San Ángel

House of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, San Ángel, México, D.F.

The historic neighborhood of San Ángel lies to the southwest of Mexico City in the delegación (borough) of Álvaro Obregón. Its wistful name originated in the times of the founding of the Carmelite college during the 17th century, established here to take advantage of a location ideally suited to quiet meditation and the contemplation of nature. The temperate climate, abundance of water, and the rich, firm subsoil also encouraged the growth of a once-famous orchard, the establishment of textile and finishing mills, and the construction of many fine country estates inhabited by the wealthier citizens of Mexico City. The factories spurred a sister a workers town next to San Angel called Tizapan.

As late as the 1950's San Angel was regarded as a town away from the city, however it has now been completely incorporated into it. To this day, the local streets retain their cobblestones and invariably lead into small, romantic plazas. Many of the local houses, with their capricious architectural details, today serve as centers for different cultural and artistic activities. Tizapan has become increasingly gentrified and the old Loreto & Peñapobre paper mill has become a shopping and cultural center.

The studio of Diego Rivera is located in this neighborhood (Avenida Altavista, in front of San Ángel Inn Restaurant), one of the first functionalist houses built in the city and now an art gallery and cultural center. San Ángel is also home to many excellent restaurants, as well as boutiques offering displays of fine handicrafts. Altavista is also one of the premiere shopping streets for wealthy Mexicans, although it is less pretentious than Presidente Mazaryk in Polanco. Another notable street is Avenida de la Paz, a short street with lots of nightlife thanks to its many restaurants and bars. Avenida de la Paz is home to a Mexico City institution, a crepe restaurant called Clunny. Although the cuisine is wholly unremarkable it has been the streets focal point for close to 30 years, and is a traditional inexpensive dating spot for young Mexicans.

In the last couple of years, many restaurants were constructed near the outskirts of San Angel on Avenida Revolución.

San Angel is also home to one of Mexico's best universities, ITAM, specializing in Economics and Business Administration.

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