Zona Maco
A couple weeks ago, I spent the week in Mexico City with my good friends Rodrigo and Elliott to experience Zona Maco, an important annual international art fair. It did not disappoint.
The main art show at the convention center isn’t as large as the one at Art Basel in Miami but wherever you go, Mexico City is a place that embraces the arts. It felt like there were endless Zona Maco-supported exhibitions at galleries and museums as well as lectures and art events offered all day and all night throughout the week (Salón Acme was a standout and our personal favorite). It was impossible to see it all but was certainly fun to try.
Some of the standout Latin American artists we saw and loved included Ana Gonzales Rojas, Omar Barquet, Alejandro Sanchez, Daniel Pabon, Ana Prata, Hilda Palafox, Christian Camacho, Janaina Tschäpe, Gommaar Gilliams and my two absolute favorites- Liliana Porter and Gabriel Orozco.
I stayed at an airbnb in Condesa which was a lovely neighborhood but after walking all over this area of the city, I really came to love nearby Roma Norte. Next time I go, I’m staying there and here’s some good reasons why. Also, next time I plan to take an architecture walking tour as there is so much beauty and soul along these streets and I’d love to learn more.
As with any excursion, I always like to try at least one local airbnb experience. We were too busy with art events to include one but there’s always next time…(which will definitely include this Mexican at home cooking class).
If you’re planning to go to Mexico City anytime soon, I like this NY Times recent article about boutique hotels in Condesa and Roma. I’ve also stayed before at Downtown which is a lovely hotel in Centro Histórico and a Grupo Habita property…always a reliable resource of quality listings throughout Mexico.
One afternoon during a walk, my friend Rodrigo mentioned a beautiful perfumery we should go to called Xinü, which translates to ‘nose’ in Otomi. I looked at a few images on his phone and could tell this was a very special place. The space, in all truth, is perfect. The experience is perfect, the packaging and branding is perfect and the scents of the candles, incense and perfumes are all sublime. If ever there was a course on how to lure people into your shop to buy your product, the owners of Xinü should be the guest speakers.
Their fragrances showcase Latin American plants while the bottles show off the handiwork of Mexican architects and designers. Xinü currently offers six perfumes and while perusing, my heart kept coming back to #5 (I like this site’s description of its scent). With Rodrigo’s insistence, I started to think about buying one as it is about $60 cheaper to buy in Mexico than online from the States. What I love about it too is that after I finish it, the bottle can be turned into the loveliest bud vase. Okay, you got me. Sold.
The food in Mexico City is some of the best I’ve had while traveling. The city itself is massive (with a population of over 21 million, it is the largest city in North America), which means there is an insane amount of restaurants, cafés and taco stands scattered along every block. This is a teeny tiny list but if you get the chance to go, try Rosetta, Lardo, Botanico, Nueve Nueve, Ultramarinos, Meroma, Máximo, Tizne Tacomotora, Taqueria Oronoco and so so so many more…
I was surprised to see how many quality coffee shops lined many of the streets but I suppose I shouldn’t have been since almost all of the coffee you’ll find here is made in Mexico. If you’re a coffee aficionado, check out this excellent list of spots to visit and this incredible airbnb coffee experience.
If you’re an art lover (who also loves food, architecture, coffee and tequila), Mexico City is a fantastic getaway. Just be sure to give yourself at least 4 or 5 days to really explore at least a little of what this big hearted, art embracing city has to offer. I’ll end with this Art Lover’s Guide to CDMX from Artsy, The NY Times 36 hour guide and 5 reasons why you should visit. Vamos!
❤️❤️