How should I plan a trip to Mexico City for Zona Maco and Art Week?
Late winter brings Art Week to Mexico City, anchored by the massive Zona Maco art fair at Centro Citibanamex in Nuevo Polanco. While the main fair is the official draw, the real magic happens at satellite fairs like Material in Juárez and Salon Acme in San Rafael. I recommend basing yourself in Juárez or Roma Norte so you are central to the gallery openings, pop-up dinners, and late-night parties that define the week. It is a social, high-energy stretch where booking galleries and restaurants weeks ahead is essential.
What locals actually do
Chilangos who love art actually spend very little time at the main Centro Citibanamex convention center. It is far northern Polanco, transit is a nightmare during rush hour, and the scale is exhausting. Instead, we flock to Salon Acme, housed in a beautiful, decaying porfirian mansion in San Rafael, or Material Art Fair, which always chooses architectural gems for its venues. Locals focus on the independent gallery openings in San Miguel Chapultepec and Roma, turning the week into a series of neighborhood walks paired with street-side mezcals. We also secure lunch reservations at places like Maximo or Rosetta months in advance.
Spend your Thursday afternoon at Salon Acme in San Rafael, then walk to nearby local cantina Salon Paris for a cold Bohemia and a classic tequila.
Practical notes
- 01Buy ticket packages online for Zona Maco and Material early to avoid the long on-site registration lines.
- 02Use rideshare apps early in the day, but switch to the Metro to escape Nuevo Polanco during evening rush hours.
- 03Keep your gallery schedule flexible because the best off-menu parties and pop-up dinners are announced via Instagram last-minute.
Good to know
- ✗Centro Citibanamex is far; a taxi from Roma can take 90 minutes in traffic.
- ✗Many independent galleries require RSVP confirmation via email or Instagram DM to enter during Art Week.
- ✗February nights get chilly, dropping to 10°C, so bring a light jacket for outdoor gallery courtyards.