PYRAMID OF THE SUN — Teotihuacán, Mexico.
MUSEO TAMAYO — Mexico City, Mexico.
KATIE'S MEXICO CITY GUIDE.
At the end of a long and busy summer, I had the chance to return to Mexico city, for my first Silk Laundry wedding. Elena, our Lead Designer, was getting hitched. I have only heard of what a real Mexican wedding was like, but this was a true experience and was more like a ball than any wedding I have ever been to.
Instead of flying in and out for the event, I decided to stay a little longer and enjoy some time off.
My Google Maps is full with places to stay, eat and shop, in many cities around the world so I am always prepared wherever I go now. However, often, after a visit I find them unworthy and untag. This was also my first-ever Mexican trip I did not get sick in any way. I took probiotics the entire trip as ritual.
Here are some of my favorite places that remain tagged and I look forward to visiting again. Guaranteed great.
Katie’s Google Maps collection of favourite places in Mexico City.
CASA GILARDI — Mexico City, Mexico.
See & Do:
Casa Gilardi: A private residential space designed Luis Barragán.
Casa Luis Barragán. Magic every time. I love his use of light and color.
Pyramid of the Sun. Located just beyond the city limits, these monumental structures hold a lot of magic. The last time I was here I was a grumpy little 13 year old with my parents and my little sister. This time, almost 30 years later, It was pouring rain. But I wouldn’t have missed them again. I even placed my onyx ring at the top of the pyramid for a spiritual clearing and energetic recharge, saying goodbye to bad juju.
Mercado de Medellin: I love a market. Any market. But here I thought the fresh cut flowers were fantastic. I had a beautiful bunch made for a friend, and if I found it earlier, I would have made myself a bunch for my stay as well. And they were very very affordable!
Museo Dolores Olmedo: Recently reopened after a six year closure. It’s less crowded than many “touristy” spots, has gorgeous outdoor spaces, the largest collection of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo artworks, peacocks and Xoloitzcuintle dogs. I could have spent so much time here reading outside in their space.
Museo Tamayo: Founded in 1981, by the renowned Oaxacan artist Rufino Tamayo and his wife Olga, the museum was created to introduce international post-war and contemporary art to the Mexican public. The building itself is a masterpiece of brutalism. The gift shop is a hit too!
Chapultepec Forest is in the heart of Mexico City and spans around 866 hectares, making it bigger than Central Park in NYC.
Palacio de Bellas Artes: Originally planned to be a 4 year building project (starting in 1904), it actually took 30 years to complete, delays due to a spongy subsoil creating engineering delays and then the Mexican Revolution further dwindled funds and the building sat unfinished for another two decades. The building is an architectural hybrid of Art Nouveau and Art Deco and now famous for this intense contrast. It also houses Mexico's most iconic mural collections.
Biblioteca Vasconcelos: What seems like an infinite amount of books on floating shelves make it seem like you have stepped inside a library from the future. If you love books and libraries and quiet places, don’t miss it.
Lucha Libre: I had front row seats thanks to my Mexican friends and I haven’t laughed so much in a long time. This was a real experience and I would recommend everyone to go at least once.
LUCHA LIBRE — Mexico City.
CASA BOSQUES — Mexico City, Mexico.
Eat:
De la Rosa mazapán gigante. You might know this sweet peanut treat already, but these are one of my absolute favorite treats. I do buy them from street vendors instead of OXXO.
Quesadillas Elenita: I have realised some time ago, that most of the time when it comes to food, I don’t want fancy Michelin-starred dining. I just want good, real, easy food. And this street vendor is one of my favorites. My favorite quesadillas are tinga de pollo, flor de calabaza, huitlacoche. Roma Norte, on the corner of Calle de Colima and Calle de Merida.
Masala y Maiz: This is on almost every “list” I checked out. I tried. Food was lovely, but…it made me want to just eat “easier” food after that.
El Remolkito Del Sirlon: This is somewhere that I unlikely would have gone without a high praise. Visually, it just didn’t appeal, more of a beer and football situation. However, after a recommendation from a few Mexican friends, we went for a low key meal. It was DELICIOUS.
Drink:
Hugo: Wine Bar. Cosy little spot for small groups or intimate chats.
Caiman: Popular spot with natural wines and pet-nats.
Xaman: High-end cocktail bar with locally sourced tinctures.
Shop:
Casa Bosques: I love a bookstore. Here I found the most incredible notebook and some tiny “ideal” ones that I could also keep in multiple bags.
WIG: I could have bought all of the silver Jewellery here. And an amazing selection of perfumes.
Utilitario Mexicano: A store filled with everything from stationery to socks to kitchen goods. My favorite socks are from here. If I could go back in time, I would have bought them in every color, not just the red ones!
Xinú: I love scents, and for me, this store was like going into another world. With only six scents and totally immersive. I didn’t purchase immediately, but the perfume I was drawn to and tried, I couldn’t stop smelling it. A few days later, I splurged and the scent brings me back to a good place with each spritz.
Bazar de Velas. Coyoacan. I could have bought 500 candles from here. It is magic.
A Day in Mexico City with Elena & Daniel, born and raised in CDMX.
Over two days, we visited many places many tourists wouldn’t experience, curated and created by the now married couple, Elena and Daniel. Here's a run down of some real Mexican local favorites that you can fit in all in one day.
10am: Eat. Quesadillas Lucha: Some of the best (and most affordable) of my life. Watch out for the green sauce, it is NOT mild! I took quesadillas de flor, huitlacoche and nopales, and the café de olla!
11am. Shop. Mercado Coyoacán: I found earrings, crochet cottons, woodworks and glassworks.
12pm. Eat. Elotes & Esquites. Corn based street snacks to eat on the go.
1pm. Church. Parroquia de San Juan Bautista en Coyocan. I always make a wish at each new church I go into. It’s something my mother taught me when I was little and I can’t help myself. Here we also found a young man selling woven bags made by his father. I bought 3!
2pm. Fonda 99.99. Amazing. And definitely get a Marquesita to finish.
4pm. Neveria Roxy. Opened in 1946, it is one of the oldest ice cream shops in Mexico City.
7pm. Lucha Libre.
WINE BAR — Mexico City, Mexico.
QUESADILLAS ELENITA — Quesadillas de flor de calabaza & huitlacoche, Roma Norte, Mexico City.
LA VALISE — Polaris Suite, Mexico City.
Stay:
Ignacia Guest House: I mixed up my stay while there as I couldn’t find a place for the whole stay. Ignacia Guest House was perfect. Incredible breakfast menu that changed daily and a happy hour to make sure you stick around for!
La Valise. A part of Small Luxury Hotels, this hotel surpassed every expectation. From the moment I walked in to a white noise machine with chirping birds (probably one of my most favorite sounds on this earth), it felt like every corner of the hotel was designed for comfort and relaxation. I stayed in the Polaris suite, where you could roll your bed out onto the balcony for a siesta or some morning sunshine. Breakfast was served directly to our room so we could eat on our big balcony. Even though the hotel is on the smaller side, they have a spa and massages on site with magic hands. Right next door is a coffee shop where coffee is complimentary, all day long if you want it. Our room had two huge images near the bed of two places I really wanted to make time for this trip. The Pyramid of the Sun and Biblioteca Vasconcelos, so I felt like I was in the right place the whole time!
Wellness:
Soho House ginger shots and workouts kept me in some sort of routine away from home. As well as walking about 22,000 steps a day.
Body in Harmony | Acupuncture & Massage: This was a bit of a random find as my shoulder has been playing up over the last 12 months or so. I took a chance on the “restart” package which consisted of acupuncture and massage and it was one of the best sessions I have had in my life. If I could go back, I would every second night or as much as they would allow me to “restart” my body.
LA VALISE — Polaris Suite, Mexico City.
KATIE KOLODINSKI — La Valise, Mexico City.
LA VALISE — Mexico City, Mexico.
