Once overlooked as tequila’s poor relative, the indigenous Oaxacan spirit mezcal has seen a surge in popularity due to a renewed interest in artisanal, small-batch liquors. Mexico City-based architects Ezequiel Farca and Ian Castillo have taken things to the next level, with Oaxaca’s Chagoya family – who have 140 years of experience producing mezcal – to transform an old house into a bar and restaurant dedicated to enjoying the smoky, complex liquor. The designers merged the interior into a single open space, harmonising disparate components with local materials such as traditional black clay tiles and recycled mezcal barrels supplied by the local community. Local artist Francisco Toledo provided original metalwork, imbuing a regional touch and adding a lick of his shamanistic style to the proceedings. In the kitchen, meanwhile, executive chef Rodolfo Castellanos picks the cream of the region’s famously abundant produce to create inventive dishes with a fiercely local flavour, such as honey and agave-roasted ribs and mini corn tortillas with slow-braised pork.
ADDRESS
Reforma esquina Murguía Centro
68000 Oaxaca de Juárez
OAX
Mexico
OAX
Mexico
-
‘I wanted to create a sanctuary’ – discover a nature-conscious take on Balinese architectureUmah Tsuki by Colvin Haven is an idyllic Balinese family home rooted in the island's crafts culture
-
‘Concrete Dreams’: rethinking Newcastle’s brutalist pastA new project and exhibition at the Farrell Centre in Newcastle revisits the radical urban ideas that changed Tyneside in the 1960s and 1970s
-
Mexican designers show their metal at Gallery Collectional, Dubai‘Unearthing’ at Dubai’s Gallery Collectional sees Ewe Studio designers Manu Bañó and Héctor Esrawe celebrate Mexican craftsmanship with contemporary forms
-
Ennea Hotel on Mexico’s Oaxaca coast pays homage to the region’s artisanal legacyEnnea Hotel’s warm interiors are dressed in authentic Mexican materials, thanks to architects at Jaque Studio alongside designers Comité de Proyectos
-
Alexander Hotel marries European hospitality with sleek Mexican designAlexander Hotel, located inside Mexico City’s Torre Virreyes, heralds 26 light-filled suites conceived by architect Daniel Álvarez
-
Simple pleasures are the order of the day at El Minutito café-bar in Mexico CityEl Minutito is a fast and friendly pit-stop for coffee, conviviality and more, designed by Lucas Cantú, of Mexican studio Tezontle
-
In Oaxaca, Casa Yuma is a peaceful, oceanfront oasis that celebrates its surroundingsCasa Yuma was designed by architect Ricardo de La Concha with TAAC and interior designer Sara Skalli
-
Babel Tulum in Mexico is a mindful getaway with hypnotising architectureBabel Tulum is a holiday apartment complex offering wellness amid the tranquil curves of its immersive architecture
-
‘Elemental and pure’ cooking earns a Mexico City taco stand its first Michelin starSince 1968, this taquería has been serving up just four dishes, with a focus on quality and simplicity
-
Enjoy ocean and jungle bliss at Bespoke Tulum’s residences in MexicoBespoke Tulum is an exclusive hospitality complex designed by Muro Rojo Arquitectura on Mexico’s Caribbean coastline
-
Experience Mexico’s Pacific coast with a trio of Four Seasons ResortsThese Four Seasons Resorts add to the lure of Mexico's Pacific Coast; discover beloved outposts in Punta Mita, Naviva and Tamarindo
