Colours of Coyoacán

Of all the neighbourhoods I explored in Mexico City, Coyoacán (pronounced koy-oh-a-KAN) was the one that unexpectedly drew me in and didn’t let go. Tucked into the heart of the capital but worlds apart in mood, it feels more like a laid-back village than part of a restless metropolis. With its leafy plazas, timeworn cobblestones, and layered colonial history, Coyoacán hums with a soft, bohemian energy — the kind that has long attracted artists, thinkers, and travellers in search of something a little more soulful.

My day began at the iconic Museo Frida Kahlo — better known as La Casa Azul (The Blue House). Tucked behind its cobalt walls lies the world of a woman who turned personal turmoil into vivid, fearless art. While the rooms brim with artefacts and personal relics, it was the courtyard that held me the longest. Lush and lovingly arranged, the garden carries the vestiges of a life that was as contemplative as it was defiant.

From there, I strolled south toward the buzzing Mercado de Coyoacán, but not before detouring through the nearby Jardín del Arte Allende. Local artists had turned a portion of the park into an impromptu open-air gallery, their stalls overflowing with art prints and paintings. I slowed my steps, browsed with curiosity, and let the laid-back tempo set the tone for the rest of my afternoon.

When hunger crept in, the aromas wafting from the market made the decision easy. Inside the Mercado de Coyoacán, I squeezed into a bar-style eatery bustling with locals (always the best kind of endorsement). I ordered a few plates of regional delicacies paired with a chilled agua de horchata (sweet rice water). Simple, satisfying, and exactly what I needed.

After lunch, I wandered into Jardín Centenario, where the scene was alive with lively conversations and festivity. Near the Parroquia San Juan Bautista, a wedding was in full swing—music blaring, trumpets sounding, guests dancing and applauding, all dressed to the nines. If I had to guess, one half of the couple was Nigerian, as I saw several attendees wearing traditional Nigerian attire. I paused to film a few moments, then stayed a while longer, soaking in the joy from the sidelines.

From there, I ambled down Avenida Francisco Sosa, where ash trees arched above the road, casting soft shadows over weathered cobblestones and pastel-hued colonial homes. There’s something about this street — the way it holds onto time without fuss, like it’s in no hurry to change.

Eventually, I reached Parque Santa Catarina, a small, peaceful plaza tucked away from the more crowded parts of the neighbourhood. At its centre stood the Capilla de Santa Catarina de Siena, a modest 16th-century church with faded yellow walls and the kind of stillness that would make you instinctively lower your voice. Overhead, papel picado — delicate cutouts made of tissue paper — fluttered with the breeze, adding a gentle rhythm of movement and colour.

Around the plaza, bright bougainvilleas spilled over fences, whimsical murals peeked out from alleyways, and bits of architectural flair decorated the front of houses. It was the kind of place that rewards you for paying attention.

Coyoacán doesn’t clamour for your attention — it simply welcomes you in. The more you wander, the more its understated charm seeps in. It’s not about ticking off boxes or chasing landmarks, but about soaking in the lived-in streets, the unspoken history etched into its walls, and the everyday joy of people just going about their lives. That’s what stays with you.

So, in honour of this dreamy, colour-soaked corner of Mexico City, I’ve picked four images to turn into free desktop wallpapers — all photographed on my Fujifilm X-M5 — to bring a bit of Coyoacán to your screen, wherever you are.