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Puebla, Mexico travel guide! Toyo Ito’s Museo Barroco architecture, talavera skull art, artisan shops & restaurants.

museo barrocco toyo ito japanese minimalist architecture puebla

I’m back from Mexico now… and had the most magnificent time in Puebla! Only a two hour drive from Mexico City, Puebla is a peaceful artisan and food city famed for its Baroque buildings…

… as well as this masterwork of Japanese minimalist architecture (above): Toyo Ito’s Baroque art museum, Museo Internacional del Barroco!

puebla instagrammable locations cathedral poolside rooftop pool hotel cartesiano

Read on for my food / art / shopping guide to Puebla, Mexico. My favorite mems include strolling around the artist markets, eating street foods like quesadillas and tacos, and chilling poolside at Cartesiano spa wellness hotel overlooking the old Catedral. (Gracias Canirac Nacional and our new friends Maria and Miguel for making these travel experiences possible.)

mexico city murals street art wall girl portrait

Puebla is only a two hour car ride from CDMX, making it a sweet escape from hectic city life for a few days.

cartesiano spa hotel puebla mexico rooftop pool wellness hotels

Treat yourself to a stay at Cartesiano Boutique & Wellness Hotel like I did. You get access to spa facilities and a quiet rooftop pool overlooking this colonial era church.

Cartesiano Boutique & Wellness Hotel Review labyrinth garden

Cartesiano Hotel is located in a former convent and has a stunning garden with a labyrinth! Guests can take part in free wellness classes; we loved trying a morning moving meditation session.

puebla mexico historic colonial buildings sunset streets

Puebla’s colorful streets have a unique feel because of its history. The Spanish founded the city in 1531, and the architecture is a mix of European Baroque and Indigenous styles. Puebla is also the only major colonial city in Mexico that was not built at the site of a pre-Columbian settlement.

Museo Internacional del Barroco toyo ito minimalism japanese building puebla mx

Puebla is also home to a masterpiece of Japanese minimalist architecture… Museo Internacional del Barroco! Architect Toyo Ito’s design looks like curved white concrete sails mirrored by water — a contemporary take on the 17th century art displayed inside.

lobby toyo ito international museum of baroque puebla mexico

Built in 2016, the Baroque International Museum’s maze of rooms highlights the contrast of light and dark (chiaroscuro) that fascinated Baroque artists.

Watch my IG video to see me exploring Toyo Ito’s architecture!

courtyard whirlpool Museo Internacional del Barroco toyo ito design museum

A swirling courtyard fountain mimics the dramatic flow of water found in many 17th century works.

toyo ito architect japan minimalist modern architecture

I was enthralled by Toyo Ito’s use of light and curved concrete elements.

puebla art museum artists pueblan drawings

Inside the museum, you can see works of art by Pueblan artists, as well as impressive collections of Baroque works.

International Museum of the Baroque exterior by toyo ito associates

Come at golden hour and stay until evening to see the white sails aglow.

toyo ito baroque art museum courtyard water pond

The whirlpool in the center of the courtyard is mesmerising — possibly my favorite space in the museum.

Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture puebla mexico white sails

Toyo Ito’s wave-like shapes also pay homage to Italian architect Francesco Borromini’s facades.

whirlpool courtyard water concrete building toyo ito

Museo Barroco in Puebla is a must for those who love classic art and Japanese minimalism.

Museum of Baroque Art and Culture Mexico | Toyo Ito

The moon came out to play… At night, the structures are illuminated with light.

exterior outside museo barocco baroque art museum mexico

I’m so happy I got to see Toyo Ito’s Baroque museum in Puebla. Check out my Instagram @lacarmina reel for a walk-through of the architecture.

puebla best street tacos beef taco stand

I worked up an appetite, so it was taco time. Maria took us to her favorite street vendors — and Taqueria Las Ahumaderas served one of the absolute best tacos I’ve ever had.

See how the chef “werked” the grill with a hairdryer! The chopped beef was melt-in-your-mouth juicy, topped with guacamole and salsa… I could have eaten six of these carne asada tacos.

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We also tried pork carnitas tacos and unique Pueblan versions, arabes and orientale (pork with Middle Eastern spices, served in pita bread).

cholula market puebla quesadillas

The next day, we headed to Mercado Cholula (located near Cholula Pyramid, the largest in the world by volume). Here I had the best quesadilla of my life: a freshly made blue corn tortilla with stringy cheese, squash blossoms and huitlacoche truffles!

mercado cholula mexico soups mexican street foods

Cholula Market is a well-run and friendly place to try local specialties like stews and memelas poblanas (thicker masa tortillas with beans and other toppings).

puebla cholula farmer's market produce fruits mexican stand

You can also shop for all types of produce and ingredients, as well as healing herbs — I left with a sachet of Mexican oregano. The friendly vendors hold out samples for you to taste: Puebla’s yellow peaches were scrumptious!

talavera de la reyna showroom gallery puebla

One of the reasons I wanted to visit Puebla was for its famous talavera, a pottery tradition that dates back to the mid 16th century.

wall of skulls talavera puebla mexico art exhibit

You can purchase talavera at various shops and markets in the city, but I wanted to visit one of the most well-regarded producers: Talavera de la Reyna, not far from Cholula Market.

I knew I was in the right place as soon as I saw this wall of black and white skulls!

skull talavera sculpture art skeleton

My goal was to purchase a Mexican talavera skull for my apartment redecoration project (which I will reveal soon). So many one-of-a-kind handmade skulls to choose from…

puebla mexico talavera sugar skulls goth gothic art

Talavera de la Reyna has the highest quality ceramics, from sculptures to plates and vases. The elaborate process includes two kiln firings and hand painting, and can take months to complete.

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Of course, I had to take home one of the skulls (a tribute to Mexican Day of the Dead culture) – can you guess which one?

talavera reyna reina showroom art vases plates

If you visit Puebla, you can’t miss Talavera de la Reyna’s showroom and art gallery. There’s no better place to learn about the ancient ceramic tradition and find an original piece.

mole poblano cooking classes puebla

I’m all about hands-on activities, and was delighted to take a Mexican cooking lesson. I learned how to make mole poblano from scratch using pre-Hispanic methods in the home of Maria and Miguel’s mother! We gathered in her classic kitchen and prepped a dozen ingredients for the spicy, earthy, chocolate-y sauce, which is one of my favorite Mexican foods. A delight to then share the mole with their family along with Pueblan dishes like chalupas (a crisp tortilla with toppings).

el mural de los poblanos top restaurant puebla

We also had a meal to remember at El Mural de los Poblanos, known as the best traditional restaurant in Puebla. How lovely is this open space with a mural and skylight.

mole enchiladas el mural de los poblanos best puebla mexico dining

I devoured three types of mole on duck enchiladas, as well as fresh salads made with papalo, a peppery green leaf from this region.

home witch home cafe puebla witchcraft brujas mexican goths

I came across a witchcraft themed cafe as well, Home Witch Home, which is done up in Halloween decor for “foolish mortals.”

Perros del Mal mezcal bar puebla

More authentic are the smiling sugar skulls and La Catrinas found at Perros del Mal, a buzzing mezcal bar with an impressive selection of mezcals, including artisanal versions from the Puebla area.

attico 303 rooftop restaurant puebla view cathedral

I had a mezcal cocktail in a talavera skull mug and shared modern Mexican plates at Attico 303, a hip restaurant in the historic district overlooking the grand Catedral de Puebla (a UNESCO heritage site). The perfect spot for dinner with a view of the central plaza.

pumpkin snake soap goth soaps la cosmetiqueria puebla

You can’t leave Puebla without doing some serious shopping. I dropped pesos at La Cosmetiqueria, an all-natural soap and skincare store near the historic center. I found snake and pumpkin soaps for less than a dollar each (perfect gifts for Goths) and got a creamy avocado moisturizer.

mexican skeleton day of dead sugar skulls puebla mexico

“You can sit with us,” Puebla Goth edition! While there aren’t really any Gothic attractions here, you’ll find friendly skeletons all throughout the city.

puebla barrio artists district design stores sugar skulls devils

I browsed the many market stalls that sold art and souvenirs, but preferred the higher quality items found in artisan boutiques, particularly in the Barrio del Artista (Artist Quarter).

mexican devil mask demon satan satanic masks

Dancing calaveras and devil masks — Mexican culture has plenty of spooky elements!

skull pottery talavera crafts puebla artists

My face looked like these happy skulls as I wandered around the small artisan workshops and saw them at work in the Artist’s Barrio.

toyo ito museum baroque architecture japan minimalism modernism

Don’t you want to visit Puebla, Mexico after seeing how my trip went down? Gracias to everyone who made these travels possible. (Please click on the Puebla story highlight on my Instagram @lacarmina for more tips!)

rainbow sugar skulls souvenirs skull heads decorations mexico

I leave you with rainbow sugar skulls and a few press / writing updates.

Huffington Post interviewed me about travel JOMO, or the joy of missing out when on vacation. I told them: “I’m a fan of the Chinese ‘lying flat’ movement, which is about living simply and opting out of the socially conditioned trappings of hustle and work culture.” Read more of my thoughts on Huffington Post.

WIRED Magazine also interviewed this Goth gal about how to keep up a skincare / beauty routine while traveling! Of course, I went on about sun protection… See the article “How to Pack Your Beauty Routine for Travel” on Wired.

eater travel food journalist writer journalism restaurant reviewer osaka japan

Finally, I received an assignment to write Eater’s Best Restaurants guide to Osaka, Japan. See all my food and travel writing for Eater national here. Thanks for supporting my journalism, and as always, you can catch up on my current travels and fixations on IG @LaCarmina!

Mobital: Where fashion & furniture collide! A fashionable visit to the Canadian design company’s Vancouver showroom.

Mobital group vancouver showroom modern contemporary furniture wholesaler

If you’ve been keeping up with my Instagram @lacarmina, you’ll know that I am currently on a design kick… and I’ll be doing a grand reveal of my apartment redesign project very soon!

Canadian modern contemporary designer furniture interior decor

My dad is an architect so I’ve had a yen for interior design (in addition to fashion, of course), ever since I was young. And so, I was excited to check out Mobital, an amazing showroom in Vancouver where fashion and furniture collide fabulously.

Mobital vancouver canadian furniture wholesale designs etta shelves

They’re a Canadian wholesaler with showrooms in Montreal, Vancouver, Las Vegas and High Point. I went to their location in the Vancouver area, which is over 20,000 square feet of interior inspiration (as you can see, their designs are right up my alley!)

Mobital Itza sectional sofa, Leen and Apothecary coffee tables

I put together an outfit to match the chic, contemporary vibe of Mobital’s furniture. (Check out the IG reel of my walkaround!)

Mobital vancouver home decor interior decoration furniture store

Wearing a mermaid skirt by Kikirara Shoten, the Japanese indie Goth meets fantasy label of my friend Kiki Gotoh in Tokyo. (Remember when I visited her magical boutique?)

My stomper platform sneakers are by Anthony Wang Shoes (the style is Watermelon 01 in black).

Mobital group vancouver canada surrey round Mochi and Tahi ottomans cushions chairs

My fashion fits right in with the Itza sectional with Leen and Apothecary tables. The round Mochi and Tahi ottomans jive nicely with my alternative, Jpop styling.

Rudsak Winni leather jacket white iceland cropped moto zip motorcycle jacket

Ever since I was a teen, my fashion staple has been a leather jacket. I’m currently living in Rudsak’s Winni cropped leather biker jacket with an asymmetrical zip! They’re a Canadian company like Mobital, and their edgy outerwear is perfection.

Mobital showroom warehouse canada chic furniture designer

Cozying up with the new Mobital collection, which debuts at the end of April at the High Point market furniture show.

Mobital group Orca dining table, Eloise swivel dining chairs

I could hang out all day at this Orca dining table with Eloise swivel dining chairs, Etta bookshelves, and Ingrid lounge chair with the Shai end table.

Mobital british columbia canada Etta bookshelves, Ingrid lounge chair, Shai end table

I’m currently doing a big redecoration of my apartment, and Mobital’s staging gave me tons of styling inspiration for my own home.

Mobital beds canadian bedroom furnishings price location

Lying flat is my goal these days… and it’s easy to do with Mobital’s modern bedroom furniture! Ready for a nap on the Rowe storage bed, which is styled with the Blume lounge chair and Pearl nested coffee tables.

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Cozying up with the new Mobital collection, which debuts at the end of April at the High Point market furniture show.

(Wearing this Rudsak leather jacket found here.)

octopied mind sweatpants indigenous canadian loungewear

Tempted to curl up on this inviting bed… I’m wearing sustainable loungewear by Octopied Mind, an Indigenous, women-owned Canadian company with beautiful quality clothing.

octopied mind fashion clothing canada lounge pants shirts

Octopied Mind creates hand-drawn designs — love the cheeky motifs on my Keep Growing sweatpants and Unwanted waffle long sleeve shirt.

Mobital Rowe storage bed, Blume lounge chair and Pearl nested coffee tables.

I think you can tell I had fun taking photos in the showroom. If you love fashion, design and interiors… Check out Mobital Group!

kikirara shoten skirt japanese goth fantasy mermaid fashion kiki gotoh gothic carnival

I’m all for supporting Canadian indie companies these days, and excited to share a new piece from their collection in my apartment décor revamp (to be revealed soon). If you’re local to Vancouver, you can book an appointment to visit Mobital’s enormous showroom.

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Stay tuned for much more design / art / architecture coverage, including the grand reveal of my apartment decor project! I’ll be sharing more soon on my blog and Instagram @lacarmina – and you can see the reel of my Mobital visit there too.

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