We spent Saturday exploring Bazar Sábado in San Ángel, one of Mexico City’s most colorful weekend traditions. It’s part art fair, part craft market, and part open-air party—ideal for art lovers, browsers, and people watchers.
We started the day with brunch at Saks, a beautiful old-world restaurant that sits right outside the bazaar. The restaurant was buzzing and beautiful, a welcome brunch before diving into the day.
After brunch, we wandered through the plaza, admiring the vibrant art—paintings, sculptures, textiles, and pottery spilling out of every tent. Inside, dozens of stalls were packed with artisan creations: hand-tooled leather, embroidered linens, jewelry, ceramics, and things that seem too delicate to pack in a suitcase but too beautiful to leave behind.
Midday, we slipped into OXA, a mezcal bar tucked into the main building. We found an upstairs room overlooking a store and walkway where families were shopping below. The mezcal was smooth, the setting relaxed—the kind of place you could stay all afternoon.
A few hours later, we did what every visitor to Bazar Sábado eventually does: gave in. We bought some artwork that we’ll install once we’re back home.
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Sunday — The Match
Sunday morning started slow. I walked around looking for a Guajalote. A guajolote (in Mexico City slang) isn’t the bird — it’s a tamale tucked inside a crusty bread roll, usually a bolillo. It’s carb-on-carb comfort food at its finest — warm, soft tamale wrapped in a crunchy roll, often topped with salsa or crema. You’ll find vendors selling them from carts early in the morning, especially near metro stations.I found some and Kerry and I dined before we went for a walk in the rain (a bit of foreshadowing, as it turned out) and picked up a Pumas jersey for that night’s game.
That evening, I met up with my friend Fernando, whom I first met when I worked here seven years ago. His father, sister, her boyfriend, and the boyfriend’s twin joined us for the match. We met around 4 p.m. for the 7 p.m. kickoff and called an Uber to the Estadio Olímpico Universitario.
On the drive, I could see streaks of rain slanting down in the distance—those silvery “curtains” you can see from miles away. Fernando pointed and said, “I think that’s where we’re going.” He was right.
By the time we arrived, it was pouring. We found refuge under a bridge with a crowd of other fans, and right next to us was a Tacos de Canasta vendor. For the uninitiated, these are “basket tacos”—soft tortillas filled with potatoes, beans, or chicharrón, layered in a basket, then doused with hot oil to keep them warm and delicious. Five tacos for about $2.50 USD. Perfect rain delay food.
Fortunately, I’d bought a poncho for five bucks right after getting out of the Uber—a wise investment.
Once the rain lightened, we regrouped and made our way to the stadium. Everyone was soaked. The field crew swept gallons of water into drains before the match resumed. Despite the soggy pitch, the energy was electric.
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| Fernando and his Dad and Sister |
I was the lone Pumas fan in our group, surrounded by Chivas supporters (from Guadalajara). The match ended in heartbreak—Pumas missed a last-second penalty that would have tied the game. The crowd groaned, and that was that.
We left drenched but smiling and found a Michelin-recommended taco bar nearby. The tacos lived up to the reputation—crispy, flavorful, and worth every step through the puddles. Afterward, I called an Uber and headed home.
Monday — Cable Cars & Chapultepec
On Monday, Kerry and I took the subway and then hopped on one of the city’s cable cars—yes, part of the actual public transit system. The ride cost about 30 cents each way and glided over the same road we used to take to our old apartment in Cuajimalpa, up in the hills.
The route ended near Chapultepec Park, our old favorite. We didn’t realize it’s closed on Mondays—a day of rest for both the park and its staff—but we still enjoyed walking the perimeter and taking in the greenery.
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| Look at the writing on the building, not the big banner. teee heeee... |
Fun fact: Chapultepec Park is roughly twice the size of New York’s Central Park. Central Park covers about 843 acres; Chapultepec spans around 1,695 acres. It’s one of the largest city parks in the world—a forest in the middle of the city.
With the park quiet and the skies clear again, we walked home, made chicken and salad for dinner, and called it a night. A perfect, unhurried end to a full weekend of art, rain, fútbol, and street tacos.
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