WINTER 2012
celebratedliving.com
38
MostStylish
CITIES
THEWORLD
’
S
BYTANVI CHHEDA
Fromgastronomic fare to fashion, architecture toart,
anddecor todesign, these six citiesare cultural hubs.
MexicoCity
CASAMERLOS
This restaurant is
onlyopen fromThursday toSunday,
just for lunch.Very, very traditional
fare. It’s runbyamotherand
daughter, in theObservatorioarea,
not a trendydistrict likePolancoor
Condesa. They specialize inPuebla
food.Order the chileennogada,
which isa chilepoblano stuffedwith
meat and fruit and toppedwithwal-
nut creamandpomegranate seeds.
Victoriano Zepeda 80, 011-52-55-
5277-4360; casamerlos.com
FONDA EL REFUGIO
It’sbeen there
for the last 50years. I love their
quesadillasandmargaritas. It’sa
veryclassickindof jointand looks
likeaMexicanhouse,with thatdeco-
rative
papel picado
streamingdown.
You’ll seeamixof people, frompoli-
ticians toartists.
Liverpool 166,
Col. Juárez, 011-52-55-5207-2732;
fondaelrefugio.com
GALERÍADANIEL LIEBSOHN
This is
anantiquestore, buthe isalmost
likeagallerist, curating these
amazingpieces.Theysometimes
haveplates fromold restaurants;
theyhavea lotof beautifulMexican
things. I’vebought theseMichoacan
lacquerdisheswithflowers from
therebefore.
Ubicación, Londres
161-49, Plaza del Ángel, Col. Juárez;
liebsohn.com.mx
PATRICIA CONDE GALERÍA
Sheonly
doesphotography. I really likeher
photosbecause they remindmeof
thedishesatmy restaurant,meant
to catchabeautiful, perfectmo-
ment. The space feels likeaNew
Yorkgallery, verywhiteandwith
high ceilings. The recent show
aboutMexican landscapeswas real-
lyamazing.
Lafontaine73, Polanco;
patriciacondegaleria.com
PANDE ZACATLÁN
This isa really
popularbakery in
Coyoacán
, in the
southof thecity.TheirMexican
bread isverymuch theoppositeof a
baguette. It’svery rustic.Theyalso
havesweetbreadscalled
polvorones
,
kindof likeshortbread.All yousee
areshelvesof breadandnothing
more, but it’s thesmell thatyou
remember.MySundaynight ritual is
tohavea fewpiecesof theirbread
withacafécon leche.Glorious.
Pacífico350, Col. Los Reyes
Coyoacán, 011-52-55-5544-8641
FIORENZA CORDERO
Shecan takea
pieceof laceandmix itwithapearl
andgoldandMexican ribbonand
createahairpieceoutof these
materials.Herpieceshave thisold
Mexicanglamour to them,which
makesyou feel likeamoviestar, like
MaríaFélixorDoloresdelRío, these
Mexicandivas from the40s. Formy
wedding, shemademeagorgeous
silver-and-goldhairbandwith the
motif of theQuetzalcoatl, a feathered
serpent,which isan important
symbol inourculturegoingback to
theAztecs.
By appointment only, 011-
52-1-55-4186-2943
W
Withplentyof color
andhistory that spansmillenia,MexicoCitymakes fora layered
and fascinatingdestination. From textiles tocuisine, everything tellsastoryhere. From
thesoon-to-debutJumexart collection’snewhome tochef-owner
MARTHAORTIZCHAPA
’s
DulceyPatria, situatednext to theLasAlcobasboutiquehotel, thecity ismostdefinitely
enjoyingamoment.Here, chefOrtizsharesherD.F. picks.
