Tea’s Head of Design, Marjorie Tan, recently returned from a sensory escape through Mexico.
“First stop — San Miguel de Allende, a town that feels painted in sunlight. Every corner hums with color, texture, and creativity.
We stayed at La Valise SMA — a stunning six-room boutique hotel tucked in the heart of the historic center. Each suite is a piece of art, with Pedro Friedeberg’s embossed walls and vibrant pieces that blend Mexican tradition with surreal modern design. It felt like living inside a painting.
Days started with coffee and chilaquiles on the terrace and quiet strolls through town — watching light spill across the domes and rooftops. We visited the Mojigangas Studio, where San Miguel’s giant puppets come to life, and wandered through Fábrica La Aurora, an old textile mill transformed into galleries and artist studios. Casa Diana Galería was another highlight — a kaleidoscope of Friedeberg’s original work, lovingly curated by Carmen Gutiérrez.
Between art adventures, we ate our way through town — street tacos between the Templo del Oratorio and Iglesia de San Francisco, a slow brunch at Posada Corazón, wood-fired pizza at Bennu, and creative tostadas at Tostevere. Every meal felt simple and soulful, cooked with heart and sunshine.
Then came CDMX — buzzing, bold, and endlessly inspiring. We stayed at Octavia Casa in La Condesa, a minimalist hideaway that’s pure calm amidst the chaos. Mexico City is a food lover’s dream: you can’t go wrong here. We ate at Rosetta and Botánico for elevated meals, grabbed cheap and perfect bites at Mercado de Coyoacán, and popped into Taquería Orinoco (basically the In-N-Out of tacos) whenever hunger struck. And I’m still dreaming about María Cacao’s handmade vegan chocolates — tiny, edible pots of gold.
Art is everywhere here — from Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo, Casa Azul, and Casa Barragán, to the everyday street murals that turn the city into an open-air gallery. The Museo de Arte Popular might just be my favorite — it captures the playfulness and spirit of Mexico so perfectly. Even the highways bloom with the Vía Verde project’s vertical gardens, turning concrete into living color.
And, of course, there was shopping — Roma Norte, Juárez, La Condesa — full of vintage finds, local designers, and creative energy around every corner.
Mexico, in every sense, is alive — a celebration of art, flavor, and feeling. Every street, every plate, every mural reminded me to slow down, look closely, and savor beauty wherever it appears.”
-Marjorie Tan, Head of Design
