Mexico City for art lovers

Description:

This former hacienda houses the works of popular artist Diego Rivera. It also houses an exhibition of more than 600 pieces of furniture and ornaments from the Mexican colonial period. It has works by Frida Kahlo and Beloff, apart from a selection of popular Mexican art. Guided tours take place from Tuesday to Saturday. Children under 6 go free and there are discounts for pensioners.

Description:

This was Dolores Olmedo's home in the southern part of Mexico City. She was a friend of Diego Rivera and posed for him as many paintings of his will attest. Ms. Olmedo was a very wealthy and active socialite from the 1930's through the 1960's and since 1994, a few years before her death she converted this XVII century mansion into a museum and opened it to the public for everyone to enjoy.

The gardens are immaculate and the peacocks that roam freely are a sight to behold but her private collection of 145 of Diego Rivera's paintings as well as a substantial sampling of Frida Kahlo's work are the reason you should trek to this part of the city.

You will not feel like you are in a staid museum but rather a guest of Ms. Olmedo because the house has been maintained as it was when she lived here and many of her personal items are on display as well as her bedroom and other rooms which until a few years ago were closed to the public. There is a restaurant and a gift shop and you should probably devote half a day to this visit since getting there can take at least half an hour depending on traffic.

Our Local Expert Says:

Undoubtedly the best place to learn about the life of this iconic and world renowned artist.

Description:

No visit to Mexico City is complete without making pilgrimages to the holy sites of two Mexican goddesses: the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Frida Kahlo's home, the Casa Azul. Known for disturbingly intimate self-portraits, Frida lived 47 years of pain and passion. Her turbulent marriage to Mexican muralist Diego Rivera has been the fodder for books and movies – they were the art world's radical power couple in the 1930s. The Casa Azul in Coyoacán, where Frida was born, lived, and died, remains untouched by time. "Blue House" visitors pass through galleries, kitchen, and dining room, but most fascinating are Frida's bedrooms, one each for day and night. Her doll collection, clothing, paintbrushes, and easel illustrate the storied life of México's Communist queen. After visiting Museo Frida Kahlo, stroll up to the Museo Casa de León Trotsky or down to Plaza Central and the Museo de Culturas Populares.

How to Get There: Métro: Line 3, Viveros and Coyoacán Stations. From Plaza Central, walk north on Calle Allende and turn right on Londres.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Admission: General: MX$55/US$5.50. Students and teachers: MX$20/US$2. Admission also includes entrance to Anahuacalli Museum, which displays Diego Rivera's collection of pre-Hispanic art
Parking: Limited street parking
Services: Restrooms, cafeteria, gift shop, photograph exhibition, documentary films shown every hour. Guided Tours: MX$350/US$35, with advance reservation
Additional information: The museum is closed on January 1, February 5, March 21, May 1, September 16, November 20, December 1 every six years due to change of government, December 24 in the afternoon, December 25, December 31 in the afternoon. Backpacks and large bags must be checked.

Description:

Hernán Cortés, the conqueror of Mexico, built this government palace on the site of Moctezuma's residence. The Palacio Nacional that we see today dates back to 1693, although a floor was added in the 1920s. Inside there is a wonderful collection of murals by Diego Rivera. The most famous one is the "Epic of the Mexican People in their Struggle for Freedom and Independence", where two thousand years of history are condensed into the space of an enormous wall. The palace also houses a small museum dedicated to Benito Juárez and the Mexican Congress. Admission: Free

Description:

Located on the flat roof of the Museum of Mexico is the former studio of this 19th century Mexican painter. Clausell was an impressionist strongly influenced by Monet, and you can see more than sixty square metres of his murals, the result of the artist, somewhat fortuitously, cleaning his brushes on the surrounding walls. As a consequence he left behind a fusion of landscapes, nudes and faces for the onlooker to decipher. Admission is free of charge.

Description:

The name of this restaurant means gossip and it fits the atmosphere of this place well. Like so many of the restaurants to be found in the Colonia Condesa, this resturants lively and busy atmosphere encourages its patrons to indulge in stimulating dinner conversation. The restaurant is spacious and well-lit, with modern furnishings. On the menu are various international dishes; especially good are the house crepes and the Lasagne with Mushrooms and Nuts. Piano music, guitar music and jazz are played on alternating days, contributing to the pleasant dining experience.

Our Local Expert Says:

Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Trotsky are said to have frequented here.

Description:

You haven't truly experienced Mexico City until you've visited a typical Mexican cantina. La Guadalupana is one of the oldest and most popular cantinas in the city. It was founded in 1923 and has still maintained the classic look of a traditional cantina. It offers a broad variety of tequilas, pulques and other Mexican drinks for its guests to sample. With its kicking Mariachi music and great drinks, La Guadalupana will give you a true taste of what Mexico has to offer.

Our Local Expert Says:

With an iPod in each room, a hip nightclub in the basement, and a restaurant fit for fashionistas this hotel is perfect for the glitterati and those not minding a bit of noise in exchange for aesthetics and the "cool" factor.

Description:

Grupo Habita's Hotel Condesa DF can claim a leading role in the transformation of Colonia Condesa into Mexico City's chicest neighborhood. It is a walker's paradise, with low-rise buildings housing some of the city's finest restaurants and bars. Occupying a 1928 French Neoclassical style edifice that was renovated by architect Javier Sanchez and interior designer India Mahdavi, Condesa DF is graced by contemporary art – a Grupo Habita signature touch – in an intriguing collection curated by Betsabee Romero. Filtered sunlight streams through arched windows into the accommodations, where finely crafted wood paneling adds warmth to the modern design. "Rain" showers are a standard feature in the white stone bathrooms that also offer Malin + Goetz amenities. The fourth-floor roof terrace bar is a inviting space complete with attractive views of Chapultepec Castle and Parque Espana where guests can lounge on circular beds, imbibe martinis, and choose from perfectly prepared sushi.

Rates: USD $221-563 (Does not include 18.5% room tax)
Payment: Cash, Amex, Visa, MasterCard
Facebook: /grupohabita
Parking: Valet
Services: BMW house car, AC, minibar, CD/DVD player, LDC TV, iPod, telephone, voicemail, safety box, laundry service, Free Wifi, business center, bicycles, tours, 24-hour front desk and room service
How to Get There: Metro Chapultepec

Our Local Expert Says:

One of the most impressive art collections in the city in a beautiful building.

Description:

Infamous Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo managed to amass an impressive collection of art which includes some of the masters of the modern art world. In 1979 he began construction of a museum to house his gems as well as visiting exhibitions. The result, The Museo Rufino Tamayo is an architectonic feat (by architects Teodoro González de León and Abraham Zabludovsky) with nine exhibition rooms, a central patio, and some of the most innovative artworks in Latin America and the world. Definitely worth a visit.

Description:

This museum is distributed throughout two buildings, providing two entrances. One entrance is accessed off of Reforma and the other is found near the Monumento a los Niños Héroes (Monument to Child Heroes). A sense of calm imbues the well-lit spacious interior. The main hall exhibits a retrospective of the Mexican school of painting, where highlights include works by Leonora Carrington, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Francisco Toledo and Rufino Tamayo. There is a pleasant café, along with a bookshop and library.

Our Local Expert Says:

Casa Lamm's impressively designed restaurant is a must for anyone trying to impress guests or enjoy a meal in a fantastic surrounding. The bookshop is excellent for anyone wanting beautiful books about Latin America.

Description:

Culture is being rescued in an impressive way; more so in this city, where it seems that stress and hurry don't allow the capital's inhabitants to ever stop and take a look around. This gallery is a private association that is concerned with providing open forums for cultural and artistic expression. In its facilities you will find fine arts retrospectives, sculptures, oil paintings in a variety of techniques, photography exhibits and book presentations. It also offers courses and workshops on many arts. There is a cafeteria, video club and bookstore.

Description:

Construction of the Palace of Fine Arts started in 1904 and ended in 1932. Technical difficulties, budgetary constraints and the 1910 Mexican revolution interrupted what was supposed to be a four year project.

It is a magnificent white marble building used for world-class performing arts shows such as symphonic orchestras, operas, plays, singers and performers. It is undoubtedly the most prestigious performing arts center in all of Mexico.

In addition, the building is also a museum with a steady stream of shows of Mexican and European painters. The interior walls have murals by Jose Clemente Orozco as well as stunning bronce sculptures and stained glass windows.

Description:

This is one of the trendiest meeting places for the capital's young people. It uses art as the medium for offering an innovative dining experience, standing out not only because of the elaborate decor, but also because of its eccentric dishes, each presented with great skill and sophistication. The restaurant also functions as an art gallery, offering everything in it for sale; from paintings to sculpture to furniture and so on. It has a bar on the top floor, where current hits are played, intermixed with songs from the '70s and '80s.

Our Local Expert Says:

With an iPod in each room, a hip nightclub in the basement, and a restaurant fit for fashionistas this hotel is perfect for the glitterati and those not minding a bit of noise in exchange for aesthetics and the "cool" factor.

Description:

Grupo Habita's Hotel Condesa DF can claim a leading role in the transformation of Colonia Condesa into Mexico City's chicest neighborhood. It is a walker's paradise, with low-rise buildings housing some of the city's finest restaurants and bars. Occupying a 1928 French Neoclassical style edifice that was renovated by architect Javier Sanchez and interior designer India Mahdavi, Condesa DF is graced by contemporary art – a Grupo Habita signature touch – in an intriguing collection curated by Betsabee Romero. Filtered sunlight streams through arched windows into the accommodations, where finely crafted wood paneling adds warmth to the modern design. "Rain" showers are a standard feature in the white stone bathrooms that also offer Malin + Goetz amenities. The fourth-floor roof terrace bar is a inviting space complete with attractive views of Chapultepec Castle and Parque Espana where guests can lounge on circular beds, imbibe martinis, and choose from perfectly prepared sushi.

Rates: USD $221-563 (Does not include 18.5% room tax)
Payment: Cash, Amex, Visa, MasterCard
Facebook: /grupohabita
Parking: Valet
Services: BMW house car, AC, minibar, CD/DVD player, LDC TV, iPod, telephone, voicemail, safety box, laundry service, Free Wifi, business center, bicycles, tours, 24-hour front desk and room service
How to Get There: Metro Chapultepec

Description:

The Jumex Collection is the largest Latin American private contemporary art exhibition space open to the public. The gallery has more than 600 works of art by artists from all over the world. The collection is housed in the Jumex Juice Factory located in Ecatepec, 45 minutes from Mexico City. Besides enjoying the exhibit, you can also visit the library and the reading room onsite. Open to the public weekdays by appointment; free admission.

Description:

The Corredor Cultural de la Roma extended itself in territory to its neighboring Colonia Condesa, which is also currently undergoing a cultural boom with new art galleries and theatres. El Péndulo constitutes one of the new places whose cultural offerings daily attract more and more visitors. Both contemporary and traditional búsqueda theatre are performed here. Parking is available.

Description:

Travazares is located in one of the most bohemian parts of the Roma Condesa trend setting neighbourhoods. It's ambiance fiss it perfectly. Jazz music, great artwork, a dark and mysterious vibe and a great wine list make this a super little hide out and secret gem. It's food is equally enticing and made for a big appetite' meat platters which include Spanish sausages, olives, antipastos; or the cheese platters are well worth the visit, yet the decor and surrounds alone will make you want to stay. The cafe area at Travazares is upstairs and looks like something dug out from a very stylish French film.

Description:

The acronym OMR is for founders Patricia Ortiz Monasterio and Jaime Riestra who opened this gallery for new and contemporary art. With eight exhibits annually and 10 years of participating in international art fairs such as Madrid's Arco, United States' Art Chicago, Berlin's Art Forum and Paris' FIAC, they are proven art merchants. The gallery represents a wide spectrum of renowned painters, sculptors and photographers while promoting young talent. Housed in an early 20th century mansion in the heart of Colonia Roma, OMR is the exclusive agent for the work of Adolfo Riestra (1944-1989) and Luis Ortiz Monasterio (1906-1990).

Admission: Free

Description:

The Museo Nacional de Culturas Populares displays an ever-changing view of México's popular and indigenous culture. Founded in 1982, this Coyoacán museum is a complex of exhibition halls and patios where rural and urban voices mix together to celebrate the Mexican way of life. One wall of the entrance courtyard is decorated with a 16-foot tall ceramic tree, depicting 500 years of national heroes, native plants, and the Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanos. There is always something unexpected and fascinating to be enjoyed at the museum's Quinta Margarita, or in the Jacaranda and Central Patios where themed temporary exhibits or fine crafts draw repeat visitors. Weekly performances of authentic regional music and dance, children's art workshops, and CD release parties contribute to the museum's popularity. Its Center for Information and Documentation contains 170,000 historical photos, newspapers, books, recordings, and videos. Museo Frida Kahlo and Plaza Central are near the museum.

How to Get There: Métro: Line 3, Viveros Station. From Plaza Central walk 2 blocks east on Av. Hidalgo.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Friday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Admission: MX$11/US$1.10. Free daily to children under twelve and senior citizens above 60, the disabled, and students and teachers with proper identification. Sundays, free to all
Payment: Cash
Parking: Limited street parking
Services: Restrooms, temporary exhibitions
Additional information: Handicap accessible. Backpacks and large bags must be checked.

Description:

This magnificently restored 17th century building houses the museum, which opened in 1986 in what was the Hospital of San Juan de Dios together with the temple of the same name. The vast collection of objects on display is related to the applied arts. The everyday, commonplace pieces include furniture, gadgets, religious iconography, and watches. As a German financier who made his fortune in Mexico, Mr. Franz Mayer bequeathed his collection to the people of his adopted homeland. Other halls include paintings from the period of the Viceroys as well as decorative arts, religious sculptures and a collection of pieces from Europe and the Far East. There is a lovely interior courtyard and a remarkable library with an incredible collection of 800 different volumes of Don Quixote de la Mancha authored by the Spaniard, Miguel de Cervantes; many are both rare and unique.