Looking for the best things to do at Gallery Weekend Mexico in Mexico City? This weekend devoted to contemporary art attracts avant-garde artists, renowned art professionals and art enthusiasts — all set against the background of one of the world’s best food cities.
Gallery Weekend Mexico takes place each September in 47 galleries across Mexico City and features work by more than 165 artists. So if you’re headed to Mexico City, it’s worth timing your visit to catch this exciting event.
If you’re looking for free things to do in Mexico City, you can’t go wrong attending Gallery Weekend Mexico. It’s one of the newest additions to the worldwide movement that began in Berlin and takes place in Vienna, Madrid, New York and Chicago.
Here are some of the top things to do in Mexico City during Gallery Weekend Mexico. It’s a fusion of form and flavour in Mexico City’s ever-evolving and always exciting culinary scene.
1. Art with Breakfast
At Grupo Habita’s Hotel Downtown, a 17th century palace turned design hotel that’s just steps from Mexico City’s Plaza de la Constitución, you’ll enjoy morning espresso in a mezzanine patio graced by a apocalyptic painting by influential muralist Manuel Rodríguez Lozano.
Then, climb the stone-forged stairway to a rooftop patio where a pretty swimming pool is framed by the rooftops of Mexico City’s historic centre. Be sure to make time to visit the Antiguo Colegio de San Juan Ildefonso, home to murals by Diego Rivera, Orozco and other leaders in the Mexican muralist movement.
If you love design hotels, you’ll also be interested in Condesa DF, another of Grupo Habita’s stylish hotels in Mexico City. Its rooftop lounge is a top spot for sipping cocktails with views among the leafy treetops in the hip Condesa neighbourhood.
The Condesa DF is definitely one of the most chic and trendy hotels in Mexico City.
2. Each Plate Tells a Story at Dulce Patria
In Polanca, another popular Mexico city neighbourhood to stay in, chef Martha Ortiz creates lyrical stories through cuisine at Dulce Patria. The daughter of the celebrated Mexican artist Martha Chapa, Ortiz imagines each plate as the artistic expression of Mexican experiences in still life or playful sculptural form.
The menu evolves monthly with dishes such as “Maria Goes to the Market” influences by opera, literature and art. To wind up your meal, a fantastical ferris wheel of treats offers a new spin on dessert.
3. Chocolate Art at Mucho Mundo Chocolate Museum
Chocolate is an art form at Mucho Mundo Chocolate, the expansive cacao museum that focuses on the chocolate experience through its interpretation through artistic, cultural and gastronomic experiences. The curated exhibit space filled with contemporary and 17th century art from private collections is a meeting place for chocolate lovers, cocoa farmers, artisans, gourmets, and international artists.
Learn how to grind cacao nibs, sip hot chocolate and explore chocolate sculptures with Mexican themes developed by chefs such as Oswaldo Tapia and Victor Rivera.
4. Food as Performance Art at Pujol
For drama, head to Pujol recognized as #17 on the list of San Pelligrino’s 50 Best Restaurants in the world, to experience Mexican using ancient as well as modern culinary techniques.
Chef Enrique Olvera’s tasting menu offers delights such as an interpretation of street food in an unforgettable dish featuring baby corn sprinkled with powdered chicatana (ant), coffee, costeño chile and mayonnaise served over a gourd.
5. Gallery Weekend Mexico Art Crawl + Cocktails
Begin your Gallery Weekend Mexico evening with rooftop cocktails at Condesa DF, a 1928 building in the French neoclassical style. At dusk, free shuttle buses are available to drop you off at the entrance to top galleries along special routes in five of the most stylish colonias of Mexico City.
Gallery Weekend Mexico is a celebration of art and life so plan to stay late, enjoy cutting-edge contemporary art and get festive with tequila, wine and cocktails. It’s also an opportunity to purchases fine art pieces as each venue will inaugurate its most significant exhibitions of the season.
Travel Guide to Mexico City Gallery Weekend
Grupo Habita’s Hotel Downtown is centrally located near the Zocolo and with easy access to art galleries, restaurants and nightlife.
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I lobe this expression “lyrical stories through cuisine” – that is what food is all about I think.
Oh my gosh, the photo from Dulce Patria is amazing! The presentation breaks every traditional plating rule, including that of plate color, with such confidence. Stunning!
Glorious art , on the walls, in the galleries, in the cuisine what agreat opportunity to see the best of Mexico City!
I never went to Mexico City because in the past it was so crime -ridden. I”m seeing more about it lately so perhaps the crime situation has improved. In any event those restaurants are incredibly tempting – love the idea of food as something inspired by art, music and literature!
It doesn’t get much better: art, great food and Mexico City!!!
I’d love to attend Gallery Weekend in Mexico City! Enjoy the views from the Hotel Downtown’s bright yellow roof lounge, see those murals by Diego Rivera. Mexico really does have it all!
I’ve never been to Mexico City but your post has me thinking it might be time to plan a visit during Gallery Weekend Mexico. I’d love to see the murals by Diego Rivera and other notable artists and sampling some of the food you’ve written about would be fun too!
Art + Food is a wonderful combination! I’ve never been to Mexico City and would love to visit during Gallery Weekend. I’m especially impressed with what Martha Ortiz is doing by telling stories through her cuisine. Love the dish name “Maria Goes to the Market”.
What a great combination, food+art! And that blue plate with twigs as garnish is simply astonishing. Wonder if it tastes as good as it looks?
Great tips for artsy spots in Mexico City! I especially liked that strikingly beautiful turquoise plate at Dulce Patria Restaurant.
Loved this post! I met Chef Ortiz at the Cancun Wine & Food Festival…pining to taste her cooking:-)
I hope that everyone who only thinks “drug cartel” when someone talks about visiting Mexico City will read this post. Thank you for highlighting the “other side” of this vibrant and fascinating place.
I’ve been dying to get back to Mexico City and couldn’t ask for a better combination of experiences then art and food to please the senses. Gorgeous photos, and the Hotel Downtown’s rooftop would be a great place to begin what looks like a terrific experience.