walk down into town (about 10 to 15 min) and then hire a taxi to bring us home in the eve (around $3-4 US). We did this all three days, even when it was raining. As far as the suite itself: It’s easy to tell from the photos that the space is thoughtfully and artistically designed, but honestly the photos can’t capture all the details that made the space so nice to be in. Our third floor suite had a brick dome ceiling that was beautiful to sleep under, and a wraparound terrace with amazing views of the city. The bed was on the firm side, but comfortable. My husband is allergic to down, so we were pleased that the comforter and pillows were not down, though some might prefer otherwise. The shower is in a separate enclosure from the toilet and sink, so it’s easy for two people to get ready for the day at the same time. We didn’t do any cooking, but the small kitchen seemed to have everything you need. (The first floor rental seems to be the one you want if you are looking to really get busy in the kitchen.) One nice feature we definitely took advantage of was the UV filtered water. I think everyone is cautious of tap water in Mexico, so having safe, running water was a real plus. One of my favorite things was hearing the traditional Mexican music coming from the neighborhood around us in the daytime and the distant sounds of dynamite from the silver mines. I felt transported to not just another place, but another time. Dogs in the town and surrounding neighborhood are always barking, so if that bothers you, I’d sleep with the windows shut (but sleeping with the breeze was so nice, even when it was raining) or bring earplugs. Really, I could go on and on about what a great experience we had. I promise you won’t be disappointed if you stay here. Amanda Dallas Texas US
Robert & John Portland Oregon US
The Golden Bee was a much needed retreat in the sun! The cultural heart of Guanajuato is buzzing and bright, and coming back to the Panoromantica each day provided us tranquility and relaxation after our outings. The 360 view of the town and the mountains all around is simply out of this world, and especially a treat at sunset. The bright color and curvature of the architecture all seem to wrap around the gorgeous gardens and cactus below in a giant hug. It's a great landing place to experience this area of Mexico! Becky Portland Oregon US
We absolutely loved staying at the Golden Bee in Guanajuato. ✨ We were originally supposed to spend our time in Mexico City, but our host cancelled last minute due to the citywide water shutoff. So happy we decided to venture outside the city and found Sara and Theo’s place. From the start, Sara was so helpful, responding almost immediately to questions or requests for recommendations, and offering up tips she knew would prove helpful. So A+ for service. A++ for atmosphere. Seriously. They have created a magical hilltop oasis built around existing mature cacti and with a garden full of more cacti, wildflowers and fruit trees, plus tons of birds and beneficial insects. If you are into nature, this is your jam! If you’re not, don’t spend time in the garden. I didn’t see a single bug inside. Location: it’s only a short walk to the historic center of town (Zona Centro) where all the action is! We were in town for the Dia de Los Muertos holiday, and it was so incredibly fun to be near all the celebrations in Guanajuato! Since the Golden Bee is on a hill, we would walk down into town (about 10 to 15 min) and then hire a taxi to bring us home in the eve (around $3-4 US). We did this all three days, even when it was raining. As far as the suite itself: It’s easy to tell from the photos that the space is thoughtfully and artistically designed, but honestly the photos can’t capture all the details that made the space so nice to be in. Our third floor suite had a brick dome ceiling that was beautiful to sleep under, and a wraparound terrace with amazing views of the city. The bed was on the firm side, but comfortable. My husband is allergic to down, so we were pleased that the comforter and pillows were not down, though some might prefer otherwise. The shower is in a separate enclosure from the toilet and sink, so it’s easy for two people to get ready for the day at the same time. We didn’t do any cooking, but the small kitchen seemed to have everything you need. (The first floor rental seems to be the one you want if you are looking to really get busy in the kitchen.) One nice feature we definitely took advantage of was the UV filtered water. I think everyone is cautious of tap water in Mexico, so having safe, running water was a real plus. One of my favorite things was hearing the traditional Mexican music coming from the neighborhood around us in the daytime and the distant sounds of dynamite from the silver mines. I felt transported to not just another place, but another time. Dogs in the town and surrounding neighborhood are always barking, so if that bothers you, I’d sleep with the windows shut (but sleeping with the breeze was so nice, even when it was raining) or bring earplugs. Really, I could go on and on about what a great experience we had. I promise you won’t be disappointed if you stay here. Amanda Dallas Texas US