Ever wish you could text the most stylish people in the world to ask them for their lists of things to do in the places they know best? Here are insider travel tips for those who would never be caught dead in a tourist trap. Bon voyage!
Who
Five in-the-know residents shared their insights and recommendations for making the most of Mexico City: Tamara de Anda, television host of the long-running show Itenerario and culinary guide for Eat Like a Local; Gabriela CĂĄmara, chef and owner of the destination restaurants Contramar, Entremar, Caracol, Itacate, and CastacĂĄn; Javier Carral, owner of the impeccably appointed vintage furniture store TrouvĂ©; ZĂ©lika GarcĂa, founder of the contemporary art fair Zona Maco; and Karla MartĂnez de Salas, head of content for Vogue Mexico and Latin America.
What
What to Bring
Despite its epic size, Mexico City is a surprisingly walkable place comprised of distinctive neighborhoods â from fascinating Centro HistĂłrico and burgeoning JuĂĄrez to hip Roma and charming Condesa. While rideshare apps such as Uber and Didi are efficient and affordable options, heavy traffic in a city this size should be expected. A few things all our local experts consider essential: comfortable walking shoes, light jackets, packable layers, and an extra bag to accommodate treasures you find along the way.
âThe weather may change a lot from morning to midday,â Carral warns. âBring a raincoat, especially if youâre visiting during the rainy season between May and September.â
Nodding to both seasonal rain and the cityâs expansive food scene, de Anda pares her packing list down to just two things: âan empty stomach and an umbrella.â
What to Leave Behind
Although itâs a fashionable locale populated by stylish dressers, Mexico Cityâs walkability inspires practical sartorial choices â especially when it comes to footwear. Uncomfortable shoes could easily turn you into a squeaky wheel while strolling from dinner to cocktails. âDonât wear high heels,â GarcĂa asserts.
Tellingly, nearly all our tastemakers suggest leaving your winter clothes and expensive jewelry at home. âYou donât want to attract pick pockets with your Rolex,â Carral reminds.
A rigorous itinerary is also not required, CĂĄmara says. âItâs best to take it easy while youâre here and to enjoy the different pace of meals, tasting food at markets and strolling around.â
What to Keep in Mind
In addition to rideshare apps, the sprawling subway system, and the bright-red double decker Metrobuses, another popular transportation option is Ecobici â a user-friendly program with stations throughout the city and plans ranging from a single day to the entire year. âThe city is becoming more bike-friendly,â MartĂnez says. âOn Sundays, Paseo de la Reforma is only open to bicycles and pedestrians. Itâs a good way to discover downtown and some of the more congested areas.â
Lunch in Mexico City can be a long and leisurely affair that often begins around 2 or 3 p.m. âEarlier lunch is only for foreigners, so take that into account if you want a more legit experience,â CĂĄmara says. âMake reservations for any of the better-known, trendy, or formal restaurants. As for eating at street stalls or in markets, make sure there is a line of people. And never drink tap water â Mexico City is too great to waste your days being sick with Montezumaâs revenge.â
Even a basic understanding of common Spanish phrases can go a long way here. âAlways greet people and thank them in Spanish if possible,â CĂĄmara continues. âBuenos dĂas, buenas tardes, buenas noches, gracias.â In a pinch, you can always ask Siri for help. âIf you donât speak Spanish, remember that smiling and being polite is a universal language â and that Google Translate is your friend,â de Anda says. âAnd tip generously as wages are still unfairly low.â
Where
Where to Stay
Mexico Cityâs hotel options are unsurprisingly vast and diverse â spanning from the castle-like Downtown Mexico in Centro HistĂłrico and architect Ricardo Legorretaâs poppy pink landmark Camino Real in Polanco to the chic Hotel Brick in Roma Norte and the recently opened Soho House in Colonia JuĂĄrez.
Camino Real Polanco
Soho House
âSmall hotels feel more like home because theyâre cozier and more discreet,â Carral says. âI personally like Octavia Casa in Condesa and Casa Pani in CuauhtĂ©moc. Grupo HĂĄbita has several hotels around the city â including Condesa DF, HĂĄbita Hotel in Polanco, and CĂrculo Mexicano in Centro HistĂłrico â and they all have very good food as well.â
Casa Pani
Small, locally owned properties also appeal to MartĂnez, who counts Casa Polanco and The Alest Hotel among her favorites, but also recommends the centrally located Four Seasons. âIt has a great brunch and feels very regal,â she says.
Four Seasons
Where to Start the Day
After a strong cup of coffee from niche chains such as Buna, Chiquitito, or QĆ«entin CafĂ©, locals and tourists in the know fuel up with chilaquiles and other traditional Mexican breakfasts at El Cardenal â a local mainstay with a stately downtown flagship and four other locations around the city.
Eduardo GarcĂaâs casual concept Lalo! and Elena Reygadasâ wildly popular restaurants PanaderĂa Rosetta and Lardo are also fan favorites known for contemporary takes on Mexican classics. A recent arrival thatâs still generating buzz, the Jewish deli Mendl has found a fan in MartĂnez. âThey have a delicious brunch and deli specialities that are hard to find in Mexico,â she says.
When sitting down for breakfast isnât in the cards, GarcĂa reminds that âstreet food is also the best!â Echoing that sentiment, de Anda recommends trying the hyperlocal specialty guajolota. âYou canât miss this traditional chilango breakfast,â she says. âItâs a tamal sandwich made with bolillo bread. You can find it around any subway station early in the morning.â
Where to Eat
âObviously I love my restaurants,â chef CĂĄmara admits. âBut Iâm also a massive fan of anything from Grupo Maximus â MĂĄximo Bistrot, Lalo!, Havre 77, Em, MartĂnez, Ultramarinos, and Makan â as they are great friends and serve fantastic food.
Maximo Bistro
Havre 77
I also adore old-school places such as Casa Merlos and Al Andaluz, as they are delicious classics.â Similarly, Carral acknowledges buzzy foodie destinations â including CĂĄmaraâs universally loved Contramar â but also recommends putting old-school cantinas on your list. âIf you like dominoes and the cantina vibe, go to Bar el Sella,â he says. âThe speciality here is chamorro (ham hock) â order one to share. Montejo is another cantina with great Yucatecan food. ⊠In case you need a 24-hour French restaurant open 365 days a year, go to Au Pied de Cochon.â
No visit to Mexico City would be complete without tacos, which run the gamut from the portable street variety GarcĂa favors to the high-end offerings served at Enrique Olveraâs game-changing restaurant Pujol.
A causal favorite with multiple locations and a cult following to boot, TaquerĂa Orinoco gets MartĂnezâs seal of approval with its unfussy menu of classics such as tacos al pastor, gringas, norteñas, and piratas. Take a pro-tip from Carral: âIf youâre putting salsa on your taco, always taste a tiny bit first.â
TaqueriÌa Orinoco
Where to Shop
Vibrant markets beckon from all corners of Mexico City. Downtownâs Mercado de ArtesanĂas la Ciudadela is a go-to for textiles, pottery, handicrafts, and souvenirs while nearby Mercado de San Juan is a foodie mecca stocked with basics and rarities alike â including edible bugs and, as Carral notes, âexotic ingredients like crocodile.â The Saturday-only Bazaar SĂĄbado in picturesque San Ăngel attracts crowds with its curated melange of contemporary jewelry, art and housewares. And Tianguis de Comonfort in Lagunilla lights up on Sundays with an eclectic assortment of antiques and vintage collectibles. In terms of standalone stores and boutiques, GarcĂa suggests Bomboti. âIt just opened in Polanco with a great selection of Mexican apparel, furniture and housewares,â she says.
Also a Bomboti fan, MartĂnez recommends Onora for âreally great home and fashion pieces that are all made in artisan communities in Mexico.â For a concentrated boutique experience, stroll down the tree-lined streets of Marsella or Havre in Colonia JuĂĄrez and browse contemporary Mexican fashions at Carla Fernandez, menswear at Casa CaballerĂa, and thoughtfully selected home goods at Utilitario Mexicano.
Onora
Where to Look at Art
âThe National Museum of Anthropology is a stunning place to start if youâre visiting Mexico for the first time,â MartĂnez says. One of many landmarks within in the sprawling Bosque de Chapultepec, the museum is within walking distance from Museo Tamayo and the Museo de Arte Moderno, the later of which holds iconic works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and JosĂ© Clemente Orozco.
Museo Tamayo
A cobalt-blue time capsule in colorful CoyoacĂĄn, Museo Frida Kahlo is also considered a must (reservations required). Among Martinezâs favorites, Museo Jumex in Polanco displays Eugenio LĂłpez Alonsoâs contemporary art collection and is conveniently located right next to Museo Soumaya â a gleaming architectural marvel that holds Carlos Slimâs expansive collection of works by Rodin, DalĂ, Picasso, and da Vinci, among others.
Frida Kahlo Museum
Naturally, GarcĂa suggests visiting Mexico City during Zona Maco (taking place this year from February 7-11), which brings together hundreds of galleries from all over the world â including major Mexico City players like Kurimanzutto, MAIA Contemporary, Labor, OMR, and GalerĂa Karen Huber.
Where to Unwind
Some of Mexico Cityâs best-known spas are inside high-end hotels â the Four Seasons, Hotel Brick, the St. Regis, HĂĄbita Hotel, and Live Aqua Urban Resort among them. âHela Spa at the Hotel Presidente Intercontinental is great,â MartĂnez says. âI personally love Biologique Recherche and they work exclusively with the luxury skincare brand.â GarcĂaâs a big fan of the wellness facilities at the boutique hotel Ryo Kan. âIt has a great spa with facials and massages,â she says. âAnd I never miss a pilates class at The Good Studio in Condesa.â And de Anda doesnât mind getting off the beaten path for some old-school relaxation in the thermal baths of Los Baños del Peñon. âThey might look a bit run-down â and even haunted â but you wonât find a place with more history, personality, and charm,â she says.
Ryo Kan
Where to Get Some Fresh Air
âOur equivalent to Central Park is Bosque de Chapultepec â a 1,600-acre park with lakes and museums,â Carral explains. âItâs a good place to explore on a mountain bike.â For unmatched views of the city, take the parkâs winding trail up to Castillo de Chapultepec â a neoclassical castle that now houses the Museo Nacional de Historia.
Museo Nacional de Historia
In Condesa, the nearby pair of Parque MĂ©xico and Parque España offer urban respite with abundant trees, shady paths, and benches â not to mention designer dogs aplenty.
For a double dose of culture and green space, de Anda heads to Ciudad Universitaria, the main campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). âYouâll find a good mix of nature and breathtaking architecture,â she says of the campus, â which is home to the Museo Universitario Arte ContemporĂĄneo (MUAC) and elaborate murals by Mexican icons David Alfaro Siqueiros and Juan OâGorman.
Where to Have a Cocktail
Often credited with reigniting Mexico Cityâs mixology scene, the award-winning cocktail bar LicorerĂa Limantour â which has cozy, stylish outposts in Roma and Polanco â got nods from both GarcĂa and Carral.
LicorerĂa Limantour
For classic cocktails in a vintage-inspired setting, de Anda heads to the jazz club Parker & Lenox for an expertly prepared gin and tonic. Nearby in Colonia JuĂĄrez, the speakeasies Handshake and Hanky Panky are secretive, dimly lit spaces that require advance reservations.
Handshake
Located in a former 17th-century monastery in the cobblestoned neighborhood of San Ăngel, the hacienda-like San Ăngel Inn is a go-to for CĂĄmara. âI love to have a margarita or a martini on the patio. Itâs so beautiful and peaceful there â a true oasis amid the cityâs chaos.â
San Ăngel Inn
Where to Stay Up Late
Thereâs celebratory energy in Mexico City that just wonât quit â and it often leads to friends old and new drinking and dancing into the wee hours. For live salsa, de Anda favors Barba Azul in Colonia Obrera. âIt has the most amazing decor and itâs one of the only remaining mid-century cabarets in the city,â she says. An old-school cabaret of a different ilk, La Perla has been in operation since 1946 and still draws a wildly mixed crowd for drag shows in Centro HistĂłrico on Friday and Saturday nights (plan to arrive before 10 p.m. to score a table).
La Perla
GarcĂa recommends El Zinco for authentic jazz, El Tenampa for classic mariachi music, and the guilty pleasure Patrick Miller for DJs spinning Italo disco and â80s party jams for enthusiastic crowds.
High on CĂĄmaraâs list, SalĂłn Palomilla is an intimate cocktail bar hidden behind the kitchen of PĂĄramo â an airy Roma hangout that serves gourmet tacos and ceviche well past midnight.
When
Mexico Cityâs moderate climate makes it a year-round respite from both scorching summers and icy winters in other parts of the world.
âThe winter is great as itâs nice weather,â CĂĄmara offers. âIn early February we have Mexico City Art Week,â which extends beyond Zona Maco to include younger, independent fairs such as Feria Material and SalĂłn Acme.
âThe weather is never extreme,â Carral assures. âSave for a few thunderstorms in summer, itâs amicable almost all year. Early March is a nice time to visit because the city goes purple with the flowers of Jacaranda trees.â
Why
Not unlike the notorious grips of New York City, Mexico City has a knack for turning visitors into fanatics â and even full-time residents. âMexico City is super special, as you can pretty much find anything and everything here,â CĂĄmara points out. âYou can always find high and low, saturation of colors and smells, architecture, fashion, restaurants of all types, museums, concerts, markets, art, crafts â you name it.â
Thanks to its unfathomable size, diverse population and robust creative class, the sense of discovery here is endless â even for a seasoned content creator like de Anda. âIâve been writing about things to do in Mexico City for many years,â she says. âNot only have I never run out of topics, I get enormous doses of dopamine whenever Iâm out exploring. Itâs a city that never ceases to impress and surprise you.â
Parque Mexico in the Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City
Echoing those sentiments, MartĂnez adds, âMexicans are very warm and welcoming, and there is truly a spirit of joie de vivre in the city. A long lunch always leads you to make new friends and have new experiences. You can experience a few seasons in a day â you might even see a snow-capped volcano on a warm day. There is always an element of surprise and you always leave wanting to come back and see more.â
The Mexican flag flies over the Zocalo, the main square in Mexico City.