Born and raised in Mexico, Stephanie Barba Mendoza led global projects at Martin Brudnizki Design Studio for a decade before founding her London-based interior-design studio in 2020. With an impressive international network of creatives and artisans to call on, she loves fusing high and low, contemporary and antique, and the simple with the ornate in her schemes, which include private homes in Antwerp and Miami and hospitality locations in Amsterdam, Lisbon and Vienna, as well as a club in Mexico City.
Stephanie is known for her immersive, playful interiors rich in print, pattern and colour, featuring surreal touches and fantastical elements. Her aesthetic makes sense considering she cites unconventional trailblazers including Diana Vreeland, Freddie Mercury, Pedro Friedeberg and René Magritte as major influences on her design philosophy. barbamendoza.com
Decoration & Design
Onora, Lope de Vega 330, Miguel Hidalgo 11560
A favourite boutique in Polanco, Onora offers an exceptional selection of traditional Mexican homeware. onoracasa.com
What's everyone reading?
Xinú, Alejandro Dumas 161, Miguel Hidalgo 11560
I bought some incense at this charming store, which fills the studio with an incredible fragrance – even those who typically dislike incense are impressed. xinu.mx
Perla Valtierra, Fundación Marso, Berlín 37, Cuauhtémoc 06600
This La Roma-based shop showcases stunning contemporary Mexican pottery, from vases to plates. perlavaltierra.shop
Metate, Colima 232, Cuauhtémoc 06700
A concept store in Roma Norte that features traditional Mexican artisan crafts and clothing. @metate_mx
Originario, Colima 249, Cuauhtémoc 06700
Housed in a beautiful building in Colonia La Roma, this outlet spotlights emerging Mexican designers and makers, presenting a vibrant selection of modern design pieces. originario.mx
Art & Architecture
Olivia Foundation, Tonalá 46, Cuauhtémoc 06700
This neoclassical house from the early 20th century holds an impressive private art collection. oliviafoundation.mx
Mooni, Colima 129, Cuauhtémoc 06700
The gallery features local artists, providing accessible art options for collectors and enthusiasts alike. moonigallery.com
Casa Pedregal, Avenida de Las Fuentes 180, Alvaro Obregón 01900
A gem designed by Luis Barragán – his work feels intrinsically Mexican, but also contemporary and timeless. casapedregal.com
Catedral Metropolitana, Plaza de la Constitución, Cuauhtémoc 06000
This cathedral is Latin America’s oldest and largest – a landmark of central Mexico City. catedralmetropolitana.mx
Museo Soumaya, Boulevard Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel Hidalgo 11529
This art destination’s twisted form, clad in mirrored-steel tiles, is unmissable on the city’s skyline. moonigallery.com
Food & Drink
Tokyo Music Bar Río Pánuco 132, Cuauhtémoc 06500
Fantastic cocktails. I am a dry vodka martini with a twist or a spicy, skinny margarita kind of girl. @tokyomusicbar
Bar del Ayer Calle Querétaro 182, Cuauhtémoc 06700
A lively piano bar with a fun atmosphere. @elayerdf
Tacos Domingo, Plaza Carlos Pacheco 5, Cuauhtémoc 06070
Available at any hour, tacos are an essential part of Mexico’s culinary landscape. mundodomingo.xyz
Máximo Bistrot, Avenida Alvaro Obregón 65 Bis, Cuauhtémoc 06700
A fine-dining restaurant that feels very cosy. Chef Lalo García is in charge of some of the best restaurants in the city. This one has an open kitchen with 30 cooks, and the food is ‘farm-to-table’ with Mexican-grown ingredients. maximobistrot.com.mx
Martínez, Puebla 90, Cuauhtémoc 06700
Chef Lucho Martínez was inspired by Parisian bistros, and the menu here is small but very good and super-fresh. The flatbread with trout roe is a favourite dish. @martinez.rest
Botánico, Alfonso Reyes 217, Cuauhtémoc 06100
An outdoor-dining experience set amid beautiful gardens within an art deco house in La Condesa. @botanicomx
Maque Calle Ozuluama 4, Cuauhtémoc 06100
My go-to spot for an authentic Mexican breakfast with freshly baked bread and traditional Mexican conchas (like a brioche). I will likely order enfrijoladas – tortillas filled with scrambled eggs and beans, with chorizo and queso fresco crumbled on top.
Where to stay
Hotel Condesa DF, Avenida Veracruz 102, Condesa 06700
Built in 1928 but with modern interior design by India Mahdavi, this hotel feels timeless. It has a courtyard in the centre surrounded by corridors lined with shutters that can be opened or closed to the light or noise – quite a clever design.
Perhaps one way to describe it is ‘simple elegance’ – uncomplicated, yet with all the comforts. It’s also next to the beautiful Parque España in fashionable Colonia La Condesa. I think it has become a classic place to stay. condesadf.com
Maîsón Celeste Guest House, Yucatán #96, Cuauhtémoc 06700
A boutique hotel in the heart of Roma with only five rooms, which makes it very special. A restored mansion from the 1900s, the building is packed with beautiful original features. Another appealing element is that it’s constantly showcasing local artists, with four magnificent conceptual shops, including Coqui Coqui. Even if you don’t stay here, it is still worth a visit. maisonceleste.mx
Volga Hotel, Río Volga 105, Cuauhtémoc 06500
In a prime location very close to Reforma (one of the main avenues in Mexico City) and the city’s main museums in the Bosque de Chapultepec, this is a great spot to stay and explore. The building is a brutalist masterpiece inspired by a cenote (the underwater caves found in the Riviera Maya) and offers impressive views of the city, a rooftop bar and a very cool basement speakeasy, Minos Sound Room. hotelvolga.mx
