Mexico City - TRAVEL GUIDE
Mexico City Travel Guide
Chef Michael’s picks for the best food, drinks, and activities for foodies traveling to the capital city of Mexico.
As one of my favorites cities in the world, I’m here to show you just how special this amazing city is. Beyond the vast size of the city, the sheer amount of amazing food in this city is hard to fathom. And for someone interested in visiting Mexico City, it can seem overwhelmed to decide where to go and what to see. So this guide is here to help you plan your next trip.
QUICK LINKS:
Chef Michael’s Favorite Spots!
Read below for a few of Michael’s picks for the best of Mexico City! From street food, to world-class restaurants, to the best roof-top cocktails, this list has you covered.
TACOS + STREET FOOD:
Taqueria Las Rejas - In my opinion, the best “al pastor” in town and a relatively unknown secret with some of the best food in town. Get the al pastor torta. Your life will change forever! This is perhaps my favorite bite of food in Mexico City. Cash only.
Tako Capital - A must-try local’s spot for cheap eats. Do not miss the “Cochinita Pibil Chilaquiles Verde”. But they’re also famous for their traditional-style carnitas and gorditas.
El Pescadito - Mind-blowing seafood tacos. Make sure to get the fried Marlin tacos (with all the toppings) and a “Queso-toto” (a fried jalapeno popper + shrimp taco).
Birria Los Gueros de Juanacatlan - Truly authentic street-food stall serving Birria. Order “quesabirria” or simply a bowl of birria (meat stew). Cash only.
Ricas Tortas Caliente - A 24-hour street cart serving phenomenal Milanesa Tortas (fried chicken sandwiches). They have amazing combinations of fried chicken along with pork, ham, and cheese. Yum! Cash only.
Taqueria Orinoco or Taqueria Alvaro Obregon - Both with several locations, both open late (usually ‘til 4 or 5 am), these spots are great for the late-night drunk munchies wherever you are after a night out on the town. At Obregon, you can even get their famous “envueltos”, or cheese-shell tacos filled with al pastor right off the “trompo”.
BARS:
Balmori Rooftop - Rooftop gastropub with great cocktails, food, and live DJ.
Supra Roma - Chic rooftop bar with hidden entrance through a parking garage - Make a reservation ahead of time!
La Clandestina & La Lavanderia (next to each other) - Cute neighborhood bars for cocktails.
Baltra Bar - Cool Darwin-themed cocktail bar.
Casa Franca - French-inspired jazz bar in a bustling party area. Go early to beat the crowd.
Balcon del Zocalo - Stunning rooftop bar overlooking the cathedral, serving fabulous drinks and snacks. Get a reservation or go in the daytime.
Gin Gin (Polanco) - Fabulous cocktail bar, with great food as well, and fun decor. There are several locations, but I personally love the Polanco or Condesa locations.
Paramo - Casual spot for cocktails and snacks in a pretty space.
UPSCALE RESTAURANTS:
Pujol - #9 best restaurant in the world, make a reservation months ahead for a truly world-class chef’s tasting. This culinary experience is reason enough to come to Mexico City.
Quintonil - Ranked #27 best restaurant in the world. Go for the chef’s tasting. This restaurant is surprisingly comfy, and not “stiff” or too fancy inside, considering you get some truly inspiring cuisine. Make sure to get a reservation ahead.
Masala Y Maiz - Fabulous Indian+Mexican fusion restaurant for creative eats. Note, only open during the daytime (12-6pm).
Contramar - Modern seafood restaurant. Reservation recommended.
Maximo Bistrot - Contemporary Mexican cuisine by a famous chef. Reservation recommended.
Merotoro - Baja-style Modern Mexican cuisine. Reservation recommended.
BRUNCH + LUNCH:
Lardo - Great locals spot for brunch, lunch, or dinner with Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and brick oven pizzas.
Chilakillers - Cute “dia de los muertos” themed spot for chilaquiles.
Chilpa - Famous breakfast spot that just serves fabulous chilaquiles.
El Cardenal (two locations) - Famous classic Mexican restaurant. Great for breakfast or Lunch. Try the Mexican hot chocolate and classic Mexican dishes.
Yakumanka - Amazing Peruvian restaurant with fabulous ceviche! Get the cebiche amarillo (yellow ceviche with calamari on top).
NEIGHBORHOODS:
La Condesa - My personal favorite neighborhood to stay in. It’s absolutely stunning, safe and nearby everything, yet a bit quieter and more peaceful than the more touristy areas. Lined with gorgeous trees, walking trails, coffee shops, and more, if you want to visit CDMX and live like the locals with some peace and quiet, this is where to stay. I recommend a nice Airbnb instead of a hotel, for a taste of Mexico City living.
Roma Norte, Hipódromo, and Zona Rosa - Much like La Condesa with tree-lined streets, parks, and walking distance to tons of restaurants and bars, you can’t go wrong here. These neighborhoods are a bit more active than La Condesa, so if you plan to go out at night, this would be a great place to stay.
Centro - The historic center of CDMX, here’s where you’ll find the beating heart of the city. Filled with beautiful hotels and plenty of sightseeing, this is great for touring the historic side of the city.
Polanco - This high-end area is bustling with tourists from around the globe. Though you’ll pay a high price tag for staying and shopping in this area, it’s the most wealthy and modern area in town. It’s a great area to walk around in at night, and if you don’t speak any Spanish, this area will have the most English language-friendly hotels and restaurants.
ACTIVITIES:
Coffee in La Condesa - Get amazing espresso and walk through the sidewalks of Avenida Mazatlan. Don’t forget to stop by Postales de Cafe… specializing in espresso drinks only, their coffee beans are from a local farm and they make the best espresso in town. Next stop, Café Guardatiempos; a quaint and quirky coffee shop run by the same man for over 40 years. They hand-pull coffee and espresso using a vintage machine.
Visit Chapultepec Castle - Surrounded by a gorgeous park larger than New York’s Central park, and packed with walking trails, gardens, gorgeous trees and fountains. You can also get a tour of the castle. Just don’t forget to walk across the street for the best food in town! Either Taqueria Las Rejas (for tortas) or Tako Capital (for cochinita pibil) - see the STREET FOOD section for more details on these.
This city is packed with history and culture, so don’t miss the museums surrounding the Bosque de Chapultepec, such as the Museo de Arte Moderno and the zoo!
Walk around the parks and “Amsterdam” street in the Hipódromo neighborhood.
Walk the plazas in the “Centro” and visit the palaces and Zocalo. Then get a cocktail at the Balcon del Zocalo for a special view of the area.
Walk around the Polanco neighborhood for chic high-end bars, restaurants, and shopping. Many restaurants have live music too. There are tons of great spots to eat and drink surrounding Parque Lincoln, but feel free to just walk around ‘til something catches your eye.
Adventure into the Mercando de Artesanias La Ciudadela for an indoor craft and souvenir market with endless winding corridors of local goods and crafts. Great for buying gifts for friends and family at home.
Day trip to see the Freida Kahlo Museum. Getting tickets ahead is helpful. Then walk the Bazar Artesanal Mexicano & Coyoacan Market and surrounding shops and food stalls.
TIPS + TRICKS:
GENERAL This city is HUGE - in fact it’s the 5th largest city in the world, by population. So please understand that my list is merely a fraction of what this city has to offer. I am no Mexico City expert, and these are just a few of my personal favorite spots. But I also encourage you to explore all the vast options the city has to offer!
SAFETY I get tons of questions about the safety in Mexico City. I can tell you this with confidence, I have never felt unsafe in Mexico City. It’s a bustling, modern metropolis. That said, especially if you don’t speak Spanish, I would stick to the neighborhoods I listed above, as they are very friendly to tourists and locals alike. And, of course, BE SMART. Don’t walk around alone at night - especially late at night, don’t call attention to yourself, don’t wear flashy clothes or jewelry, and just blend in. (But these are just good rules of thumb for traveling abroad to anywhere, not just for CDMX)
LANGUAGE Since Mexico City isn’t as “touristy” as the resort towns in Mexico you may have been to, English is just not as commonly spoken. Other than hotels and large tourist-friendly restaurants, speaking even a tiny bit of Spanish really helps- especially for ordering food. That said, the locals are incredibly friendly! So don’t be nervous at all. I’ve seen tourists and locals alike pull out Google Translate on their phone to communicate, so I wouldn’t worry about it!
TRANSPORTATION I pretty much recommend walking A LOT (it also helps burn off all those tacos you’re gonna eat!). But when you need to get beyond a walking distance, I highly recommend using Uber - most rides are under $5, and it’s safe and easy.
Video (part 1):
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Video (part 2):
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