Fun Spots in Mexico City

Drew Stiling
9 min readMar 30, 2022

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(Updated March 2022)

I’ve read a lot of articles in recent years in (primarily) U.S. media praising Mexico City as a tourist destination, so I wanted to put them all in one spot as a resource for those, both local and non-local alike, who are looking for interesting things to do or places to visit. I’ll keep updating this post as new articles come along.

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Art, Asian food & gay bars: A guide to Mexico City’s hippest hideawaysMark Ellwood in the NY Post in February 2022.

Among his recommendations:

  • Drink some Yola, mezcal made by an all-female team.
  • Sip some Abasolo, Mexico’s first whiskey. You can take a tour of their distillery, which is located an hour outside of the city.
  • Eat at Cicatriz Cafe, located in the Zona Rosa — Juarez area, east of Insurgentes. Founded by a couple from New York (Jake & Scarlett Lindeman), their menu features items like salads, carrots (highly recommended), meatballs, roasted chicken. Prices for each item seem to range from 70 pesos MX to 150 pesos MX. They do not take reservations, and they are open from 9a — 11p daily.
  • Hang out at Paramo, a laid-back spot in Roma Norte, open daily from 2:00pm — 1:30am.
  • Shop at Chava Studio, made & cut-to-order women’s clothing store based out of La Condesa founded by New Yorker Olivia Villanti after moving with her Mexican husband to CDMX in 2020. Shirts and casual/linen dresses are $250-$350 USD each.
  • Grab a silly straw and head to Hugo El Wine Bar, a Roma Norte wine bar specializing in natural wine, open from 2:00pm — 10:00pm Tuesday — Saturday, 3:00pm — 10:00pm on Sundays, closed on Mondays.
  • See and be seen at the bar at the Four Seasons; its courtyard is gorgeous as well. Located in Col. Juarez.
  • Spend a night at Octavio Casa, a new seven-room minimalist hotel in La Condesa; rates start around $250 US per night. You can also shop the related clothing brand, Octavia, a women’s clothing brand designed and manufactured in Mexico. Items go from around $800 MX to $2000 MX, and you can find many items in the high-end department store Palacio de Hierro.
  • Munch on snacks at Bar Ticuchi in Condesa, owned by Mexico’s most famous chef, Enrique Olvera.
  • Hire Base Agency, led by CDMX native Adolfo Lopez Serrano Reyes, to do PR work for you.
  • Eat Mexican-inspired Korean food at Dooriban by Mama Park. Open from 2p-10p, Wednesday through Sunday.
  • Head to the mix-up of cafe / bar / plant shop known as Cafe Pacifico in Zona Rosa. Open M-F, 7:30am — 5:00pm; closed weekends.
  • Dance at gay-friendly La Purisima in el Centro. Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6:00pm — 3:00am.
  • Look at art at the roaming gallery Masa, founded by an immigrant from Estonia.
  • Make your way to Roma Norte for some Thai-Peru fusion at Choza and then shop for some books nearby at Casa Bosques, which is open from 11a-7p daily (closed from 3p-4p).
  • Nosh on some great breakfast at Expendio de Maiz sin Nombre in Roma Norte. Open Tuesday — Sunday from 9:00am — 6:00pm.
  • Take a stroll down the beautiful Calle Havre, a leafy street in the heart of Col. Juarez, where you can shop for some men’s clothing at Casa Caballeria (open daily from 11a-8p) or eat some outstanding pastries at the wonderful Cafe Nin (opens 7a daily until nighttime). Check out Botanico for some great food as well. Also in Juarez, you can eat some Middle Eastern breakfast at Niddo, open daily from 8:00am — 5:30pm.

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Step inside one of the last of Mexico City’s iconic dance halls — Story and photographs by Marian Carrasquero in National Geographic in February 2022.

The author discusses the Guerrero neighborhood’s Salon Los Angeles, which opened in 1937. The article notes that the club “is open two nights a week, with these throwback styles on Tuesdays and salsa on Sundays. The music is always live, performed by bands ranging from five to fifteen people.” The article also mentions California Dance Club in Col. Portales, a similar type of venue.

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An avid traveler’s guide to Mexico CityJen Roberts in St. Louis Magazine in June 2021.

Among the noteworthy places and things that she recommends:

  • Dine at Masala and Maiz, a (pricier) mix of Mexican, Indian & East African in Col. Juarez which is open from 12p-6p from Wednesday — Monday.
  • Enjoy traditional Mexican cuisine at Azul Historico in El Centro, open from 9a — 11p daily (closed from 12p-1p). Entrees from $300 MX — $500 MX.
  • Take in the scene at Balmori Rooftop in Roma Norte for cocktails and pub food. Open from 1:30p — 2:00am Tue-Sat, fewer hours Mon and Sun.
  • Knock one back at Mezcal Mexico in Roma Sur. Open at 3pm Tue — Sat, closed Sun-Mon.
  • Support Mexican farmers by getting your cup of joe at Buna, a local coffee shop.
  • Enjoy the dancing of Ballet Folklorico Mexico on Wednesdays and Sundays.

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21 Best Things to Do in Mexico City, From Fine Dining to Local ShoppingMegan Wood in Travel & Leisure in January 2022.

Among the noteworthy places and things that she recommends:

  • Have one of the most elegant dinners of your life at Pujol, chef Enrique Olvera’s temple of refined Mexican cuisine. The tasting menu costs ~$125 US per person and reservations can be difficult to come by. For at least fifteen years, this restaurant has been the consensus critical choice as the best restaurant in the country, although it has faced claims of harsh working conditions recently. Located in Polanco and open from 1:30pm — 9:30pm Monday — Saturday (closed Sundays).
  • View some remarkable art at Museo Soumaya in Polanco, home to 66,000 pieces and featuring free admission. Open daily from 10:30am — 6:30pm.
  • Wander the stacks and enjoy the gorgeous architecture at the government-run Vasconcelos Library in Col. Buenavista.
  • Shop near El Centro at Barrio Alameda and enjoy interesting boutiques and restaurants as well as a rooftop boutique.
  • Order the legendary tuna tostadas at Contramar in Roma Norte.

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25 Best Things to Do in Mexico CityMary Holland and Cicatriz’s Scarlett Lindeman in Conde Naste Traveler in January 2020.

Among the noteworthy places and things that they recommend:

  • Take in the former home and studio of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Luis Barragán.
  • Visit the Sculpture Garden at the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo. Open from 11a-6p, Wed-Sun.
  • Go to a crazy Friday or Saturday night dance party at Patrick Miller in Roma Norte.
  • Enjoy pro wrestling at Arena Coliseo in the City Center.
  • Drink your way through a mezcal tour with Andrea of Gyde and Seek. $60 US per hour for two people; an additional $27 US per hour per person for groups more than 2 people.
  • Dine at Amaya in Juarez, a restaurant that I’ve eaten at and absolutely loved.
  • Dance at the historic Salon San Luis in Col. Roma.

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This Easy Weekend Road Trip From Mexico City Has the Perfect Mix of Culture, Food, and Countryside Views — Michael Synder in Travel and Leisure in November 2021.

  • On Day 1, start in Mexico City’s Zocalo, drive 90 minutes east/southeast to Tlaxcala City, have breakfast at Mercado Emilio Sanchez Piedras and spend the night at the eight-room hotel Molino de los Reyes (double rooms from $300 US per night).
  • On Day 2, drive an hour northeast, eventually ending up in Terrenate. Along the way, visit the workshop of fourth-generation weaver Ignacio Netzahualcoyotl. Spend the night at Hacienda Tenexac ($135 US per night).
  • On Day 3, drive west/southwest, first stopping for lunch at the well-regarded Evoka in Apizaco (~$20 US pp) and then spending the night at the new and gorgeous JapoNeza retreat in Atlangatepec (rooms from $280 US per night).
  • On Day 4, go on a morning hike, have breakfast at La Casona de de Don Agustin (~$15 US pp) in Tlaxco, learn about pulque at Hacienda Xochucha (appointment only), enjoy lunch at the respected Xoletongo (~$15 US pp), and then drive 90 minutes back into Mexico City.

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Cultured City Guide: Mexico City Expands Its Artistic ReachSamantha Ozer in Cultured Mag in September 2021.

Among the spots that they recommend:

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The Tiwa Select Founder’s Perfect Friday to Tuesday in Mexico City — by Alex Tieghi-Walker as told to Stephanie Schomer in NY Mag / The Strategist in December 2021.

Among his recommendations are:

  • Stay at Casa Bosques Pension in Roma Norte, a three-room hotel above a bookshop (~$150 US per night).
  • Purchase basic homewares at Utilitario Mexicana in Col. Juarez. Open from 11a-7p, M-F.
  • Grab some coffee and baked goods at Panaderia Rosetta in Roma Norte. Open from roughly 7a-9p most days.
  • Have a drink at Cantina Salon Paris in Santa Maria Ribera, slightly northeast of El Centro.
  • Spend your Sunday at Lagunilla Flea Market.
  • Pay a visit to highly-regarded tastemaker Su Wu at Casa Ahorita and buy some folk crafts; apparently this store is rarely open, so try reaching out to her if interested.
  • Eat some pricey authentic Mesoamerican food at Tetetlan near the massive UNAM university in the southern portion of the city. Open daily from 8a-11p.
  • Enjoy a nightcap at Bosforo Mezcaleria in el Centro. Opens at 6p Tue-Sat. Closed Sun-Mon.
  • Start your Tuesday at the farmers market in La Condesa.
  • Sip on a cocktail at Salon Rosetta in Roma Norte.

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A culinary guide to Mexico CityMichaela Trimble in National Geographic in August 2021.

Among the noteworthy places and things that she recommends:

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