Travel Inspo: 72 Hours in Mexico City
More than 15 years had passed since my first visit to Mexico City, and this year, I felt the pull to return. I had two great reasons: celebrating my birthday and attending Zona Maco, Latin America’s biggest contemporary art fair. I traveled with two close friends—one a regular visitor to CDMX, the other experiencing it for the first time—so we had a lot of ground to cover in just three and a half days.
A Mezcal Welcome
After checking into the hotel, we kicked off the trip with a round of mezcal, orange slices, and sal de gusano (worm salt) at La Única—a classic welcome in Mexico City. While I’m still trying to acquire a taste for mezcal’s smokiness, I’m always up for giving it another shot whenever the opportunity arises.😉 One thing that never needs adjusting? The warmth and hospitality of Mexico City. Service here is exceptional, and every interaction is met with a genuine smile
Polanquito
Our first stop was Polanquito, a charming section of Polanco known for its walkability, boutique-lined streets, and stunning mix of colonial and modern architecture. Grand, French-style mansions sit next to sleek, contemporary boutiques, making it one of the most aesthetically unique areas in the city.
Roma Norte
We Ubered through Mexico City’s infamous traffic to Roma Norte—a neighborhood that embodies the city’s creative spirit with its independent galleries, speakeasies, and thriving food scene.
Dinner at El Tigre Silencioso was well worth the wait. The ceviche was bright and flavorful, the carnitas tender and rich, and our table on the balcony next to the bar gave us a great view of the lively space. The building itself was a beautifully preserved colonial structure, adding even more charm to the evening.
We ended the night at Handshake Speakeasy, an intimate, artfully designed bar ranked among the world’s best. The attention to detail in both the interiors and cocktails was next level—each drink felt like a carefully crafted experience. It’s a must-visit for anyone who appreciates a well-made cocktail in an upscale yet unpretentious setting. Reservations a must.
Friday: Brunch, Rooftops and Art
Friday morning started with brunch at Catamundi, where we shared a mix of sweet and savory dishes before heading to the Sofitel Hotel’s rooftop bar, Cityzen. The views here are some of the best in the city—El Ángel de la Independencia (golden angel statue), standing proudly along Paseo de la Reforma, is particularly unique from this vantage point. Seeing the city stretch endlessly in all directions really puts its scale into perspective.
Zona Maco: Latin America’s Largest Contemporary Art Fair
Zona Maco exceeded every expectation. As Latin America’s most prestigious contemporary art fair, it brings together an exciting mix of international and emerging artists, showcasing everything from large-scale installations to intricate mixed-media pieces. Some of my favorite artists this year included Maximiliano León, Sanaa Gateja, Jean Charlot, Germán Venegas, and Gafar Oluwabori. The sheer volume of work was overwhelming in the best way—it was the kind of experience that stays with you long after you leave.
We missed Mmmmaterial, an independent offsite exhibition that highlights experimental design and art, but it’s at the top of the list for next time.
Stuck in traffic on the freeway—this was the view from our Uber. Art is everywhere!
A Low-Key Evening with a Sweet Ending
After a full day of walking through Zona Maco, we opted for a relaxed dinner at Brassi in Polanco, followed by a stop at El Moro for their legendary churros. Light, crispy, and coated in just the right amount of cinnamon sugar, they were the perfect way to wrap up the night. (We need one in PHX ASAP!)
Saturday: History and Culture in the Heart of CDMX
A priority for this trip was visiting the National Museum of Anthropology—one of the most important museums in Latin America. We hired a private guide to help us navigate the vast collection, which spans thousands of years of Mesoamerican history. The Aztec Sun Stone (between 1502 and 1520), the monumental Olmec heads (1500–1000 BC), and the intricately detailed artifacts from the Maya civilization were definite highlights.
L: The Rain Umbrella Fountain. R: Chalchiuhtlicue, the Aztec goddess of water.
L: The Sun Stone R: Close up of painted mural with shell and water motif
Next, we made our way to Centro Histórico to explore the Zócalo and the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. Built over centuries, the cathedral is a fascinating mix of Baroque, Neoclassical, and Renaissance architecture, and due to the soft, sinking ground beneath it, parts of the structure have slightly tilted over time, adding to its character. (Caution: you will feel wobbly. It’s not you!)
Outside, we watched curanderos (shamans) performing limpias (spiritual cleansings) with copal smoke and bundles of herbs—a centuries-old tradition rooted in indigenous healing practices. The line of people waiting for a limpia was a testament to how deeply these rituals are woven into the city’s culture.
After visiting the cathedral, we walked along Madero Street, a pedestrian-only boulevard connecting Bellas Artes to the Zócalo. Along the way, we found a cute rooftop restaurant, where a welcome breeze cut through the sun-drenched afternoon. The tacos were yummy!
La Ópera Bar, established in 1876, is one of Mexico City's most historic cantinas.
An Easy Escape Worth Repeating
Mexico City has a way of drawing you back. The mix of art, history, food, and energy is unmatched, and no matter how many times you visit, there’s always something new to discover. (My notes app is full of places for next time.)
And the best part? It’s an easy trip from Phoenix—just a 2-hour and 45-minute direct flight. I have a feeling this might just become an annual tradition.
Clay and Culture: Forms Born from Travel
When I got home, I started sketching. There’s nothing like a trip to get new ideas flowing. The energy, history, and visual richness of Mexico City stayed with me, and I knew I wanted to translate that into my next project. The intricate patterns, bold symbolism, and powerful storytelling of Aztec art and culture became my focus, informing the pieces for my next Raku firing. There’s something about experiencing a place so deeply—its textures, its colors, its spirit—that inevitably finds its way into the art you create.
Below are three finished pieces from my latest collection, each inspired by our time in Mexico City.
Maitl, 2025.
Maitl
This piece is called Maitl, the Nahuatl word for "hand." I was taken by the Aztec stone carvings I saw at the Anthropology Museum where the hand motifs felt bold, simple, and deeply grounded.
The black raku "fingers" wrap around the form, set against a metallic surface that shifts depending on how the light hits it. It's a piece about contrast, texture, and presence.
Mexica, 2025.
Mexica
Mexica is a ceramic mask shaped by the visual language of the Aztecs. The extended earlobes are a detail I’ve always found striking. In ancient sculpture, they symbolized wisdom, status, and spiritual receptivity.
I kept the palette minimal – white crackle glaze and raw black clay for the eyes – to create a sense of calm and stillness. I wanted it to hold the kind of peaceful presence I feel when traveling and discovering something new.
Offering, 2025.
Offering
Based on a form I fell in love with at the Anthropology Museum, I reimagined it with more volume and vibrance.
Raku brought its usual unpredictability.✨🔥
A meeting of ancient shape and modern palette, finished in iridescent metallics with contrasting raw black clay. I used wax resist to protect the beaded rim from glaze and to create the concentric circles inside the bowl. If you’d like to learn more about how I incorporate wax and tape resist in my ceramic practice, read here.
Hasta la próxima, CDMX!
Travel Notes in Clay
Each place leaves its mark—stirring new gestures, and reshaping how I translate experience into form.
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