An Art Lover’s Guide to Mexico City

Mexico City is having a moment. The second-largest city in Latin America, rich in history and tradition, perpetually welcomes new sets of restaurants, bars, shops, faces—and, of course, fairs and galleries. Zona Maco, the city’s annual art fair, saw record attendance this year, totalling 81,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors. Mexico City ranked among the world’s best and most livable cities for expats in 2024 in lists by Forbes, Time Out, and countless others.

The Mexican capital’s growing number of art residences at galleries like JO-HS and Fundación Casa Wabi has made it a magnet for artists. “There is no other city like Mexico City in the Americas that brings together the ancient, cultural, and contemporary,” said Chicago-based gallerist Mariane Ibrahim in a statement when she opened her Mexico City outpost in 2023. “The result of this combination, of tradition and modernity, offers all ingredients an artist needs, a platform for creativity.”

This guide provides a comprehensive look at Mexico City for art-loving visitors. Leveraging insider tips from gallerists, we’ve assembled a curated selection of galleries, museums, homes, and hangs that shouldn’t be missed.

Mexico City galleries

The gallery scene in Mexico City thrives on the interplay between established venues and experimental spaces. This juxtaposition produces a flurry of avant-garde exhibitions and globally recognized art.

“Mexico City’s art world has always been born out of a collaborative and experimental energy drawn from the country’s rich cultural history,” said Taylor Fisch, curator of archives at kurimanzutto, in an interview. “It thrives when people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines come together to consider that history while redefining what it means to create art in Mexico today.”

These must-visit galleries are propelling the city’s art scene forward:

In Roma

This neighborhood is where the action is—fun bars, bustling restaurants, and a majority of the city’s galleries.

• Travesía Cuatro: Established in Madrid with its second outpost in Mexico City, Travesía Cuatro bridges contemporary art between Europe and Latin America. Founded by Silvia Ortiz and Inés López-Quesada in 2003, the gallery is housed within a 19th-century neo-colonial building.
• Galería Hilario Galguera: This contemporary space is a cornerstone of the city’s art scene. The gallery opened in 2006 with Damien Hirst’s first exhibition in Latin America and has continued to show renowned local and international artists.
• OMR: Since 1983, this gallery has been a platform for innovative and influential artists such as Candida Höfer and Troika, and its exhibitions are celebrated for their conceptual depth and artistic diversity.
• Galerie Nordenhake: With roots in Berlin and Stockholm, this gallery extends its reach to Mexico with a focus on conceptual and minimalist art.

In San Miguel Chapultepec

This residential area just under Chapultepec Park is home to only a few—but some of the best—cafés and galleries in town.

• JO-HS: This gallery, residency, and shop by Danish curator Elisabeth Johs has brought the art set to San Miguel Chapultepec. As a newcomer opened in 2021, JO-HS stands out as a contemporary gallery with the warmth and welcome of an intimate home.
• kurimanzutto: A long-standing trailblazer in the city’s contemporary landscape, kurimanzutto was founded in 1999 by José Kuri and Mónica Manzutto, with the support of the prominent Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco. The gallery showcases artists like Orozco and Daniel Guzmán in an old lumber yard converted into a gallery by architect Alberto Kalach.

In Polanco

This upscale neighborhood boasts some of the city’s most luxurious shops, restaurants, and showrooms.

• Proyectos Monclova: Founded in 2005, this gallery boasts a dynamic program including the estates of influential Mexican artists like Helen Escobedo and Manuel Felguérez, as well as ultra-contemporary names like Néstor Jiménez.

In Condesa

This lush, tree-lined neighborhood is popular among international crowds.

• KÖNIG GALERIE: German gallery KÖNIG brings the avant-garde spirit of Berlin to Mexico City. The gallery features a mix of European and Latin American artists, creating a vibrant cross-cultural dialogue.
• Mooni: With locations in Roma and Condesa, Mooni is a rising star on the local gallery scene. It is dedicated to showcasing emerging artists and contemporary art, and is known for its eclectic displays.

In Reforma

This busy commercial area is anchored by Paseo de la Reforma, a wide avenue that runs diagonally across the heart of Mexico City.

• Mariane Ibrahim: Focusing on artists from Africa and its diaspora, this gallery in a Haussmann-style space has gained international acclaim for fostering a deeper understanding of African heritage and its modern interpretations.

Museums, private collections, and cultural centers

As a hub for art, business, and culture in Latin America, Mexico City is home to some of the region’s most impressive institutions and collections. From pre-Columbian artifacts to contemporary art, there’s something for everyone.

These museums and private collections are not to be missed:

• Museo Anahuacalli: Founded by Diego Rivera, Museo Anahuacalli houses the artist’s vast collection of pre-Columbian artifacts. The building, designed by Rivera and architect Juan O’Gorman, is a work of art in and of itself, resembling an ancient teocalli (temple).
• Museo Tamayo: With its cutting-edge architecture, Museo Tamayo opened in 1981 in the lush Chapultepec Park. It was established to house the art collections of Rufino Tamayo, a renowned painter who fused European styles with Mexican folk art, and his wife, who donated their collection to the nation. Highlights include masterpieces by world-famous artists like Pablo Picasso and Mark Rothko.

• LagoAlgo: This lakeside cultural center in the heart of the city integrates its natural environs with its art programming. In a historic modernist building originally constructed for the 1968 Olympics, founders Cristobal Riestra (owner of OMR) and restaurateur Joaquín Vargas have devised a unique experience combining farm-to-table dining with contemporary art.
• Museo Jumex: This museum houses one of Latin America’s most significant private contemporary art collections. Designed by David Chipperfield, the striking minimalist building features a distinctive saw-tooth roof. Highlights of the collection include works by Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, and Gabriel Orozco.
• Fundación Casa Wabi: Founded by artist Bosco Sodi, this nonprofit arts center has locations in Oaxaca and Mexico City. The latter houses Sodi’s studio, designed by famed Mexican architect Alberto Kalach. Visitors can—with a reservation—get a look inside the space where the artist’s large-scale, textural paintings and sculptures come to life.

• Museo Frida Kahlo: Also known as La Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo’s childhood home in Coyoacán is an intimate museum that gives insight into the artist’s life and work, displaying her personal belongings, artworks, and artifacts.
• Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC): Located on the campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), MUAC was the first public museum in Mexico exclusively focused on the arts created in the 21st century. It boasts a rotating collection, forward-thinking exhibitions, and innovative programming that make it a central art hub.
• Museo Mural Diego Rivera: Home to one of Diego Rivera’s most famous works, Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park (1947), this museum is a small but not-to-be-missed space. It was built specifically to house this iconic mural, which depicts 400 years of Mexican history and over 100 characters from various periods, including historical figures like Hernán Cortés, Porfirio Díaz, and Frida Kahlo.
• Olivia Foundation: Focusing on women artists, Olivia Foundation showcases abstract art from the post-war era to the present. It opened in early 2024 with the inaugural exhibition “Between Us,” featuring works from the collection of founders Jana and Guillermo González. This show engages in intergenerational dialogue, with works by artists like Helen Frankenthaler and Jadé Fadojutimi and a new commission by Sophia Loeb.

Architecture

In Mexico City, colonial-era mansions sit alongside Brutalist buildings, and Baroque churches share the streets with modern museums and galleries. This living museum of architecture boasts a number of must-see buildings, including:

• Casa Gilardi: Luis Barragán, a renowned Mexican architect, is celebrated for his bold use of space, color, and light. One of his final projects, Casa Gilardi, features a vibrant yellow corridor, a stunning indoor pool, and serene spaces that underscore his legacy as one of the 20th century’s most influential architects.
• Nido de Quetzalcóatl: A visionary project by Javier Senosiain, known for his iconic organic architecture, this surreal residential complex is inspired by the serpent deity Quetzalcóatl. It features undulating structures and psychedelic colors that blend into the surrounding nature.
• Torres de Satélite: This set of colorful geometric towers symbolize modernity and progress in mid-20th-century Mexico. They represent a visionary collaboration between two of Mexico’s most influential architects, Luis Barragán and Mathias Goeritz.

Art world haunts

Art aside, Mexico City’s dining scene has long been a major attraction. In between shows and tours, this is where the art world goes to refuel and mingle.

For drinks

• Piano: This sleek yet retro bar in Juárez is known for its casually cool crowd that lingers until late.
• El Minutito: Perfect for a leisurely drink or meet-cute, this Italian-style café-bar has a cinematic vibe.
• NIV: There’s a buzz about this wine and cocktail bar, which serves a small menu of locally loved dishes in Condesa.
• Ticuchi: Serving Mexican fare, this dimly lit bar in Polanco is perfect for a date night or intimate group outing.
• Salon Palomilla: Step into a sultry lounge with an open roof, a spot-on cocktail menu, and live DJs.
• Hiya Wine Bar: Seemingly straight out of Tokyo, this wine bar and restaurant is a small gem tucked behind the kitchen at popular sushi spot Yoru.

For dinner

• Darosa: Dim lights, old-school hip-hop, and classic Italian flavors make this Juárez spot a local favorite.
• Ultramarinos: A must for seafood lovers, Ultramarinos serves fresh oysters, crab, and more in a light and lively space.
• Martínez: A place to see and be seen, Martínez plates refined, hearty dishes on a trendy corner between Roma and Juárez.
• Fugaz: This low-key, edgy eatery serves up a small menu filled with big, bold flavors in Roma Norte.
• Maximo: From suckling pig to a fresh crudo, a seasonal menu has put Maximo on the map, along with its refined interiors and chic crowds.
• Rosetta: The menu at this romantic and whimsical staple demonstrates deep respect for Mexican ingredients.
• Propio: This sleek new restaurant is lined with large-scale artworks and adorned with art lovers sipping martinis.
• Botánico: A restaurant, bar, and botanical garden in equal measure, this sophisticated setting was made for big groups and celebratory nights.
• Hugo: Inevitable run-ins with friends make this an art world favorite for natural wines and Mediterranean sharing plates.