Day two, In the Streets: This is Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis, the first and biggest Franciscan temple in Mexico City right in front of Sanborns de los Azulejos. It is located on Madero Avenue, the pedestrian corridor that reaches from Museo de Bellas Artes to the Zocalo, and is an emblem of religious architecture found on every corner in Mexico.

In the Streets: The architectural beauty of its buildings, its churches, its streets, its façades—you may think that you’re taking a stroll down a street in Europe with all of the visual richness on offer in this country.

La Opera Bar: Ornate, dark-wood interiors are a good example of the Porfiriato period. This historic bar is a jewel in centro historico: you can even see bullet hole from the 1910 Revolution (they are proud to say that Pancho Villa left his mark within their walls).

House of Tiles: A solid mix of French, Roman, Gothic, and Moorish elements, Sanborns de los azulejos is a must-do when visiting Mexico City. It has a classic, elegant construction in which you can see all the influences of the colonial period in Mexico. Enjoy a great traditional Mexican breakfast under a natural light dome.

House of Tiles: Another view of Sanborns de los Azulejos—it’s a great example of the influence of Morons in Spanish Architecture. Location: Ave Madero with Eje Central.

Pujol: Elote con mayonesa de hormiga chicatana (young corn with mayonnaise and chicatana ants). This dish is served in a traditional covered jicara; the elote is placed on top its smoking husk, making for a truly sublime aromatic experience.

Pujol: Served as a small bite at the beginning of the meal at the 14th best restaurant in the world is escamole: ant eggs delicately tucked in a snap pea. There’s a consistency akin to cottage cheese with a nutty and buttery taste profile. Provecho!

Pujol: Pujol’s lobby is sophisticated yet unpretentious—like stepping into the waiting room of a fine mid-century modern inspired home.

Pujol: Beef tongue stew. This dish transformed a humble ingredient into an elevated mouthful. The made-to-order tortillas that accompany it will be the best of your life, guaranteed.

Pujol: Lamb barbacoa taco. The point of chef Enrique Olvera’s restaurant is to demonstrate the respect for Mexican cuisine and its rich history. This and other tacos our team sampled demonstrated to us his concept and the beauty of our culture, even in its simplest forms.

Pujol: Octopus tostada. The beauty of this dish was taking off the crisp squid ink tostada and finding this attractive array of ingredients hidden underneath.

Day four, Casa Oaxaca: Our journey took us to Oaxaca, where we visited the restaurant Casa Oaxaca. Our hosts cooked us a fresh tomatillo sauce, which was made into a molcajete volcanic rock. All dishes were exceptional; we are more than grateful to the chef, Alejandro Ruiz, for his kindness.

Casa Oaxaca: A ceiling lamp at Casa Oaxaca mixes traditional elements and gives them a different meaning.

Casa Oaxaca: Maguey worms (scientific name Aegiale hesperiaris). Casa Oaxaca offers different dishes with worms; it was an amazing experience to enjoy this dish and, for some of our crew members, to eat the worms alive.

Oaxaca Wanders: The Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Oaxaca (MACO) is a region in Mexico full of art expressions. From food to museums, their richness is present in every corner of the city.

Oaxaca Wanders: A beautiful colonial building that houses MACO.

Oaxaca Wanders: At MACO, a cochineal painted room of breeding cactus—it’s a beautiful installation that gives the viewer a sense of how colours are created for rugs or garments. The carmine dye was used in Central America in the 15th century and is still used in many craft workshops today.

Oaxaca Wanders: Iglesia de Santo Domingo is a Baroque ecclesiastical building complex in Oaxaca. The entrance to both the church and museum is across a beautiful ornate plaza that acts as a centre for local fiestas, especially weddings and other celebrations.

Oaxaca Wanders: A local seated on a bench. Oaxaca is a most romantic city; all streets show a unique beauty, and its people are warm and friendly with a charm that seduces your senses and allows you to enjoy an authentic Mexican experience.

Oaxaca Wanders: A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, this was built in 1576 as the Convent of Santa Catalina de Siena. The property was used as offices for municipal bureaucrats until the restoration of the building began in 1972. We can’t describe just how striking the gardens adorned with terraces, fountains, and arches are. Pictured is a lavadero—a place used to wash clothes and kitchen utensils.

Sabina Sabe: Sabina Sabe is a trendy mezcal bar very close to Oaxaca’s zocalo. It’s the right place to sample a mezcal flight. Full of patterns and vibrancy, Sabina Sabe is one of Oaxaca’s best contemporary mezcal bars.

Sabina Sabe: Textures, shadows, and design combine to create an amazing atmosphere.