THE BEST OF MEXICO CITY
WHEN TO VISIT Mexico City
We visited in May and felt that it was the perfect time to visit – not too hot, and not too cold. We mostly wore dresses, loose skirts and t-shirts with a light jacket at night.
How Much Time Do You Need in mexico city
Three to four days will give you enough time to eat and drink your way around Mexico City while still also seeing a lot of the main attractions.
Language and Currency in mexico city
We spoke a mix of English and (broken) Spanish during our trip. Most of the restaurants had English versions of their menus available.
We mainly used our credit cards, but did take out a few pesos, which definitely came in handy as some places were cash only.
AirBnB + Hotel Recs for mexico city
We loved our AirBnb. It was in the Roma neighborhood, had a security guard at all times, a pool which we mostly had to ourselves, a gym, and air conditioning. There were also three bathrooms, which was great for a girls trip.
St. Regis – Great quality for the price point. A high-end hotel, at a reasonable price. The only negative was that the pool was a bit of a mess with pretty rowdy drunk guests spilling their champagne into the pool and singing loudly, but it really depends on the other guests and I’m hopeful that this isn’t the typical experience.
EAT
Foods to Try
Tacos!
Churros
Chilaquiles
Tequila and Mezcal
Lalo!
Great breakfast or brunch spot. They have killer acai bowls, parfaits, avocado toast, and my favorite – chilaquiles. The restaurant also has super cute cartoon drawings on the wall.
Chilpa
This is THE SPOT for chilaquiles. First, you choose your meal size and type of chip (fried or baked). Then you choose your salsa and spice level. Decide on your protein and toppings. And finally enjoy! The process is similar to a fast casual joint, but this is a sit-down restaurant. If chilaquiles aren’t your thing, they also have other options – both traditional breakfast foods like oatmeal, juices, and french toast, as well as tacos.
Cafe Comunidad
If the wait at Chilpa is too long, check out Cafe Comunidad just down the street. They offer healthier breakfast options, fresh juices, and coffee. This cafe also has omelets, chia pudding, chilaquiles, etc. They denote which items are gluten free and vegan which is super helpful. If you want to take a yoga class, there’s a studio right above the restaurant. They share an entrance.
Entremar and Contramar
Entremar and Contramar are must go’s in Mexico City. They are sister restaurants and both are extremely tasty. We enjoyed both of them equally, but the food is pretty similar so you don’t really need to go to both. Get the tuna tostadas, butterflied grilled fish with red and green salsas, crab legs, and the fig cake for dessert. I can’t stress this enough – you need to get the fig cake for dessert.
Le Bon Bistro
If you need a break from Mexican food (who are you!?), Le Bon Bistro is a great, cozy, little French restaurant in Hipódromo. We traded in tequila for wine and tacos for mussels, raclette, and coq au vin. The food was spectacular, but the intimate environment made it feel like a true neighborhood joint, with specials written on a sandwich board.
Churrería El Moro
If you like churros, you need to go to Churrería El Moro. This small, local chain serves up fresh churros with different sauces – chocolate, condensed milk, or caramel. You can also get hot chocolate, a milkshake, or coffee to go with your churros. Yum!
Pujol
If you Google top restaurants in Mexico City, chances are you’ve been directed to Pujol. Pujol is said to be the best restaurant in Mexico City (and one of the top in the world in 2022), revered for their tasting menu. Sadly we couldn’t get a reservation when we booked our last minute trip to Mexico City, but with some advanced planning, this would be at the top of our list for next time.
tacos
We ate A LOT of tacos in Mexico City. And each one was better than the next. If I could only eat one meal for the rest of my life, I can confidently say I’d pick tacos. Here are the places we would recommend visiting.
Tacos Hola El Güero
Our favorite tacos of the trip! Tacos Hola is a counter-service spot with a few small tables outside. They specialize in stewed meats and veggies (guisada). The chicken tinga was next-level! Step up to the counter and pick the meat for your taco, as well as any toppings, like cilantro and onions, then try and get a spot at one of the coveted sidewalk tables.
We went around 3:30 pm and walked right in, but it’s said to get pretty crowded and long lines are not unusual.
Pro tip: choose to get it on two tortillas. You get a hefty portion and it typically overflows enough to fill the second tortilla.
These are the most affordable tacos we tried.
Taqueria Orinoco
If you like pork tacos, you’ve come to the right place. Taqueria Orinoco has three types of tacos – Trompo (al pastor pork), Res (beef), and Chicharron (fried pork skin). Get one of each – they’re all fantastic! You can choose between flour or corn tortillas, and add grilled cheese and avocado. All tacos come with beans.
La Casa de Tono
We ordered in from Casa de Tono one night and it did not disappoint. We basically ordered the entire menu and found everything extremely tasty. If you’re looking to get a little smorgasbord, try the pozole, the flautas, and the mixed taco platter.
La Pitahaya Vegana
With vibrant, colorful food, you may recognize their insta-famous pink tortillas from social media. While the tacos were good, we felt like we’d had better elsewhere. This restaurant is vegan, so if you’re looking for some veggie-forward tacos, they have a wide selection here.
El Califa
These tacos were pretty tasty! If you’re in need of a quick bite, this is a good place to stop.
drink
Licorecia Limantour
One of the world’s 50 best cocktail bars, this was our favorite bar we visited on our trip. Every drink we had was amazing. You can either order off the menu, or tell the bartender the types of flavors and liquors you like and they’ll make you a custom drink. The best drink we had was a spicy watermelon margarita type drink. It does get pretty crowded here. We got lucky and got bar seating, but it’s advised to make a reservation ahead of time.
Xaman
Speakeasy bar with fun drinks! It can be a bit hard to find as the outside is pretty nondescript. Reservations are recommended.
SEE
Walk around Chapultepec Park and visit the castle!
Chapultepec Park is a huge urban park with plenty of green space and areas to explore. It kind of reminded me of Central Park, where you can walk around for days and still discover hidden gems like statues and museums and buy artisan souvenirs and little snacks from street vendors. Speaking of Central Park, Chapultepec Park is actually double the size of Central Park! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes because you’ll be covering a lot of ground.
Make sure to check out the Castle. It’s part of the National History Museum! It is up a steep hill, so be prepared for a little climb. But as with lots of climbs, you’ll have a sick view once you get up to the top.
You’ll also see performers like musicians and acrobats performing the Danza de los Voladores. If you’ve never seen the Danza de los Voladores, I personally think it’s worth a watch. The performers climb up a very tall pole, each individual attached to a rope. Once they reach the top, they cascade down and fly through the air. It’s a pretty exhilarating performance! The performance is actually an ancient Mesoamerican ritual celebrating the four earth elements and the four cardinal directions. Four men, representing the elements, climb the pole while a fifth man, representing the sun, plays a drum and sings.
Self-Guided Walking Tour
I find that the best way to explore cities is typically by foot, and Mexico City was no exception. I created a little walking tour for our group to see some highlights. The whole “tour” includes only about 30 minutes of walking total.
Museo de Arte Popular
Stop by this colorful museum to see Mexican art and crafts. I was (pleasantly) surprised by the diversity in this museum. They not only had paintings, but also textiles, ceramics, pottery, woodwork, and larger paper mache and pop art exhibits (like a car covered in textiles). It was a fun stop on our walk. We went late in the day, about 40 minutes before closing, and they let us in for free. We’re not sure if this is the norm, but they do offer student discounts. Fortunately, this museum is relatively small, so that was the perfect amount of time to explore and see all the museum has to offer.
Palacio Postal
The Palacio Postal, located in the heart of Mexico City, is a stunning architectural gem renowned for its grandeur and exquisite design. Built at the turn of the 20th century, this historic building (still!) serves as a central post office. Its exterior boasts a blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Spanish Plateresque styles, while the interior showcases lavish decor, including intricate marble work, ornate iron fixtures, stained glass windows, and detailed brass ornamentation. Note, this post office closes early!
House of Tiles
This iconic building has a striking facade adorned with blue and white tiles. It reminded me of something you’d see in Portugal. Snap a picture outside before continuing to the next stop.
Palacio Bellas Artes
The Palacio Bellas Artes is a beautiful events venue. Even if there aren’t any performances happening during your stay, you can still admire the architecture of the building.
Barrio Chino
Welcome to Mexico City’s Chinatown! This bustling area is so fun to walk around. Pop in the San Rio themed shops or grab some street dumplings while you’re here.
Biblioteca Vasconcelos
This cool, contemporary library is a great place to walk around and admire the architecture or take some vibey pictures. In addition to the stacks, check out the garden and outdoor terraces.
Jumex and Soumaya Museums
The Jumex and Soumaya Museums are right next to each other, making it very convenient to visit both of them.
The Jumex Museum specializes in contemporary art and has works by Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, and Jeff Koons to name a few. When we visited we saw a cool exhibit modeling rain, as well as a lot of pop art installations. We did have to pay a fee to enter the special exhibits area, but I believe it was under $5/person. The price can vary depending on the size and type of special exhibit.
The Soumaya Museum was unexpectedly closed the day we visited, but we admired the outside and took pictures of the sleek building. Here you can find an extensive collection from famous artists like Rodin, Dali, and Picasso, as well as an impressive array of Mexican art. And the best news is that this museum is free!
Anthropologie Museum
This was my favorite museum that we visited on our trip. It is MASSIVE. The museum is broken up into 22 different sections – each focusing on anthropology from a different time or culture, like Oaxaca, Maya, the Toltec, and general anthropology. Make sure to check out both the indoor and outdoor spaces! And make sure to allocate a few hours so you don’t feel rushed exploring. One our first visit, we went later in the day, about an hour before closing and they didn’t charge us for tickets. We’re not sure if this is normal or not. When we visited again, earlier in the day, it was about $10 USD to enter. Our favorite sites were:
Aztec Sun Stone
Aztec God of the Dead
El Paraguas (The Umbrella)
Temple recreations outside the Mayan area
Interactive, digital exhibit in the general anthropology section
Libreria Porrua
Just a few minutes down the road from the Anthropology Museum, you’ll find a little bookstore nestled on top of a lake. It’s a cute place to buy some books or souvenirs. They also have a small cafe so you can grab a drink or light snack while you browse.
Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul)
Another highlight of our trip was the Frida Kahlo Museum (also known as Casa Azul). You might recognize it from its famous blue exterior as the former home-turned-museum of the famous Mexican artist. Here you’ll not only see Frida’s work, but you’ll also learn about her life, see her belongings, and better understand the legacy her work left on the art world.
Take a picture at the “Mexico Mi Amor” sign
An insta-famous spot, stop at the neon pink Mexico Mi Amor sign for a quick pic. You can find the sign in a parking lot, outside of the Tane Jewelry store in the Polanco neighborhood. Here’s the address if you’d like to add it to your Google Maps: Edgar Allan Poe 66, Polanco, Polanco III Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11540 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Take a picture in the rainbow alley outside the Centro de Cultura Digital
Another insta-famous spot, take a picture in the vibrant rainbow tunnel outside of the Centro de Cultura Digital. You can also pop inside and explore the center’s latest exhibits.
DO
Hot Air Balloon over the Pyramids
We used Volare and had a great experience. We highly recommend booking with them.
Wake up early and head over to the Balloon Port. We booked a pick-up with Volare and they picked us up right at our hotel. They provide coffee, tea, and some light breakfast options like bananas and apples. Depending on sunrise timing, you’ll be arriving pretty early and it might be chilly, so don’t forget to pack a light jacket. I was a little nervous before our flight as I’m a bit scared of heights, but I found this to be a super relaxing experience and would do it again in a heartbeat. The ride was very smooth and calm. We flew over the Teotihuacán Pyramids as the sun rose and it was absolutely breathtaking. A definite pinch me moment.
If you fly with Volare, after you finish your hot air balloon ride, you’ll get picked up and driven to breakfast. Breakfast was surprisingly good for a tour-included breakfast. It also came with free alcohol – tequila shots and mimosas, as well as live mariachi music. They popped a bottle of champagne and gave each of us a mini glass as we landed the hot air balloon. At breakfast, make sure to grab your video from your hot air balloon pilot. For a small fee, they will send you a go pro video of your whole ride. It’s a pretty cool souvenir.
Visit the Teotihuacán pyramids
With Volare, they will either drop you off at the pyramids or drive you back to Mexico City. At the pyramids, you can opt for a self-guided or a guide-led tour through the pyramids. This is not included in the price of your ticket and depending on your tour provider, you may need to book your own transportation back to Mexico City.
Make sure you have an Uber or pre-schedule a pick-up. It is hard to get cell phone service at the pyramids.
Xochimilco
We used this AirBnB tour to book our Xochimilco boat ride and it was one of the best decisions we made on our trip. We weren’t really sure what to expect and were actually going to pass on the whole experience, but we’re so glad we went. When you arrive you’re loaded onto a boat that can hold about 10-15 people. The tour starts out with some historical information on Mexico City.
And then the shots come out. There were about 10 different flavors of mezcal to try, and you should most definitely try them all. They did serve complimentary chips and salsa as well as some tacos, but it’s not really about the food. As you float down the canal, you can ask vendors (who are also on boats) to come to your boat if you’d like to purchase something. You can buy souvenirs, flower crowns, food (like roasted corn), and alcohol. If you’d like a mariachi band to accompany you as you float, you can also pay to have that service.
Don’t miss the Axolotl stop. Here you can see Axolotl which are cute little animals that kind of look like salamanders. There’s also a bathroom here, so it makes for a good stop. I believe it was $1 to visit and the bathroom might have been an additional dollar or two.
Lucha Libre
You’ve probably seen Lucha Libre fights on TV or in the media. And if you’re like us, you might be thinking that Lucha Libre is not really your vibe and isn’t worth the time or effort to visit. If you’re thinking that, you’d be wrong. The Lucha Libre show was another activity we were debating and were ultimately so happy we went and experienced it. Lucha Libre is a performative style of wrestling. It’s extremely theatrical with elaborate costumes, loud music, and choreographed fights.
We did have a little trouble getting an Uber to leave, as well as getting to the arena. Since it’s so popular, sometimes the surrounding streets are shut down. We ended up getting dropped off a few blocks away and walking; and then leaving, we had some luck once we walked a few blocks away from the arena.
Since it’s so crowded, you just kind of get absorbed into the line that goes into the arena. There are two security lines – one for men and one for women. You might get a quick pat down and a look in your bag before you enter.
If you want to buy a lucha libre mask, you can easily find them on the street. Tons of vendors will be selling them in any color you want. You can buy some snacks, like chips, popcorn, or hot dogs, as well as beer or micheladas, but try to eat before or after the main event.
We bought our tickets in advance through Ticketmaster and went to the Arena Mexico. We’d seen online that the arena isn’t in the absolute best area, and while we didn’t have any safety concerns when we went, it is always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings.
Walk around the streets of La Condesa and Roma Norte
Admire the beautiful flowers in Parque Mexico. We brought churros here from Churrería El Moro and ate them in the park. These tree-lined streets are so pretty. Pop into the luxury shops and boutiques and shop to your heart’s content.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
DAY 1
Anthropologie Museum
Libreria Porrua (lake library 3 mins from Anthropologie Museum)
Walk to Centro de Cultura
Rainbow tunnel at centro de cultura digital
Library
DAY 2
Hot Air Balloon at Pyramids
Entremar – lunch
Walk Around Chapultepec Park and Visit the Castle
Grab tacos
Drinks at Licoreria Limantour
DAY 3
Jumex Museum
Soumaya Museum
Mexico Mi Amor Sign Picture
Taqueria Orinoco
Museo de Arte Popular
Palacio Postal
House of tiles & Palacio Bellas Artes
Barrio Chino
Tacos Hola
Lucha Libre at night
DAY 4
Frida Kahlo Museum
Boat Trip
Contremar
Xaman