Go for a meal, stay for a tempting romp through minimalist home decor. That may be the marketing slogan at Guadalajara’s IKEA, the Swedish-based furniture giant that arrived here in November last year—the largest of three stores in Mexico.
I only learned recently about their Wednesday 199-peso dinner, but, alas, it will end before this edition of the Guadalajara Reporter comes out. But IKEA’s lovely, airy cafeteria and dining room—known as a serious co-working space, I’m told—will not end, at least in the foreseeable future. A menu is offered daily from noon to 8 p.m. and is said to attract big crowds on weekends.
My dining companion and I were so dazzled by the dining room—the food was decent too—that we hung around basking in the sun shining through the huge windows and enjoying the Zapopan skyscape. (We didn’t feel hot; in fact, I felt cold. Besides Swedish-designed furniture and decor, air conditioning is apparently one of IKEA’s strong points.)
The sunny ambience does not apply to the rest of IKEA, which has a not-unpleasant warehouse feel, softened by lighting and the masterful though utilitarian arrangement of wares. Everything was so attractive to us first-time visitors, that, deceived by the absence of windows, we were shocked to find it was dark when we came out.
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And if you drive there, don’t be concerned about taking your time over your stay. Parking in the huge lot is free of charge.