Insiders

Mexico City Insider: Designer Perla Valtierra

By Peter Schlesinger

Since 2010, Perla Valtierra’s curled, swurvy ceramics have earned her Valtierra Cerámica products a cult-following among aesthetes the world over. Born and later educated in Mexico City, Valtierra spent years living in northern Mexico, Brussels and Paris before moving back to Mexico during the pandemic. In April 2021, she opening Valtierra Cerámica’s first showroom there, inside a a 20th century townhouse in the Juárez neighborhood. “It’s a very vibrant city,” she says of Mexico’s capital. “There are so many things for anyone to do at any time. There’s so much energy.”

Read on for Perla’s recommendations of the activities, shops, restaurants and museums that she loves most in Mexico City.

Contact Indagare or your Indagare Trip Designer to plan your next visit to Mexico City.

Where to Eat Lunch

**[Tetetlan](https://indagare.com/restaurant/tetetlan)**(Avenida de Las Fuentes 180 - B, Jardines del Pedregal), built over volcanic rocks next to Luis Barragan’s Casa Pedregal. There is a glass floor so you can see the lava. It serves Mexican food that is really good, and it gets you to a different neighborhood. It’s also a great store. I also like Cicatriz ( Calle Dinamarca 44, Juárez) near my showroom. It’s a very casual, cozy place for salads.

The Big Meal Out

“Rosetta (Colima 166, Roma Norte; rosetta.com.mx) is the place I really enjoy. It’s always great food. It’s the best.”

The Laid-Back Dinner

“At Campobaja (Colima 124-E, Roma Norte; campobaja.com) the ambience is very casual. It’s a simple place and the food is amazing.”

For the Sweet Spot

The meringue cake at Contramar (Calle de Durango 200, Roma Norte) or mil hojas de frutos rojos (mille feuille with red fruits) at Panadería Rosetta (Colima 179, Roma Norte).

Cocktail (or Mocktail) Hour

Caiman (Avenida Nuevo León 120, Hipódromo) is a nice place for drinks. Lately I’ve been doing mocktails, I let them surprise me.”

Fashionable Finds & Design

Zii Ropa has all the basics, with very beautiful fabrics and silhouettes. And for home décor, Onora has lots of options, including more textiles. Of course, the Market of Zonora is just so Mexico City. It’s such a local vibe.

The Art Stop

“Kurimanzutto (Gobernador Rafael Rebollar 94, San Miguel Chapultepec) does new installations from artists that are contemporary but who are mixing traditional crafts.”

The Must-See Museums

“Museo Anahuacalli was designed by Diego Rivera and has a collection of Pre-Columbian art. The architecture is amazing. It was recently renovated and last year it added a new space that integrates with Rivera’s original building.”

The Activity

“In Prehispanic times this was a city of canals, and they were growing the food in chinampas (floating gardens). Today, Xochimilco is an area of the city that still has these canals and gardens. It’s a site to connect with the original Mexico City.”

Contact Indagare or your Indagare Trip Designer to plan your next visit to Mexico City.

Related: Read more from our Mexico City Insider series, with guides from:

More Inspiration

whimsical restaurant corner with plants painted on the wall; a cocktail with small flowers on the foam; close up of a sashimi and vegetable dish

Top Tables: Mexico City’s Best Restaurants

Indagare is always scouting for the newest best restaurants, classic spots and neighborhood gems that feel like a special find. Though the restaurant scene changes often, here is our current list of top tables in Mexico City, for any occasion.