mexico City guide.

Best food capital, friendly people, rich culture.

Pan dulce is the universal love language here.

When getting tacos, always go for el pastor

Grandma always has a remedy.

Creativity, color and culture rule this city.

The best meals are usually eaten by hand.

Don't drink water from the faucet, no matter how thirsty you are.

Jacaranda trees light up the city in bright purple during spring.

Always busy, always moving.

Where to explore

1. El Centro
Here you’ll see old Mexico. Very pretty, and very busy. Be careful here, there are the typical pickpocketers.

2. La Condesa
Just walk it all. It’s beautiful, there are a bunch of markets, parks, restaurants, and cafes.

3. Coyoacan
Cobblestone streets make it feel like a small town. Get an esquite (corn with cheese and chile) and check out the Frida Kahlo Museum. Walk around the plaza, and do some exploring.

4. La Juárez
Hipster low-key neighborhood with unique shops and restaurants.

5. Polanco
High-end neighborhood with shops and small parks. Walk Masaryk street for high-end shopping then walk towards Parque Lincoln through Oscar Wilde/Calle Julio Verne and you’ll find lots of cool restaurants and bars.

6. La Roma
An extension to La Condesa. Cool vibe, lots of bars and restaurants, several shops.

7. Santa Fe
The newer part of Mexico City. More of a local area but there are plenty of nice restaurants and a massive park, Parque La Mexicana, to check out.

What to do

• Get lost in La Condesa or La Roma
  There are so many hidden gems around these neighborhoods, all you have to do is walk. If you’re looking to stroll or jog Avenida Amsterdam has a pedestrian green space that surrounds Parque Mexico.

• Museums
  - Museo Nacional de Antropología
  - Museo Tamayo
  - Museo Soumaya
  - Museo Jumex
  - Museo de Arte Moderno
  - MUAC - Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo
  - Museo Memoria y Tolerancia
  - Museo Frida Kahlo
  - Visit one of the many homes of Luis Barragan - make reservations like today if you’re interested, it’s limited admission

• Explore El Centro
  - Bellas Artes cultural center
  - Go up the Torre Latinoamericana for views of Mexico City
  - People watch at El Zócalo
  - Enter the sinking La Catedral - one of the largest and oldest cathedrals in Latin America
  - Visit the pyramid of Templo Mayor right in the middle of the city

• Walk Reforma
  Long boulevard with nice museums.

• Castillo de Chapultepec
  Castle in the middle of a huge park. Parque de Chapultepec great for exploring as well.

• Monumento a la Revolución
  Walk around or see it from afar at Terraza Cha Cha Cha.

• Parque La Mexicana
  One of the prettiest parks in the city, good for jogging, people watching and eating.

Nearby trips

• Xochimilco
  Ride on a very colorful gondola and explore the ancient water transportation system built by the Aztecs.
  A festive experience where you can buy beer and food. (1hr drive)

• Teotihuacan
  Come see the Aztec pyramid of the sun and the pyramid of the moon. (1hr drive)

Where to stay

• Downtown Hotel (El Centro)
  This place has it all: a hotel, a hostel, a beautiful rooftop, and a courtyard filled with restaurants, shops, and bars.

• Circulo Mexicano (El Centro)
  This is one of the newer Grupo Habita hotels in the heart of Mexico City. Minimal and classic interiors.

• Condesa DF (La Condesa)
  Condesa DF is all about chic and cool. It has a beautiful courtyard with lots of light and greenery. Make sure to grab a drink on the rooftop.

• Octavia Casa (La Condesa)
  This small design hotel stems from OCTAVIA, a Mexican clothing brand. Like the clothing brand this hotel is modern, simple and with great attention to detail.

• Casa Teo (Polanco)
  Created by the prestigious Chef Enrique Olvera, Casa Teo is an intimate bed and breakfast with great interior design details.

• Casa Goliana (La Roma)
  If you’re looking for luxurious privacy stay here. Casa Golina is nestled away on a tree-lined street in La Roma.

• Hotel Brick (La Roma)
  A home away from home. Hotel Brick is located in one of my favorite neighborhoods, La Roma. It has great service, as well as comfy and spacious rooms.

• Distrito Capital (Santa Fe)
  Further out from the traditional touristy places in Mexico City but if you venture out to the Santa Fe neighborhood this is a great place to stay.

Where to eat

Breakfast

• El Cardenal (El Centro)
  Get freshly baked conchas here.

• Lardo (La Condesa)
  Amazing brunch and great pizzas for lunch and dinner. Huge wine list as well.

• Mercado Michoacán (La Condesa)
  Go for a licuado. A smoothie with fresh fruit, your choice. I get the papaya with milk.

• Molino "El Pujol" (La Condesa)
  Casual tortilleria by Enrique Olvera with great classic Mexican breakfast dishes up to Pujol standards.

• Niddo (La Juárez)
  Favorite breakfast spot in La Juárez, place your name on the list and prepare to wait a bit. But the fluffy pancakes are so worth it.

• Cafe O (Las Lomas)
  Comfort place where anything you order will make you smile.

• Lalo! (La Roma)
  A long communal table is surrounded by fun and colorful interiors.

• Maque (Various locations)
  You can never go wrong when choosing Maque, great traditional breakfasts with amazing pan dulce.

Lunch

• Azul Historico (El Centro)
  Grab lunch downtown in a courtyard filled with trees.

• Loose Blues (La Juárez)
  Great sushi in cool spot.

• Rosetta (La Roma)
  Beautiful interiors filled with greenery and amazing elaborate dishes.

Dinner

• Pujol (Polanco)
  High-end Mexican food, worth it. Make reservations in advance.

• Sartoria (La Roma)
  Amazing fresh pastas in a cozy and modern concrete covered space.

Tacos
*Get tacos al pastor at any of the taco places on this list.

• Taquería Orinoco (Various locations)
  Trendy and very filling tacos. Cool and exciting interior design.

• Farolito (Various locations)
  Get the “Chicharron de queso” crispy cheese and al pastor and gringa carne asada.

• El Califa (Various locations)
  Any taco is great, don’t forget to add lime!

• Los Panchos
  Classic spot between Polanco and La Juarez, get the tacos campechanos and queso fundido.

• Villamelon (Various locations)
  Go for the tacos campechanos.

• Don Manolito (Various locations)

Sweets

• Maque (La Condesa)
  More of a restaurant (amazing breakfast). But you can just go grab some bread. Try the concha filled with nata or a slice of the strawberry cake.

• El Moro (La Condesa)
  Come here to get a taste of freshly made churros.

• Niddo (La Juárez)
  There are several locations within walking distance and they’re always packed. If you’re in a rush you can grab pastries at the to-go window.

• Odette (Las Lomas)
  Super cute bakery with amazing cookies.

• Da Silva (Polanco)
  Best baguette in town. Also try the orejas and financiers.

• Panadería Rosetta (La Roma)
  Get the Roll de Guayaba.

• El Globo (Various locations)
  More commercial but I love going for the Garibaldis.

Where to drink

Coffee

• Tomasa (La Condesa)
  Nice spot to get some work done with a nice warm ceramic mug filled with café de olla.

• La Rifa (La Juárez)
  Get your fix of hot chocolate, chocolate, coffee.

• Buna (La Roma)
  Great spot for Mexican coffee.

Cocktails/beer

• Downtown Hotel (El Centro)
  Go to the rooftop for drinks.

• La Opera (El Centro)
  Traditional bar, not fancy or anything but cool to see where Pancho Villa shot his gun at the ceiling.

• Terraza Cha Cha Cha (El Centro)
  Amazing views of Monument of Revolution, great ambiance.

• Condesa DF (La Condesa)
  Cool hotel rooftop bar, surrounded by lots of trees.

• Cicatriz (La Juárez)
  Hipster bar in a cool neighborhood surrounded by trees.

• Limantour (Polanco)
  A trendy spot for drinks.

Where to shop

• Cafebrería El Péndulo (Polanco)
  Bookstore with lots and lots of books.

• Utilitario Mexicano (La Juarez)
  This shop is filled with Mexican goods designed in a great manner. You’ll find books, homeware, alcohol and trinkets.

• Escorpio (La Juarez)
  Great selection of natural wine shopping.

• Loose Blues (La Juarez)
  Cool Mexican designer clothes and perfume.

• City Market (Various locations)
  Favorite grocery store in Mexico City.

Mercados/Shopping centers

• El Parian
  Cool outdoor market with shops and restaurants.

• Pasaje Polanco
  Small classic outdoor shopping center, grab coffee or eat nearby.

• Mercado Roma
  Trendy market with food, and drinks.

*If you’re looking to shop at a larger shopping center or watch a movie these options are great.

• Antara

• Park Plaza

• Samara