A love letter

Guadalajara, mi amor.

Not a venue. A hometown, a grandmother's kitchen, and the loudest, warmest city we know.

Querida Guadalajara —

Guadalajara, you are a special place for both of us. This is the city where Margarita grew up, and where she has built her life with her family. It is also where Samir fell in love — with Mexico, and with Margarita.

From the food to the culture to the way families put each other first, what stays with you is the magic, the craft, the artistry: the deep roots that make time together the real priority. That is why we want to share this experience with all of you.

Here, expect insistent kindness — a refusal to ever let you feel uncared for. Guadalajara is a love language. It is an expression, a shining jewel that reflects the beautiful, soulful, spiritual, family-oriented people of this land. Deeply connected to Mexican history, to European influence, and to a past life as a forest, the city is full of spirit, craftsmanship, and adventure.

So get ready. We have something to show Guadalajara: that we are ready to celebrate together, in this magical place.

Con todo el cariño — Margarita & Samir

GDL in frames

The city, hour by hour

When the sky shows off — Guadalajara

8:14 PM — June

When the sky shows off

Guadalajara sunsets don't do subtle. This is a regular Tuesday.

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Andares & Puerta de Hierro in Guadalajara

Go explore

Andares & Puerta de Hierro

The polished, modern side of GDL — design, restaurants, rooftops, and the city's best shopping.

Chapalita in Guadalajara

Go explore

Chapalita

Leafy streets, neighborhood cafés, Sunday art, and the perfect slow afternoon close to the action.

Tlaquepaque in Guadalajara

Go explore

Tlaquepaque

Color, craft, mariachi, courtyards, and one of the most joyful walks anywhere in Jalisco.

See the city in motion

Guadalajara, from above

A drone-eye view of the city we’re bringing everyone home to — plazas, towers, fountains, and the light that made us sure this was the place.

Guadalajara 2023 — 4K Ultra HD drone footage by MEXICO 4K

Watch on YouTube

Traveler's guide

What we'd tell a friend visiting for the first time

Eat

Birria, and then more birria

Goat stewed until it surrenders, served with consomé you will want to drink from the bowl. Then tortas ahogadas — a crusty birote drowned in chile de árbol, the city's edible dare. Breakfast: chilaquiles. Late night: tacos al vapor, standing up, no exceptions.

Wander

Tlaquepaque & Tonalá

Cobblestone streets, courtyard restaurants, and generations of ceramicists. Tlaquepaque for the galleries and mariachi in El Parián; Tonalá on a Thursday or Sunday for the market, where the pottery is cheaper and the bargaining is friendlier.

Drink

Tequila country, one hour away

The town of Tequila sits an hour northwest through fields of blue agave. Take the Tequila Express or a day tour, taste at a distillery, and learn — gently, from a local — that shots are not how anyone here drinks it. Cantaritos in the afternoon are the correct answer.

See

Cabañas, Centro & the murals

The Hospicio Cabañas is a UNESCO site with Orozco's Man of Fire on the dome — lie on the benches and look up. Then the cathedral, Mercado Libertad, and the Teatro Degollado, all within one long walk.

Stay Out

Colonia Americana

Named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world, and it earns it. Art-deco mansions turned into cafés, natural wine bars, and terraces on Avenida Chapultepec that don't get going until eleven.

Move

Getting around

Uber and DiDi are everywhere, cheap, and the easiest way to travel — expect 100–200 pesos across town. The Mi Macro and light rail are excellent for the centre. Carry some cash; many small kitchens are cash only.

Good to know

Airport

GDL — 30–45 min from the city

Weather in August

24°C days, warm evening rain

Currency

Mexican peso (MXN)

Language

Spanish — English common in hotels

Tipping

10–15% at restaurants

Water

Drink bottled or purified