Rooftop cooking classes at local art gallery Lugar De Huida
Martaja is proud to announce that guests learning to cook with us from April 2025 have been able to make their experience truly memorable by taking it on the rooftop terrace of unmissable Condesa art gallery Lugar De Huida.
To access this unique space, guests pass through the studio of a well-known local sculptor. Once upstairs, they’re greeted not only by plenty of plants and a gorgeous mural by one of the art store’s most popular artists, but also the discarded busts of former presidents, among other works. The view of the park across the street completes the scene, making for cooking classes unlike any others in the city.
This is the latest in a number of collaborations between Martaja and Lugar De Huida, whose name means “A Place to Escape” in English. Jim, founder of Martaja, frequented the gallery so often in his first six years in Mexico that one day, Rogelio, the owner of the art store, recognised his face. “I’ve seen you here before,” he said. “What’s your name?”
The two soon discovered a shared passion for all things local and beautiful. When Jim started giving cooking classes in his home, it only made sense for the art to come from his favorite refuge. He approached Rogelio asking if there were any prints going spare. Lo and behold, on the very same terrace Martaja would use for classes just months later, there were indeed a few pieces.
The first people to have a Martaja experience in the new location was local wellness group EVS Mexico, who roasted and ground their own cacao on a metate just like the Aztecs and Mayans of old before combining it with Mesoamerican ingredients such as avocado leaf, achiote, amaranth, allspice, pumpkin seeds, vanilla and chile to make incredible chocolate creations in our Bean to Beverage Chocolate Workshop. They were rewarded for their trust in Martaja and Lugar De Huida with a beautifully clear, sunny morning - perfect for being on the roof!