All about El Minaret in Mérida, Mexico (2025 Guide)

El Minaret is another iconic French-style mansion on Paseo de Montejo. Built in 1908 (at the end of the Porfiriato period) by the owner Dr. Alvaro Medina Ayora and his brother Miguel Medina Ayora, the building was formerly known as "Casa del Minarete".

It was built as a residential building in neoclassical style and got its name from the characteristic element of the building, a minaret in Arabic style.

At that time, many large houses were built on the Paseo de Montejo. El Minaret is one of the few mansions that have survived to this day in their original style.

Like for example the Casas Gemelas, the Palacio Canton or El Pinar, the building is evidence of the economic success that the "era of green gold" - the period of Henequén that coincided with the Porfiriato - brought to some privileged people.

El Minaret was sold in 1971 by Dr. Álvaros Medina's three adult children (Álvaro Jr., Maria Luisa and Virginia). Extensive renovation work was then carried out.

For example, there was once an underground cenote in the garden of the house. But in the course of the renovation, the cenote was filled in and the garden next to the house was turned into a large parking lot. You will also find El Minaret on Facebook and Instagram.

Visit the Tower

The most striking feature of El Minaret is, as you might guess, ...its minaret. The slender tower reflects Moorish architectural influences that were popular at the time. From the balcony at the top of the minaret, you can take in a nice panoramic view.

The tower is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM between October and April, and from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM between May and September. The admission fee is 100 pesos.

Yerba Santa Mérida

The upscale restaurant Yerba Santa Mérida is located within the building. Since 2017, Yerba Santa Mérida has been a go-to spot for upscale dining, blending modern Mexican flavors with Mediterranean influences.

Yerba Santa Mérida offers an elegant atmosphere, a diverse menu featuring seafood, premium meats, and vegetarian dishes, along with an extensive selection of wines and spirits. The prices align with Mérida’s fine dining scene.

More Art, Culture & Events

There is more than just the restaurant. Today El Minaret describes itself as an artistic center that combines art, culture and events. And indeed El Minaret has many faces.

El Minaret also regular events, including intimate concerts, adding to its vibrant atmosphere. The property is for example especially popular for larger weddings. So if you're thinking about getting married in Mérida...

The Little Ghost of El Minaret

Last but not least, there’s also a little ghost story and, like many famous buildings in Mérida, El Minaret is shrouded in a dark legend. 

Miguel Medina, the brother of Dr. Álvaro Medina Ayora, is believed to have had an affair with a young Maya servant named Rosario, who became pregnant. When she gave birth to a boy, she was sent away to a distant village, entrusted to the care of relatives.

What happened to Rosario afterward remains unknown. However, it is said that the child stayed at El Minaret under a different name, severed from his mother’s identity. Tension between the two brothers grew, and they were often heard arguing about the situation - until one fateful night, the child vanished.

According to legend, Miguel Medina took the boy, suffocated him, and buried his body in an underground cenote within the garden. Since then, passersby have reported hearing the muffled cries of a child gasping for air late at night.

Some claim the ghostly whispers belong to the little boy, trapped beneath the earth. Others say they hear the anguished sobs of a man, repeating, "No tengo otra" ("I have no other choice"). But was there truly no other choice?