Overall, the vibe is urban chic dressed in centuries of pre-colonial and European culture, a perfect blend of vintage and modern food, art, and architecture.
Where I Stayed: Hotel Carlota
I stayed at Hotel Carlota, which straddles the Roma/Condesa neighborhoods. With short Uber rides and brief walks to local activities, it was the perfect launching spot for exploring Mexico City.
I chose Hotel Carlota for its convenient location, industrial design, and killer pool! It is ideal for a long weekend but probably not for an extended stay.
The architecture is Instagram worthy, but the design does not permit much in the way of light or insulation. If you’re planning a longer trip, other options in the area include Hippodrome Hotel Condesa, The Alest Hotel and Hotel Condesa DF.
What I Wore: Layers!
Mexico City is situated at a high altitude (a half mile higher than Denver!) so the mornings and evenings can be cool. I visited during May, which is the start of summer and the rainy season, so the afternoons were warm and greeted me with brief showers. It was helpful to carry light sweaters and head coverings (cute hats and scarves—or even braids).
Unlike the coasts of Mexico, which is all about Pacific and Gulf beach resorts, Mexico City is a large city (in fact, it’s the 5th largest city in the world!). I curated my wardrobe to match that vibe. Lots of trendy sneakers and denim. I opted for neutrals and blues for a color scheme and paired it with chunky jewelry, belts, and fun hairstyles.
Where I Went: It was all about the transportation! Whether by foot, bike, boat, Uber, or hot air balloon, the journey is as important as the destination when it comes to Mexico City.
Here are some of the activities I recommend:
1. Hot Air Balloon ride over the Teotihuacan archaeological zone to see the Sun and Moon Pyramids.
The early morning sunrise was totally worth the 4:00 a.m. wake-up call! I recommend booking directly through the tour operator (Volare). They provide transportation to/from your hotel and provide options to stay for afternoon exploring of the region.
2. Boat ride through the famous canals of Xochimilco, the last remnants of a vast water transport system built by the Aztecs.
It’s about an hour Uber ride from central Mexico City but definitely worth it.
Although you can hire a boat when you arrive and negotiate the price, this is one of those times where I recommend booking through a tour operator such as Viator because you will be assured a full boat.
Our boat had 14 guests from various countries and included food and drinks. We hired mariachis, competed in groups to make the best guacamole, sampled various cocktails (margaritas, micheladas, etc.)—and one of the guests was a 1970s folk singer who took over the boat’s sound system and acted as our DJ for the afternoon. Such a party!
3. Cooking Class with Mexican Food Tours.
I learned to prepare salsa, chicken mole, zucchini blossom tacos (I fumbled my first attempts at making tortillas but made up for it with my bartending skills😊)—all in a beautiful private residence.
Such a treat!
4. Walking Tour of the Historic City Center
I signed up for a free walking tour, which was provided by local university students. I highly recommend this option—just make sure to tip well.
The tour should include Museo del Templo Mayor, Palacio Nacional/murals by Diego Rivera, Catedral Metropolitana, and Palacio de Bellas Artes.
Other iconic buildings in Centro include Palacio de Correos, Banco de México and Sanborns de Los Azulejos.
5. Bicycle Tour of the Roma/Condesa neighborhoods
This bike tour with Bicycles and Munchies was a highlight of my trip. Great food, lovely surroundings and loads of local cuisine!
We stopped at many different locations around Mexico City, like local markets, stands for street tacos, and beautiful parks. We rode through the largest park in Latin America, called Chapultepec Park. Simply stunning!
6. Exploring San Angel
El Bazaar del Sábado is a famous Saturday market. While exploring the area, you can grab an upscale torta (Mexican sandwich) at El Encanto de Lola.
San Angel is well preserved, populated by an array of restaurants and art galleries and bursting with great photo opportunities. It’s about a 30-minute Uber ride from Mexico City center but well worth the trip.
Things I will do on my next trip to Mexico City:
With only a few days to explore, I was left with the desire to do so much more. Here are some other travel suggestions:
Museums
I was only in town for a long weekend and many museums were closed on Monday.
Plan a trip to the Frida Kahlo Museum but also consider the following: MUNAL, MAP, Museo Jumex, MUAC Museum and Museo de Antropología.
During the rainy season, it’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon indoors to avoid the bad weather!
Day Trips
Tepoztlán, Cholula, Morelia, and San Miguel de Allende (pre-colonial and colonial magical towns with everything from Aztec ruins and historic European architecture to exotic ice cream)
Las Grutas Tolantongo (hiking, caves, and natural thermal pools)
Other
- Red lanterns at Chino del Barrio at night (great photo opportunity)
- Shopping, Art Galleries (plenty of opportunities for souvenirs)
- Murals/Street Art (Zona Rosa, Calle Regina)
What I Ate/Drank
I mostly feasted on street tacos during my trip, but I made a point to stop at a few famous places including Churreria El Moro for churros and La Piatahaya for their famous pink vegan tacos.
Mexico City is a hot destination for foodies, and there are many tours available that highlight everything from cooking classes, street taco/market sampling, and mezcal tastings.
There are also vineyard tours outside of the city. I recommend eating your way through CDMX!
Also, consider checking out some of these restaurants:
- Hanky Panky: Fun speakeasy (make reservations well in advance)
- Taqueria Orinoco
- La Clandestina in La Condesa or El Traspatio in La Roma for cocktails
- Tichuchi for casual, upscale dining in Policano
- Terrazas Cha Cha Cha (get a table overlooking the Revolution monument)
- El Parnitas for exotic tacos
- Guzina Oaxaqueña for tacos de lengua
- El Turix in Polanco for cochinita tacos
- After a walk in La Alameda, stop at the Chaya Alameda rooftop for drinks/ice cream
Please note that the local drinking age is 18.
In addition to tequila, mezcal, micheladas, palomas/rosados, margaritas, and fresh fruit juices, try some other less familiar options such as batidos (milkshakes), aguas frecas (try the watermelon), jugo verde (green juice made with nopales—delicious!), café de olla (coffee with cinnamon), champurrado (Mexican hot chocolate) and horchatas.
Typical Mexican beers include Modelo, Corona, Dos Equis, Sol, Victoria and Pacifico.
My Travel Playlist:
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