Mexico City | The Insider's Guide To Shopping In Mexico City
Is it me, or are you absolutely baffled by your friends and colleagues who don't take all their PTO? I realize there are numerous factors at play here. Meanwhile, I am doing the absolute most over here, tracking my vacation in an Excel spreadsheet and maximizing my time by combining it with long weekends and holidays.
So it is no surprise that I was home less than three weeks before repacking my suitcase and traveling south to Mexico City.
Mexico City is known for its cultural richness, dynamic and diverse food scene, and an incredible blend of old and new architecture. And you can't forget the ever-popular Lucha Libre. If you haven't visited Mexico City, the sheer size and scale can be surprising and a bit overwhelming. While I'd encourage you to walk where you can because it's always more fun to explore on foot, it's one of the largest cities in the world, and navigating its many neighborhoods can feel like exploring multiple cities within a city.
Despite being a bustling metropolis, and they have the traffic to prove it, Mexico City is full of green spaces. Chapultepec Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world, offers lakes, museums, a zoo, and plenty of trails. Smaller parks and tree-lined streets in neighborhoods like Condesa, Roma, and Polanco add to the city's charm and surprisingly green landscape.
Home to over 150 museums, many of which are world-renowned, like the Museo Nacional de Antropología and the Museo Frida Kahlo, the city's cultural offerings often surprise visitors. If museums aren't your thing, the city is filled with public art, including murals by famous artists like Diego Rivera.
And I haven't even touched on the food scene. Be still my heart! The city's food scene includes world-class fine dining, international cuisine, and regional Mexican dishes that far surpass the typical fare. Mexico City is synonymous with culinary innovation and is a place where chefs push beyond the boundaries of traditional Mexican cuisine. As a result, numerous restaurants are on "best of" listicles across the globe.
It's easy to see why Mexico City has been on my bucket list for quite some time.
Over the next few weeks, I'll share some of my favorite places to eat, both high and low-end, and some of my favorite places to explore.
But first, a vacation would not be a vacation without a little shopping. Forget Zara, COS, and H&M. I will share with you some incredible, one-of-a-kind shops where you can find something even for the most difficult person on your list to shop for!
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Xinú Perfumes | Polanco
For the fragrance aficionado…
If there's one place that absolutely must be on your list when visiting Mexico City, it is Xinú Perfumes.
Xinú is known for creating unique, handcrafted perfumes that blend botanical ingredients from the Americas with traditional perfumery techniques. Inspired by the rich biodiversity of Latin America, Xinú often incorporates rare and exotic ingredients that reflect the region's natural beauty and heritage. Approaching perfumery as a form of art allows Xinú to create multidimensional, story-driven scents.
As we were guided through our olfactory experience, I was incredibly impressed by the sculptural perfume bottles in which the fragrances were housed. As you reach the final spritz in your bottle, don’t toss that bottle! That beautiful vessel can be repurposed as a flower vase showcased in your home.
Xinú truly allows guests to explore and truly immerse themselves in the experience. I immersed myself too much as I left with a bag full of products.
However, if you are shopping for a fragrance aficionado, you've come to the right place. Xinú Perfumes produces limited collections that can't be found in a large department store like Neiman's or Nordstrom. If you see something you like, it's best to purchase it.
Xinú Perfumes does a remarkable job combining luxury, nature, and artistry into its fragrance while celebrating Latin America's culture and the region's diverse flora.
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Xinú Perfumes | Entrance
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Xinú Perfumes | Showroom
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Xinú Perfumes | Showroom
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Xinú Perfumes | Showroom
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Irene Buffa
For the vintage, luxury lover…
While I was wandering through Roma Norte, waiting for our table at Panadería Rosetta, I happened upon this gorgeous green door. For those of you who don't know me, I have a penchant for extraordinary doors. Being the curious person I am, I wanted to know what was inside.
Irene Buffa specializes in vintage and pre-loved luxury fashion, offering a wide range of designer items, including bags, clothing, and accessories from brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Chanel. Irene Buffa has established quite a reputation as the first second-hand luxury marketplace in Latin America. Patrons appreciate its focus on sustainability, as it promotes responsible fashion consumption by giving high-quality pieces a second life, which contrasts with the fast fashion industry.
What can I say? She has some extraordinary pieces. I fell head over heels in love with this vintage Chanel bag. If I weren't headed to Paris at the end of the month, she totally would have come home with me. Like other vintage and pre-loved luxury stores, inventory constantly changes, making it a great excuse to visit often.
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Irene Buffa
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Irene Buffa
For the spectacle sweetheart…
A little further down the road in Roma Norte, I found what is quite possibly deemed as the mecca of sunglasses, Colima 112. Of course, I had absolutely no clue what I was walking into until I fell in love with no less than ten different pairs of sunglasses.
Colima 112 is known for combining high-end eyewear with a chic lifestyle experience. From the moment you step in the door, you feel magically transported. The building is a restored 1950s Bauhaus-style structure that blends historical architecture with contemporary design.
If you are looking for your run-of-the-mill Ray-Bans or Maui Jims, all I can say is MOVE ALONG because you won't find anything like that here. Colima 112 attracts patrons seeking cutting-edge, handcrafted eyewear, including frames made from innovative materials like stainless steel and 3D-printed designs. These splurge-worthy spectacles are sure to be showstoppers no matter where you go.
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Colima 112
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Colima 112
For the art collector…
If you didn't get your art fix at the Museo Soumaya or Museo Jumex, I have just the place you need to visit.
As we wandered up the street, we happened upon Mooni, an art gallery in Roma Norte that focuses on showcasing the works of emerging and established local and international artists. Their art catalog has more than 150 national and international featured creatives. Mooni is more than just a gallery- It is a cultural hub for art lovers seeking to explore Mexico's modern artistic expressions. The gallery showcases a wide range of pieces, from bold, provocative works to subtler, thought-provoking prints, making it a destination for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
There's nothing I love more than wandering around art galleries. Perhaps it's driven by my curiosity, but it's a source of inspiration. If I feel like I've got a case of writer's block or admiring others' creations, it can often give me the spark of creativity I am missing. While galleries can sometimes feel intimidating or, at times, cold, Mooni is quite the opposite. We were welcomed by the staff, who explained the gallery concept and were more than happy to share notes on the art of the featured works. I'm kicking myself as a few smaller pieces really stood out and spoke to me, but I didn't pull the trigger.
Mooni is quite the find, as it provides access to unique and often limited-edition pieces that you would not be able to source otherwise. Whether you are looking for a new piece of art for your home or simply looking to pick up a small trinket for the aesthete in your life. Mooni has you covered.
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Numen Design
For the stylophile …
From the time I was given my first box of Crayola crayons, I've been obsessed with all things pen, pencils, and stationary. I thought this was something that I would grow out of, but it seems to have only grown as I've aged. One of the first things I do anytime I find myself in Asia is find a stationary store. Talk about time standing still. I can quickly lose a few hours of my day trying different pen styles and playing with varying paper products. It's a problem, I know.
As I walked past Numen Design, I did a double take and had to walk back. It was as if my eyes deceived me. Surely that wasn't someone in a store window carving wood for a pen? Right?
Indeed it was.
Numen Design originated from a romantic obsession with collecting traditional writing tools. These stationary accessories are designed for those creatives who are constantly writing notes and documenting thoughts. Numen Design offers an assortment of exceptional pens and pencils that are most certainly a conversation starter.
Most of these products are out of stock online, so make sure you purchase one while you can. Perfect for the stylophile in your life, or simply purchase one for yourself to use for that looming to-do list or those meeting notes you need to capture. It will make the process much more fun!
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Numen Design
The Insiders Guide To Shopping In Mexico City | Numen Design
Mexico City is an extraordinary place to visit and there’s so much more to do than exploring restaurants, says the girl who planned this entire trip around a restaurant reservation.
These shops that I’ve shared are unique, artisinal experiences allowing you to look beyond the ordinary. From luxury perfumes at Xinú Perfumes to cutting-edge design at Numen, each spot reflects Mexico City's blend of tradition and modernity.
If you have a chance to visit any of these shops, I’d love to hear all about your experience and what you may have picked up along the way!
Until Next Time!