Given the fact that Mexico City sprawls 573 square miles, it is no surprise that this vibrant urban center is chock-full of museums. With more than 175 to choose from, Mexico City is one of the world’s premier cities for museum-hopping — and the number grows every year. From historic treasures found at the iconic Museo Nacional de Antropologia to the best collection of work from modern Mexican artists at Museo de Arte Moderno, there is no shortage of great artifacts to see, including the collections at these great yet lesser-known museums in Mexico City.
Museo Jumex
The much-anticipated Museo Jumex opened mid-November to scores of modern art aficionados, and it is an ideal part of any traveler’s itinerary. Dubbed the “MoMA of Mexico City,” Museo Jumex is a world-class, contemporary art museum that features works of international icons such as Jeff Koons and Maurizio Cattelan. Set in the high-brow Polanco neighborhood, the four-story building features 2,800 pieces and is known for possessing the most impressive postwar collection in Latin America. www.lacoleccionjumex.org
Museo del Juguete Antiguo Mexico
Prepare for a trip down memory lane at Museo del Juguete Antiguo Mexico, which houses a collection of 45,000 toys from all over the world, some of which date as far back as the early 1900s. Visitors can spend hours reminiscing about some of their favorite childhood toys, with everything from He-Man figures to vintage board games on display. The museum owner grew up in a building next door and opened the museum to share his vast collection. The museum spans four levels, and there’s an art library with painted murals from local artists. www.museodeljuguete.mx
Mucho Mundo Chocolate
Clients with a sweet tooth will get a thrill from Mucho Mundo Chocolate, a museum dedicated to the history of chocolate. Housed in an early 1900’s residence with a central atrium and beautiful tiles, the interactive museum provides a comprehensive history of chocolate-making, embellished with art, antiques and fun quirks, such as a room with chocolate walls. After the tour, head to the cafe to sample delicious truffles made in-house. www.mucho.org.mx/acerca
Museo Dolores Olmedo
Although history and art aficionados tend to make a beeline to celebrated icon Frida Kahlo’s house and gallery, Museo Dolores Olmedo is also worthy of a visit. Allegedly one of Diego Rivera’s lovers, Olmedo’s eponymous museum is home to many of her works, in addition to many other crafts from Mexico. www.museodoloresolmedo.org.mx
Museo del Objeto del Objeto
The Museum of the Purpose of the Object is exactly what it sounds like — a museum that displays a diverse range of objects from daily life. Match boxes, soda bottles and wooden stamps are just some of the items in the permanent collection, and many of them were personally collected by museum owner Bruce Newman. The site also curates rotating temporary exhibitions. The current exhibit, El Rock En Mexico, showcases rock music objects from 1955 to 2010, including magazines from the 1960s, signed guitars and original costumes. The exhibit runs until late January. www.elmodo.mx/en