MEXICO CITY AT A GLANCE
Earlier this month Deb and Mel travelled to Mexico City to attend Art Week as VIP guests of Daniel Orozco Estudio - an interior design studio Design Shop has a collaboration with in the works. And while we’ll share more of that collab another day, today Deb and Mel are sharing a recap on this incredible, artful city. So, if you’ve ever had your eyes on Mexico City as a destination, keep reading for tips and highlights!
Getting Around: While we used our Spanish a lot, we did find that you can also get away with just speaking english. We recommend walking as much as you can rather than relying on other transportation. We found walking was the best way to stumble upon all the hidden gems! Or if you feel adventurous, you can also rent bikes and explore that way! They have a park and ride bike system that seems super accessible. Overall the city felt very safe and lively throughout the day for adventuring.
Packing Tips: First of all, pack light and have room in your suitcase to bring home treasures! We found an unbelievable vintage market with endless aisles of home furnishings, clothing, jewelry, art, accessories and more! Also, definitely bring more than one pair of runners so you can give your feet a rest or comfortable sandals you can put some miles on with! Comfort is key if you plan to walk as much as we did!
Favourite Places: We opted to stay in an Airbnb as a way to experience more of a local home feel. We stayed in a little area called Condessa and absolutely loved the surroundings. It had a very art-deco feel and this worldly fusion of Taiwan and Europe. Wandering the streets of Condessa we felt very safe and it revealed cafés and restaurants at every corner, as well as, endless opportunities to take in local cuisine through their myriad of street food.
All the cafés and restaurants were unique and conceptual with their food, as well as, their interiors. As designers it’s always fun to see other places' interpretations of spatial narratives and detailing. And the innovative detailing here was like no other!
Favourite Sites: By far our favourite visit was to Frida Kahlo Studio’s aka Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo, as well as, Casa Gilardi and the Museo Nacional de Antropología (National Museum of Anthropology).
Best Moments: Getting lost for sure! Exploring with an open mind and allowing yourself to get lost in a new city is one of the best ways to really get a feel for a place! There was so much we discovered and experienced that we never would have had we stuck to a map or plan.
Art Week: Daniel Orozco Estudio, our hosts, were a part of ZⓈONAMACO, the leading art fair in Latin America. With four events annually at Centro Citibanamex in Mexico City, ZⓈONAMACO MÉXICO ARTE CONTEMPORÁNEO brings together leading and emerging national and international art galleries; ZⓈONAMACO DESIGN exhibits furniture, jewelry, textiles, limited editions and decorative objects; ZⓈONAMACO SALON DEL ANTICUARIO exhibits antiques; and ZⓈONAMACO FOTO features vintage, modern, and contemporary photography. If you’re planning on traveling to Mexico City, we highly recommend attending at a time that one of ZⓈONAMACO’s events are being held. We found we were able to take it all in within 1-2 days.
In our one week in Mexico City we felt like we only just scratched the surface of what this city has to offer. We're strong believers in travelling and getting out in the world to experience life beyond the everyday. Taking in the touch, feel, smell, sound - the FULL experience - of the spaces we find ourselves in, inspires what we bring to design. Every single day in Mexico City was more than we expected and we absolutely look forward to going back one day!