Mexico City’s Centro Historico — the historic downtown — is a bustling, fascinating place. It’s lively, touristy, beautiful and crowded, all at once. But it’s not generally known as a hotspot for the best Mexico City shopping. That’s changed a bit, since the opening last year of Barrio Alameda, a hip retail and dining complex set in a beautifully restored art deco building that dates to the 1920s. And you can even stay overnight in the beautiful building.
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Barrio Alameda, which opened just over a year ago in its current incarnation as a purveyor of hip style and dining, sits along the border of Parque Alameda, the lovely city park. You might miss it if you don’t look. My hubby and I found Barrio Alameda just by accident on our most recent trip to Mexico City, as we looked for a couple nearby museums. We were pleasantly surprised when we wandered into this attractive building. There are lots of things to do in Mexico City, especially downtown (and certainly, the Roma Norte district is a hub for hip and stylish shopping). But Barrio Alameda should be on your radar too, if you’re into cutting-edge shopping and authentic Mexican art and design. Here are some highlights.
Mexico City Restaurants at Barrio Alameda
The ground floor of Barrio Alameda is dedicated mostly to food and drink; we enjoyed a an open-air lunch served on the front sidewalk at Butcher & Sons, which specializes in gourmet burgers and cocktails (they even have a special menu for dogs, making this a great place for pet owners).
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Clothing, Design & Style Shopping in Mexico City at Barrio Alameda
• Ink Inc. does tattoos and sells tattoo-oriented gifts and decor items as well.
• Casa Salt features the work of exclusively Mexican designers, mostly for women.
• Barachiel is a hair salon for men and women where you just might find your next look.
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• Sin Título is a collective of artists and jewelry designers who custom-craft jewelry for men and women.
• HoM (which stands for House of Mode) carries the creations of three Mexican clothing designers: Manov, Jacobo Toledo and Gloom.
• La Maquina de Tiempo is a gallery that showcases the work of local Mexico City photographers and also hosts workshops, courses and temporary exhibitions.
• Zagal Factory Store, one of the newest shops at Barrio Alameda, sells contemporary artwork as well as eye-catching, very colorful clothing shoes, furnishings and decor by Mexican artists and designers.
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Mexico City Hotel at Barrio Alameda
This rather small Mexico City retail complex even has its own place to stay: Chaya Bed & Breakfast Boutique, a casual-but-stylish B&B with a rooftop terrace that offers surprisingly peaceful views of bustling downtown Mexico City. Rates start at $100 for a 215-square-foot standard room, including free WiFi, breakfast, and 32-inch TV. (You can also visit the rooftop deck even if you’re not staying at the hotel.)