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Colonia in Mexico City, Mexico
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
San Ángel is an area in the south of Mexico City. It is an upscale neighborhood with wooded hills and an appreciation for the arts (the area was once home to Diego Rivera). This area includes the Lomas neighborhoods between San Angel and the southwestern parts of Chapultepec Park. The neighborhood has narrow cobblestone streets, tight alleys, and pleasant plazas.
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Diego Rivera's studio, where he also lived for some time with Frida Kahlo. It is a very interesting structure by famous Mexican architect Juan O'Gorman, consisting of two buildings connected by an aerial walkway.
One of Mexico City's finest modern art museums, based on the private collection of Carrillo Gil which includes well-known works by Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, Rufino Tamayo, and Francisco Toledo. The museum also hosts temporary exhibits of contemporary Mexican and international artists.
Museo de El Carmen
An ancient convent where you can see the uncomfortable stone slabs where nuns slept, religious artwork, and, most importantly, a creepy underground crypt filled with mummified nuns. It is a truly enchanting old building, and connected to the Colegio de San Ángel.
The beating heart of San Angel with the historic convent adjacent to the plaza as well as San Angel's main marketplace. It is a gathering spot for locals and a pleasant park to sit and people watch.
Site of the famous Bazaar Sabado, the park is just 2 blocks from Plaza del Carmen) is the hub of San Angel's arts community, with galleries and the Museo Risco adjacent.
Theater of the Insurgents
Built in 1953 by José María Dávila, this is one of the main venues for dramas and plays in Mexico City. On the façade of the building is a mosaic created by Diego Rivera, illustrating the history of theater and depicting the Mexican comedian Cantinflas as Robin Hood.
Theatre in a historic Gothic chapel. Stages various plays and multi-disciplinary performing arts shows. Library on site. Small, intimate space.
Comfortably upscale restaurant serving traditional Mexican cuisine. Good place for a business lunch or to meet a date for drinks.
Comfortably rustic dining room serving classic Spanish cuisine (the paella is recommended). Flamenco show on Thursday and Saturday.
Nouveau Mexican cuisine in an outdoor terrace garden overlooking the Carmen church.
Street tacos with wood-fired trompo that makes for some of the best tacos al pastor in the city. Good place for late night munchies. The Sherezada Tizoncito is recommended.
One of the most popular dance clubs/bars in the city, usually very full, plays salsa, merengue, and other Cuban music. Can be hard to get into.
Specializing in mezcal and live music.
An upscale colonial type of lodging with very rustic furniture and decor.
Business oriented long-term extended stay apartments.
Clean, modern corporate style hotel with spacious rooms, on-site restaurant, Metrobus route in front of hotel.
While always scenic, Bazar Sabado is the reason to head to the square, in front of a 16th-century church. It is one of the best crafts markets in town, where you can find original and high-quality art of all different regional styles, both traditional and more modern, and in all different price ranges. This is the best place to shop, people-watch, and just be happy.
A popular street market specializing in fresh flowers.
It's a traditional Mexican marketplace, but one adapted to the more Bohemian artsy lifestyle of San Angel. Whereas most marketplaces in the city open around 6am, the artsy crowd is just going to bed then, and they certainly won't be ready to go to a market until the sun is warm. The market opens at noon, but stays open later in the evening. The food hall is a star attraction, and while there are some traditional food stands serving regional cuisine, there are also trendy food stands serving up nouveau Mexican cuisine with very non-traditional recipes and ingredients.
By Metro
By Car
San Angel can be reached by Periferico (Altavista exit), Insurgentes, Avenida Revolucion, and Miguel Angel de Quevedo.
By bike
While many parts of Mexico City have good access and infrastructure for bikes, San Angel does not.
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