Mexzine Culture Edit: Issue III
A 4-room boutique hotel in Baja, Guadalajara's top bars via the recs of a famous chef & mixologist, plus a Mexico City art museum reopens.
Hola Mexziners!
Guadalajara has been on my mind for months. I’ve been craving an afternoon admiring the murals at Museo Cabañas, a cold brew at Pal Real, and a cocktail or two at El Gallo Altanero. I promise – with you, readers, as my witnesses – to pay Guadalajara a visit before the year is over. In the meantime, we bring you a drinks-fueled city guide, courtesy of the super-talented José Luis Hinostroza and Arturo Santos, masterminds behind Mecenas Bar. Brandon’s favorite four-key Baja California Sur escape, a tribute to one of Oaxaca’s most iconic markets, and the much-anticipated return of a legendary Mexico City museum round out this Monday’s Mexican adventures.
Let’s go (and, of course, not talk about Mexico’s loss last night at the World Cup).
–Cristina Alonso, Managing Editor
Hotels:
My Favorite 4-Room Escape: Desierto Azul
People often ask me where I go to escape—and being a travel journalist, myriad places come to mind. Mexico and Italy dominate this category. But a surf town 90 minutes north of Cabo by the name of Todos Santos sees me return for respite time and time again. It’s a place where dusty, unpaved roads lead to unprepossessing, design-centric boutique hotels. Desert meets Pacific here—two settings that resonate cathartically for me. Cacti, crashing waves, the dry sun, all in my favorite country.
A four-key boutique hotel called Desierto Azul is my secret refuge. It’s a boho-chic bolthole that stares out at untamed Baja desert and jagged peaks in the distance, the beach not far in the other direction. After you check in with owner Fabrizio (a first-time hotelier whose passion for the property is contagious), you step into the hotel’s backyard, where a vanishing-edge pool and a gargantuan chaise for two captivate you on first entrance. I recently brought one of my best friends here—it took her breath away, so much so that she decided this small yet restorative sanctuary will be where she and her partner marry in 2027. Oh, and for the health-minded among us: everything on property is organic—including the on-site bakery helmed by Fabrizio and his family. —BB
Interviews & Nightlife
Guadalajara’s Coolest Bars — Chosen by a Chef & Spirits Master
There’s always an excuse to visit Guadalajara, but these days, we have a very specific one in mind: its bar scene. Cristina Alonso talked to Chef José Luis Hinostroza and spirits-master Arturo Santos of the much-lauded Mecenas Bar, where everything – from fortified wines to liqueurs – is crafted in-house, to learn about their favorite spots for a night out on the town, tapatío-style.
For Classic Cocktails
JLH: “El Gallo Altanero. It looks simple, but it’s not: well-done classics, great ice, and a brutally good agave selection.”
AS: “Luperca has a very strong selection.”
For A Fun Night Out
JLH: “De La O. It’s laid-back and has the soul of a cantina, as well as good drinks and that tapatío energy that comes naturally without being forced.”
AS: “Pare de Sufrir is really cool. They pour mezcales from Mezonte, produced especially for them, and you can dance cumbia all night long.”
For Creative Drinks
JLH: “The most creative drinks are at Hibol, because of its precise concept, and at Mecenas, because we focus on creativity from the very beginning – we make our own liqueurs, fortified wines, and many bases from scratch.”
AS: “El Gallo Altanero. They change their menu every couple of months.”
For Dancing
JLH: “Bar Américas is a classic in Guadalajara. It’s where you go when the night’s still young, and you really feel like dancing.”
AS: “Pardo. It’s a great nightclub with good music and an excellent atmosphere.”
For A Date
JLH: “Luperca. It has a great balance between good cocktails, good food, and an intimate atmosphere that doesn’t feel stuffy.”
AS: “Luperca, 100%.”
For Tequila Lovers
JLH: “El Gallo Altanera, without a doubt. If you want to understand tequila beyond commercial offerings, they do a beautiful, serious job curating their selection.”
AS: “There are many great spots, but my favorites are Farmacia Rita Pérez, El Gallo Altanero, and De La O.”
Why should cocktail fans check out Mecenas?
JLH: “We’re not only a bar – Mecenas is a way to understand mixology from its origins. We produce everything in-house, and we work with local distilleries to create spirits that feel like our own. Every drink has its own identity, craft, and a bit of Guadalajara in it. The food is designed to be enjoyed with your hands, like street antojitos that pair really well with the entire experience.”
AS: “The bar has a great atmosphere and good service. It’s not just because I work there – it’s really an amazing spot.”
Art
Mexico City’s Beloved Museo Dolores Olmedo Reopens Its Doors
Mi Nana y Yo (Frida Khalo, 1937 — in the museum)
La Noria, a stunning sixteenth-century hacienda in Xochimilco, could easily be worth a visit on its own – an estate lush with tranquil gardens populated by peacocks and xoloitzcuintles (Mexico’s iconic hairless dogs). Yet there are countless treasures to discover inside the former residence of collector Dolores Olmedo, including the largest collection of work by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, as well as a rich selection of prehispanic and Mexican popular art, among other wonders. After an ambitious four-year renovation, we can’t wait to return to this spectacular museum –and pay our respects to those friendly xolos. –CA
Culture
Mercado 20 de Noviembre, Oaxaca
Markets are one of the most fascinating and fun – and sometimes over-stimulating – ways to discover a city, and Oaxaca’s Mercado 20 de Noviembre is no exception. Open since 1882, this is the place to go for a serious immersion in regional products, from mezcal and quesillo to chocolate and fried grasshoppers, as well as all sorts of colorful crafts. Above all, it’s the place you go to eat. Its legendary Pasillo de Humo is a paradise for all things grilled, where a series of stalls await with meaty marvels like chorizo, cecina, and tasajo, served with handmade tortillas, salsas, and avocado slices… and the irresistible smoke that gives the section its name. –CA
And that concludes today’s issue of Mexzine. Want to send us a story idea, suggestion, or introduce yourself? Shoot us an email at Brandon@Mexzine.com or Cristina@Mexzine.com.
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