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Colonia Roma Review

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Colonia Roma

Category: Towns
Location: La Condesa and La Roma

Fodor's Review:

Adventurous private art galleries, independent artist-run spaces, and a rough-around-the-edges atmosphere are the hallmarks of La Roma. Like its western neighbor La Condesa, La Roma was once an aristocratic enclave with stately homes. Now it's known for its lively cantinas, pool halls, dance clubs, and night haunts of questionable repute. Gentrification creeps slowly but steadily onward, though, so enjoy this up-and-comer before it becomes too respectable. La Roma is divided into Roma Sur (south) and Roma Norte (north). Most of the action takes place in Roma Norte.

Recently, bookstores and cafés have helped transform this old neighborhood into the capital's full-blown arts district.

The Galería OMR (Plaza Río de Janeiro 54, Col. Roma. 55/5511-1179. www.galeriaomr.com. Insurgentes) is tucked away in a typical Colonia Roma house, with an early-20th-century stone facade and quirkily lopsided exhibition rooms. This active gallery has a strong presence in international art fairs and art magazines. It's open weekdays 10-3 and 4:30-7 and Saturday 10-2. A short walk from OMR, Galería Nina Menocal (Zacatecas 93, at Cordoba, Col. Roma. 55/5564-7443. www.ninamenocal.com. Insurgentes) specializes in work by Cuban artists. The gallery is open weekdays 10-7 and Saturday 10-2, but the small staff is not always particularly welcoming to tourists who just want to take a look around. The Casa Lamm Cultural Center (Av. Alvaro Obregón 99, at Orizaba, Col. Roma. 55/5525-0019. www.casalamm.com.mx. Insurgentes), a small mansion and national monument, nurtures artists and welcomes browsers with three exhibition spaces, a library, a bookstore, a wide range of courses, a superb café, and a great restaurant that offers modern twists on Mexican classics as well as delicious international cuisine. Galería Pecanins (Av. Durango 186 at Plaza Cibeles, Col. Roma. 55/5514-0621 or 55/5207-5661. Insurgentes) may be small, but it's a significant local presence. It's open weekdays 11-2:30 and 4-7:30.