Mexico City Guide

Mexico City is one of the most lively and historic cities in the Americas and serves as a great base to explore all that this beautiful country has to offer. Here are some gems to explore while you’re there:

Food and Drink

Tacos Don Juan - best tacos in CDMX (likely controversial)

Contramar - a wonderful higher-end seafood restaurant

Hamburguesas a la Parilla - top 5 burger of my life (and I'm from the States)

Street tacos anywhere

Wash it all down with some tequila or mezcal! Try El Grifo for craft beers or an artisanal mezcal tasting

Recommended Neighborhoods to Explore

Roma - trendy

La Condesa - trendy

Polanco - upscale (where the rich live)

Coyoacán - home of Frida Kahlo, slower pace

Centro Histórico - historic center

Parks—Mexico City is known for its parks and greenery

Parque México

Parque España

Chapultepec Park - 2nd largest city park in Latin America

Parque Nacional Viveros de Coyoacán

Parque Bicentenario - home to over 7,000 orchids, more of a botanical park

Day Trips from the City

Xochimilco (1 hour drive) - last remnants of the Aztec water transport route, now filled with colorful boats

Teotihuacan (1 hour drive) - site of ancient pyramids (1 hour drive)

Tepoztlán (2 hour drive) - Popular weekly crafts market, known as the birthplace of Quetzalcoatl

Puebla (2-3 hour drive) - Known for it’s architecture, pottery, and food

Places to Stay

Casa Pepe - Hostel in el Centro

Airbnbs in Roma or La Condesa

Círculo Mexicano - Marriott Hotel

Hotel CondesaDF - Marriott Hotel

Habita Hotel - Marriott Hotel

Bonus

From Susannah Rigg in Going’s newsletter “La Merced Market is the largest—and one of the oldest—markets in the city and sells everything you can imagine, from prepared food (the famous Tacos McTeo, filled with freshly made fries, are worth a trip in themselves) to fruit and vegetables and aisles and aisles of Mexican candy. Foodies won’t want to miss the San Juan Market, where stall owners offer tastings of everything from cheese and wine to edible flowers.”