One of our favorite hotels, Hotel Matilda, celebrated the 15th edition of Cena Negra, bringing together contemporary art, Mexican culinary traditions and Día de Muertos through an immersive evening featuring an installation by artist Jesús Valenzuela, a five-course menu by chef Rodrigo Rivera-Río of KOLI Cocina de Origen, wines from BLN Brands and cocktails by Tequila Casa Dragones.

For this year’s edition, Valenzuela presented La llegada (The Arrival), an installation inspired by traditional Mexican funeral rituals and the belief that the souls of those who have passed return to visit their loved ones. At the heart of the work was the petate, a traditional woven mat historically used in funeral rites. Through this symbol, Valenzuela created a contemporary interpretation of the return of souls, incorporating traditional elements into an immersive experience.

The installation began at the entrance with Camino al Mictlán (Path to Mictlán), a passageway constructed from petates and arranged into nine consecutive vertical modules, referencing the nine levels the soul must cross on its journey to the underworld in Mexica mythology.

At the end of the passage, a black wall guests to write, in chalk, the name of someone no longer physically present but whose memory they wished to bring into the evening. As the night unfolded, the wall became a collective artwork composed of names, memories, and expressions of remembrance, transforming personal tributes into a shared experience.

Gastronomy was once again at the center of Cena Negra. Chef Rodrigo Rivera-Río of Monterrey-based KOLI Cocina de Origen traveled to San Miguel de Allende to create an exclusive five-course menu inspired by the spirit of Día de Muertos and conceived specifically for the occasion.

The dinner was paired with a curated selection of wines from BLN Brands, chosen to complement each course. Tequila Casa Dragones welcomed guests with a cocktail made with Casa Dragones Blanco and accompanied the first course with Casa Dragones Joven.

The 15th edition of Cena Negra continued Hotel Matilda’s tradition of bringing together art, culture and gastronomy, creating an evening that celebrated Mexican heritage through contemporary creative expression.