I had managed to bag one of the 'Barack Obama Special Rates' on expedia so my review is likely a bit biased by the unbelievable value of the rate we booked.

The hotel is located in a nice area of Mexico City. Like all big cities some parts of Mexico can be intimidating but in my experience Condesa is a very nice neighbourhood and is generally clean and we did not feel intimidated at all, even when walking around after dark.

There are some excellent bars and restaurants in the vicinity and we had an excellent meal and a few drinks without having to take a taxi anywhere else. We were quite badly jet-lagged so didn't really make the most of all the bars.

The Hippodrome has a small bar downstairs which we didn't get a chance to try. Looks nice from a quick peek around the door. The music from the bar was quite loud and a bit bothersome, but it was generally quiet after midnight. I think it bothered us because we were jet-lagged and in bed by 9.30-10pm. If you want an early night this might be an issue for you.

I saw some comments about a lack of hot water. This was not an issue at any point during our stay. We had very hot water and excellent water pressure in a big drench style shower. The best shower we had in Mexico in fact!

The bathroom was small but well appointed and there were toiletries provided. The bedroom also was nicely designed and the bed was comfy and room cleaned daily. I didn't have an in-room safe which was a disappointment but the hotel offers a main safe. My preference is for the latter, especially in a country I do not know well.

All in all we did not see any of the bad points that had been mentioned in some previous reviews. The hotel is comfortable, clean, in a great location and for the price we paid this was a 4* stay. If we were paying the rack rate that would drop to 3* in my opinion - nothing I can really fault but at the full-rate price bracket there is a lot of competition in the D.F.

Before staying at the Hippodrome Hotel I did a search on tripadvisor.com and found lots of not so great reviews about the hotel. A friend had booked the hotel so i decided to stay and not change the booking but i soon found that all what was said here was true! For the 2 days we were there we had NO HOT WATER . They are nice people and I feel bad for them cause you can tell they were frustrated with the hot water situation but it seemed out of their control. I would not stay there if I were you. Too $$ for what you get. We decided to stay at the Hampton Suites (as recommended by Tripadvisor) and we were blown away by how cheap and great our rooms were..... but thats for another review.

The Hippodrome Hotel is a nice small boutique hotel. The room is spacious and clean and trendy, but the bathroom is a little small. No air conditioning, but did not needed. My only concern was that at check-in they did not explain the features of the room, I had to find everything on my own. The surrounding area was great with a lot of restaurants. I can not complain with the price value I got. Overall nice hotel.

First, as a previous reviewer indicated, I stayed here on the hard to believe cheap rate that they offered for a short time. It was worth that price but I would never pay the full price--too many better hotels in Mexico City for the same price or less. I am writing this while at the hotel.
My main complaint is that they strive to be a four star but they miss many basics which they should never miss. One of my biggest complaints, as another reviewer mentioned, was the lack of any information in the about hotel specifics. The TV setup is a bit complex but nothing to explain it. The minibar was empty. Not a even a small bottle of water in the room--and when I ask, they gave me a tiny 330 ml bottle. Also, problems with the internet but it was finally fixed after they tried several passwords.
I am not surprised with no a/c but they should put screens on the outside doors and
windows. Also, one small fan in my room--a very cheap one, the sort one might buy at Walmart. The furniture is ok and functional however no place to put a suitcase while unpacking. And one thing missing that I have come to take for granted--a coffee maker.
Its apparent the owners here have high aspirations but seem to be moving at a snails pace in acheiving them.
I would only recommend if you can find a low rate. If paying the full rate, you can do much better in Mexico City.