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Mexico City is easily one of my favorite cities to visit. From the amazing culinary scene to the architecture to the vibrant culture, it is no wonder it has become one of the most popular cities visited in the last few years. And the best part is that it is a very affordable city with
Mexico City is easily one of my favorite cities to visit. From the amazing culinary scene to the architecture to the vibrant culture, it is no wonder it has become one of the most popular cities visited in the last few years. And the best part is that it is a very affordable city with so much to explore.
This Mexico City travel guide will share recommendations for where to stay, all of our favorite places to eat, and things to do. We have also included our full six-day itinerary below.
Mexico city is split up into different neighborhoods which each have their own character and charm. Here are the 3 most popular neighborhoods to stay in Mexico city.
Roma Norte is a trendy, creative, younger neighborhood known for its art deco and eclectic architecture. It is located in the southwest central area of Mexico City. Roma Norte is often nicknamed the “Williamsburg of Mexico City.” We stayed in an Airbnb in Roma Norte and thought it was ideal for walking to all the most delicious restaurants, cafes, and bakeries. It also had a mix of cute boutiques, vintage stores, and pop-up maker mart shops that we loved to explore. Roma Norte felt safe walking through the streets during the day and at night.
La Condesa is a vibrant boho neighborhood known for its tree-lined streets, trendy restaurants, bars, and cafes. It is southwest of central Mexico an bordered by Roma Norte to the east. It also has a similar art deco vibe as Roma Norte, but feels more relaxed and laidback. It is home to scenic parks where you can relax from all the walking. It has well-lit streets that have a lot of traffic, which makes it a safe neighborhood to stay in.
If you are looking for a luxury, upscale neighborhood, then Polanco is where you must stay. It is centrally located, north of Chapultepec Park and west of the historic center. Polanco is home to the most famous Michelin-star restaurants, Pujol and Quintonil, and is well known for its luxury shopping. It is also considered the safest neighborhood in the city.
From family secret recipes cooked by local street food vendors to some of the world’s best Michelin star restaurants, Mexico city’s food scene covers all the bases.
The viral Panaderia Rosetta is indeed worth the hype. This European-Mexican fusion bakery is THE spot for a morning pastry. Located in Roma Norte, this bakery is busy every day. The bakery has two different lines—one for the tables to sit outside and one for the pastries to go. If you are hungry but still want a seat outside, put your name on the list for a table and wait in line for a pastry while you wait for your table. The pastry line moves quickly. I highly recommend grabbing the guava and cheese pastry and the hoja santo concha.
Botanico was our favorite restaurant in Mexico City. Located in Condesa, the restaurant is nestled inside a dimly lit courtyard with tall cacti and a pond swimming with fish. It is a great option for a date or for families. The dishes were incredibly well thought out. The flavors of each dish were so balanced, and they really knew how to elevate seafood, seasonal vegetables, and pasta.
Contramar is a very popular seafood restaurant in Roma Norte. It is known for its incredibly fresh tuna tostada and its signature pescado a la talla (red and green grilled fish). Both dishes were truly a chef’s kiss. Reservations are definitely needed about a month in advance since it is such a buzzy spot. You can message them on WhatsApp (+52 55 8015 5644) for reservations. Also, do not sleep on the fig tart for dessert. It was incredible.
Meroma is a fun, modern restaurant in Roma Norte with 1980s architecture and a cozy vibe. The menu features seasonable vegetables and incorporates a few Asian fusion notes. Do not sleep on the orecchiette, it was the highlight of the night. Meroma is an ideal place for a romantic date night restaurant with delicious pasta offerings.
Pujol is a two-Michelin-star restaurant in the Polanco neighborhood known for its elevated presentation of traditional Mexican cuisine. Pujol is consistently ranked on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list and is known for its mole madre which is aged for approximately 3551 days (9+ years). They have two tasting menus, a seven-course tasting menu, and a taco omakase bar. Reservations are very tricky to come by. I made our reservation online six months in advance to ensure a spot.
Handshake Speakeasy was named number 1 on the World’s 50 Best Bar list in 2024, so obviously, it is a must. It is a speakeasy bar with a 1920s Prohibition-era theme hidden behind a secret door and dimly lit for a dark and moody aesthetic. The cocktails were truly creative and innovative, with unexpected flavor combinations and textures. The bar highlights Mexican spirits like tequila and mezcal, and also offers other spirits.
We enjoyed four cocktails in total, and the price range was about $12.50 to $15 USD each, which is so reasonable considering drinks are $20+ in California. Eliezer is a tequila/mezcal guy, and he really liked the Once Upon a Time in Oaxaca drink. I like lighter, fruitier cocktails, and I loved the Lychee Highball. I highly recommend making a reservation on their website at least a month in advance because the line on a Monday night was insane.
We did not get a chance to check out Hanky Panky, Tichuchi, Licoreria Limantour and Baltra Bar but we heard great things about all of these bars.
The floating gardens of Xochilmilco are best known for their canals, and colorful gondola-like boats called trajineras. The trajineras are a fun time. There is music from live mariachi bands, alcohol, snacks, and other vendors that sell flowers, jewelry, etc. We booked an Airbnb experience that combined the Xochilmilco trajinera, Coyoacan, and Frida Kahlo Museum, making visiting all three areas seamless.
The Frida Kahlo Museum, also known as the Blue House, located in Coyoacan, is a historic house and art museum dedicated to the life and work of Frida Kahlo. The Blue House is where Frida Kahlo was born, raised, lived with her husband, Diego Rivera, and died. The home is beautifully kept, showcasing her artwork, photos, and personal items. The courtyard is filled with lush trees and plants and stunning architecture. The Frida Kahlo museum is a very popular attraction, and tickets are sold out far in advance. I recommend booking online in advance or through a tour.
One of our most memorable experiences was the sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Teotihuacan ancient pyramids. The ride was about one hour, and the views were magical and breathtaking. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it felt like time stopped. We booked our hot air balloon experience on Airbnb, which included picking us up from our lodging, driving us an hour to the site, the hot air balloon, a tour of the ancient pyramids, lunch, and the ride back. I highly recommend booking a tour because it makes the entire process easy.
Walking around Zocalo, or the main square in Mexico City, fully immersing yourself in the history and culture. Here, you will find various museums such as the National Art Museum, Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico, National Museum of World Cultures, Palacio de Bellas Artes, and more. You can spend an entire day getting lost in the history of Mexico City here. Plus, around the corner is the small Chinatown or Barrio Chino. Here, you will find a fusion of Mexican and Chinese cultures like these rainbow-colored bao buns.
The National Museum of Anthropology is the largest and most visited museum in Mexico. It is located near Chapultepec Park and contains over 600,000 archaeological and anthropological artifacts from Mexico’s history. If you want to spend time here, you can really immerse yourself for 2+ hours. You do not need to buy your tickets in advance; they are easily sold at the door. You will need to check any large backpacks or bags in the locker inside.
Luis Barragan is regarded as the most prominent figure in modern Mexican architecture. His work is scattered across Mexico City. We were fortunate enough to book tickets to Casa Luis Barragan which is his personal home that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004.
Casa Luis Barragan retains all of Barragan’s original furniture and personal objects. The home is located in the Miguel Hidalgo borough of Mexico City. It features indoor and outdoor spaces that are highly intentional in color, space, and geometric forms. The rooms all have beautiful natural light and integrated modern architectural styles. This was one of our favorite experiences, and we highly suggest booking tickets in advance.
Casa Gilardi is a privately owned home that is open to tours that are highly limited and have minimal time slots. We were unable to go to Casa Gilardi this trip, but we hope to try to book an appointment next time. You will need to email them directly to book an appointment.
Chapultepec park is a massive park that can be thoroughly explored in an entire day. The park contains nine museums, a zoo, a lake, street vendors and so much more.
Chapultepec Castle is located at the top of the hill in Chapultepec park. It is a royal palace that housed the viceroy of Spain in 1785, Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico in 1864, President Manuel Gonzalez in 1882, and all succeeding presidents until 1934 when President Lazaro Cardenos turned it into a museum in 1939.
Since it is at one of the highest points in Mexico city, the scenic views were beautiful. At the top there was a beautiful rooftop garden that is not to be missed. We bought our tickets at the door and it was not overly crowded.
One of the best things to do in Mexico City is eat! I highly recommend booking a food tour to truly experience some of Mexico City’s best dishes. We booked Eat Like a Local Food Tour, which took us through local street food and multiple markets for a truly local experience.
We also did our own self-guided taco tour through Roma Norte, which included going to Taqueria Orinoco, Taqueria Las Reyas, Castacan, and Maizajo. Each taco was so incredibly reasonably priced for how delicious and flavorful it was. We did not get to go to Molino El Pujol (Pujol’s sister restaurant), Cafe Tacobar, Carinito Tacos, or Expendio de Maiz, but they are definitely on our list for our next trip back.
Mexico City is filled with indoor traditional Mexican markets for everything you could think of, including produce, meat, candy, flowers, party supplies, and so much more. Our favorite market to wander through was Mercado De Artesanias La Ciudadela. This market specializes in Mexican handicrafts and art. It has over 350 vendors, each with its specialties. You can find textiles like ceramics, handmade jewelry, wool blankets, and more here.
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