5. Frontón México

Part of the appeal of Art Deco is its versatility — it’s as attractive for horizontal structures as it is for skyscrapers. A good illustration of this is Frontón México, a sports arena opened in 1929 primarily as a venue for Jai alai. The facade features vertical projections, recesses, and fenestration that provide visual texture to the long street wall. It also has reliefs with pre-Hispanic themes, located above the two main corner entrances.

A society hotspot in its early years, Frontón México reopened in 2017 after being abandoned for 21 years and is now a casino and events center hosting various activities, including Jai alai. It is the best known building of architect Joaquín Capilla, but he is mainly remembered for another sports legacy. His son and namesake was a diver and Mexico’s only four-time Olympic medalist.