Casa Kimberly

Casa Kimberly

On a cobblestone street in Puerto Vallarta's Zona Romantica, a small covered bridge still crosses above Calle Zaragoza at third-floor height, connecting two houses that once belonged to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Burton built it in 1964 so he could walk from his casita to hers without using the street below. Guests staying at Casa Kimberly can still cross it themselves, coffee in hand, with Banderas Bay spread out below and the Sierra Madre rising behind. The two houses, plus a hillside addition, now hold nine suites, each furnished differently with antiques, hand-painted tiles and crystal chandeliers, most opening onto private terraces with their own Jacuzzis. The suite that was Taylor's own keeps the pink marble heart-shaped tub she commissioned. There is a rooftop restaurant and tequila bar, a small spa, an outdoor pool, and a garden overlooking the old town's terracotta roofs. It is adults-only, English and Spanish are spoken throughout, and pets are allowed. Camarones Beach is a short walk away, and the front desk arranges airport transfers, car rental and excursions. This is not a hotel for families, for anyone wanting a large pool deck or a lobby full of strangers, or for travellers who prefer contemporary design over carved wood and colonial detail. What no competitor in Puerto Vallarta has is this particular bridge and the story behind it, which is why Casa Kimberly holds the city's only Michelin Key. With nine suites and genuine personal attention, it runs less like a hotel than a house that happens to take reservations, and the bridge remains, as it always was, best experienced alone. Casa Kimberly occupies the two Puerto Vallarta houses where Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton lived out their affair, still connected by the bridge Burton built for her. It has nine suites, an adults-only guest list, and the city's only Michelin Key. Bring someone you don't mind sharing a house with.