THE #DANNIJOTRAVELS GUIDE TO MEXICO CITY
Danni's wedding is fast approaching, and for her bachelorette, Jodie planned a multi-day escape to vibrant Mexico City with the help of local tastemaker Morenita Experience. Here, the sisters share their favorite places to sleep, eat, drink and shop - as well as the captivating artistic landmarks that have inspired upcoming Dannijo collections.
SLEEP
EAT
Mexico City's food scene has never been more exciting, though you'll have to book in advance to get a table at the most popular spots. Enrique Olvera's Pujol has the most coveted tables in the city - order the Mole Madre.
Rosetta is helmed by chef Elena Reygadas who serves incredible Italian food in a casual courtyard environment, and Maximo Bistrot fuses French and Mexican cuisine in a daily-changing menu that celebrates local produce. Casual sister restaurant Lalo is great for breakfast, as is Nicos and Lardo.
From left: Tortelloni at Rosetta, an oyster at Campobaja, and a chef at work at Pujol.
Campobaja is one of the best places to eat seafood in Mexico City - feast on oysters, ceviche, and tuna tostadas - as is Contramar, chef Gabriela Camargo’s famous seafood spot in La Roma, where the bachelorette crew enjoyed a lunch.
Go to Quintonil for modern Mexican food and a focus on hyperlocal ingredients - chef Jorge Vallejo is a protégé of Enrique Olvera - and make time for Casa Virginia, an elegant restaurant in a 1920s building run by a mother-daughter team.
DRINK
San Ángel Inn is a restored hacienda with beautiful gardens - be sure to sit outside and enjoy the ambience over margaritas and ribeye tacos.
Blanco Colima's outdoor patio-bar is a great spot for cocktails, while Le Tachinomi Desu, a Japanese bar in Little Tokyo, offers natural wines, sake, Japanese whisky and artisan beers.
Natural wine at Le Tachinomi Desu (left) and Blanco Colima (right).
Continue the party with late-night drinks at Parker & Lenox, a speakeasy that regularly flies musicians in from New York or Buenos Aires to perform at weekends, and for salsa dancing, Club San Luis in Roma Sur is an experience in itself. It has a 20-piece live band, and the dancing is phenomenal.
DO
Jodie is a fan of the master of 'emotional architecture', Luis Barragan - in fact, his work has inspired the Dannijo's fall/winter 2019 collection. Be sure to book Casa Pedregal and Casa Luis Barragan ahead of time.
You'll also need to book ahead to visit Casa Azul, the Coyoacán family home of Frida Kahlo, which is now a museum dedicated to her life and work. The surrounding neighborhood is a delight to explore too.
Danni at the Luis Barragan-designed Cuadra San Cristobal.
To see the murals of Diego Rivera, Kahlo's artist husband, head to the Palacio Nacional, where one of his most famous works, depicting the history of Mexico, adorns a stairwell.
For contemporary art, visit MASA. The ambitious platform and gallery curates exhibitions celebrating collectible art and design - check out its Instagram for current projects. You can also visit the studio-showroom of one of MASA's founders, Hector Esrawe, an important artist and designer in his own right.
Jodie and Danielle at Casa Azul, the home of Frida Kahlo.
SHOP
A #Dannijotravels guide is not complete without a few vintage shopping highlights, and Danielle and Jodie loved the Bazaar Sábado in San Ángel, where you can find art, clothing and jewelry.
Explore the markets at La Ciudadela, San Ángel and La Lagunilla.
La Ciudadela is a market specialising in artisanal crafts and folk art, ideal for souvenirs. On Sundays, head to the La Lagunilla flea market, which is filled with antique treasures.
Glassware at Lago DF (left) and a perfume bottle at Xinú (right).
For a beautifully curated showcase of emerging Mexican fashion brands, head to Lago DF, which has a number of locations across the city, each totally unique. Ikal is a concept store that carries independent brands for men, women and the home, and Xinú is a perfumer that creates fragrances using Mexican flowers and botanicals.
