The best cities, in my humble opinion, at least, are those it is impossible to ever fully know. Where every new corner unearths hidden secrets - a lively restaurant, basement speakeasy bar, or perhaps the oasis of a peaceful local green space. Those cities you could visit over and over and have a completely different experience every time.
For me, Mexico City is just that. On each trip to the Mexican Capital I've experienced small fragments of the rich mosaic that makes this one of the most happening cities in the world. Because there is just so much going on. An excellent food scene, from roadside taco stands to refined fine dining. Innumerable museums, galleries, and cultural experiences that showcase the richness of Mexico's art and design heritage. Add to that the impeccable cafe culture, to fill in all the breaks in between.
If you're planning a trip, I've compiled this guide with a few of my favourite experiences and things to do in Mexico City. It is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully provides some small starting point for a great first time Mexico City itinerary.
P.S. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a booking through one of my links I may make a small commission, at no cost to yourself. This helps contribute towards blog running costs, so is massively appreciated. Oh, and absolutely zero AI went into this article (kind of hate that I have to disclaim that these days).
Mexico City 101
- Language in Mexico City: Spanish is the predominantly spoken language in Mexico City. Note that Latin American Spanish differs slightly from European Spanish, though you should be able to get by with either. Whilst English is often spoken in more touristy spots, it's not necessarily widespread, so having a few basic phrases of Spanish is useful.
- Currency in Mexico City: Mexico uses the Mexican peso. Card is generally accepted in most places, however I do recommend getting some pesos for things like street food, markets, and tips.
- Getting to Mexico City: Mexico City is served by two international airports. The main one is Mexico City International (MEX), also known and Benito Juarez. Located in the east of the city, it's a relatively central airport and a cab ride in to town only takes about 20 minutes depending on destination and traffic. Felipe Angeles (code NLU) is the city's second airport, which is further out of town in the North.
- Getting Around Mexico City: The city has a great metro and bus system, which makes getting around pretty convenient. You'll need to buy a Metro card for 15 pesos, which you can then load up for journeys. The metro itself is 5 pesos a journey, whilst buses are maybe a peso or two more. You can buy and top up your card at machines in metro stations, or at a counter. We tended to do the latter as paying was a lot easier with a human! Public transport was quick, convenient, and we always felt safe. There's also a separate section for women and children under 12. You can also use Uber, which is relatively affordable - though factor in extra time for the notorious CDMX traffic!
- What to pack for Mexico City: Mexico City's high altitude means that it can be cooler than one might expect, even in Summer. Therefore I'd recommend light layers. I made the mistake of only taking hot weather clothes on my last trip, and regretted it! It can also get pretty rainy, so an umbrella / rain mac is a great addition.
Things to do in Mexico City
Wander Roma Norte and Condessa
When planning a Mexico City trip, you'll no doubt hear a lot about these two neighbourhoods. Roma Norte is that neighbourhood that pretty much every major city has - the one the guide books will label "trendy", and "hipster" and every "cool" restaurant has endless lines outside. Just east is La Condesa - similarly hip, cool, etc. I know I sound disparaging but I do so in jest - in a city that is already pretty damn cool, you know the coolest neighbourhoods are going to be a vibe.
Roma Norte and Condesa are both beautiful neighbourhoods to explore, and are well located if you're deciding where to base yourself in Mexico City. With shady tree lined streets, gorgeous Art Deco architecture that feels like it could belong in Paris, and great cafes, bars, and restaurants every few yards, they've both got plenty to recommend themselves. I've included a few go-to restaurants in Roma Norte and La Condesa in the dining section further on in this guide. Yes, it may be a nightmare trying to get a table anywhere during the peak brunch rush on a Sunday morning - but hey, just lean into it and enjoy the cute dog spotting.
Visit Casa Azul, aka The Frida Kahlo Museum
Arguably Mexico City's most influential artistic export, Frida Kahlo's work and legacy is a huge part of the city's heritage. One of the 20th century's best known painters, Kahlo lived and worked in Mexico City with partner and fellow artist Diego Rivera. Their Coyoacán home, Casa Azul, is now open to the public as a museum charting Kahlo's life and work through her paintings and personal affects. It's a fascinating insight into her experience living with chronic illness, and how that impacted her art. Whether you're an art enthusiast or not, it's one of the most interesting things to do in Mexico City, and well worth a visit. Tickets often sell out in advance, so I'd recommend booking online well ahead of your trip. And if you can't get enough of Kahlo and Rivera, you can also visit the Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo, another home and studio of the two artists.
Explore Castillo de Chapultepec
A European-style royal castle isn't something one might expect to find in Mexico City, and yet, it's home to the only royal palaces in North America. Castillo de Chapultepec is an impressive 18th century castle sitting proud overlooking the city from Chapultepec Park. Converted to a museum, it's open to the public, showcasing a range of historic artefacts that tell the history of Mexico.
There's the usual portraits of stuffy looking important old men, vast epics of battles, and various regal memorabilia. The majority of signage is solely in Spanish, so if you're not a Spanish speaker it does rather go over your head. However according to a friend that reads Spanish, it's actually quite an interesting overview of Mexican history if you do understand it!
Let down by my very rudimentary Spanish ability, I was more interested in the building itself. The architecture is beautiful, having gone through several renovations and extensions in a blend of architecture styles from Neo-Romanticism to Neo-Gothic. There's a lovely wraparound terrace with views out over the city below - and where most visitors seemed to congregate to take photos.
I'd recommend visiting Castillo de Chapultepec a few days in when you've acclimatised to the altitude, as the slope up to the castle can be hard work in the heat. There's no food or drink allowed, and they weren't even letting in bottles of water. However this is a rather nice looking cafe by the exit. Consider combining with the nearby National Museum of Anthropology for a full day of culture.
Discover Mexico City's Historic Centre
There's so much to see and do in Mexico City's Centro Historico, it could well be it's own blog post. But, I'll aim to keep things concise. Mexico's Centro stretches from the Art Nouveau icon Palacio de Bellas Artes to the West, to the Zocalo, or main square, to the East. The latter hosts the city's Cathedral, and imposing Roman Gothic behemoth that is well worth an ogle.
There's a number of museums in the area to explore - so many that I refuse to list them all because that would be very boring. A museum of note, however, is the Palacio Postal Museum, a historic 20th century post office meets museum with particularly beautiful interiors. For the aesthetes, make sure to head to the nearby Casa de los Azulejos (pictured), an 18th century palace turned restaurant with spectacular tiled walls.
One more spot to add to your itinerary within the historic centre is Barrio Chino (pictured) Mexico City's Chinatown. Spanning but a block, 'town' is somewhat generous, but with colourful displays and plenty of shops and restaurants, it's worth a wander.
There's so many more things to do in Mexico City's centre that I advise at the very least a half day dedicated to wandering and exploring. Also make sure to check out my dining section below for recommendations on where to eat and drink in Centro.
Take to the Water on a Xochimilco Cruise
If you've done any modicum of research, you'll probably have stumbled across Xochimilco already. About an hour South of central Mexico City by car (depending on the usually terrible CDMX traffic, of course), the neighbourhood is known for it's canals, the remnants of ancient Aztec waterways. Nowadays they come alive with a slew of colourful painted barges, designed to ferry visitors around the canals. You'll find various waterborne food and drink vendors floating past offering their wares, and even the odd Mariachi band putting on a performance. On the weekends it gets particularly lively, with a festival-like atmosphere.
I had a particularly unique experience as I visited during the World Cup with about 30 other England fans, a few dozen crates of beer, and several bottles of tequila. There were a lot of drunken renditions of Oasis songs, and plenty of friendly banter between the boats of Mexican families passing us by. It was one of the most memorable nights of my whole World Cup trip!
To visit Xochimilco, you can either head straight there and haggle with the boat operators for a ride, or book yourself on a trip via a third party site like Get Your Guide.
Tianguis La Lagunilla
If you're in Mexico City on a Sunday, promise me you'll add this to your itinerary. Tianguis La Lagunilla is a flea market on Sundays in the Lagunilla neighbourhood, just north of the city centre. The market is absolutely massive, spanning multiple blocks, and both indoor and outdoor spaces. There's absolutely everything for sale, with whole blocks dedicated to clothing, vintage, antiques, and street food.
Personally I found the clothing / general "stuff" areas skippable, but I loved exploring the antiques section. You'll find this around Calles Allende and Gonzalez Bocanegra (or head to this pin). Despite visiting several times I have yet to actually buy anything here (blame my overpacked suitcase), so can't comment on prices.
After you've sufficiently shopped, head in to the market to seek out the lively section serving up street food. Grab yourself one of the giant micheladas on offer, and soak in the atmosphere!
Restaurants in Mexico City
Casa Manzano
The vast majority of Mexico City's most stylish spots are concentrated around the Roma Norte and La Condesa neighbourhoods, but the centre has a good few gems of it's own. Casa Manzano, a chic, verdant courtyard restaurant, is one such. Lined with festoons and lush greenery, it's one of the city's most atmospheric spots for a meal.
I visited for breakfast, which offers an ample menu of Mexican staples. The dishes are as beautifully presented as the space, though the crockery did look eerily like those at Wetherspoons here in Blighty - but thankfully plated with far more refined fare! Of everything we tried, special commendation has to go the chilaquiles in a punchy red sauce (salsa rojo) with skirt steak. The green sauce accompanying my enchiladas could perhaps have had more of a kick, but it was a nice light start to the day.
The best thing about this spot was surprisingly actually the staff, who were wonderfully attentive despite the language barrier. They even made sure the football was on for us when they clocked we were fans!
Hosteria la Bota
I have a real soft spot for bars that take a more is more approach to design. You know, the sort that look like they've been there for hundreds of years slowly amassing hoards of knick knacks and memorabilia that lines every available surface, giving punters plenty to take in over a pint.
In Mexico City, that's Hosteria la Bota. This fun Spanish meets Cuban meets Mexican bar and restaurant sits in the historic centre, a short walk from many of the main sights. There seems to be no coherent theme unifying the weird and wonderful collection of stuff on display. Empty booze bottles as decor is hardly inventing the wheel, but add to that a wall of passport photographs, and a line of Mr Potato Heads? My visit was during the World Cup, so colourful bunting, jerseys, and match scarves were layered on top, to really cement the maximalist aesthetic.
The food menu is a vast, laminated, double sided affair, with a range of tapas, pizzas, and Mexican dishes (plus a whole lot more besides). It is so vast, I gave up my Spanish practise and stuck to image translate. However the staff spoke good English and were available to help.
It is arguably a better spot for a casual drink and a snack than refined fine dining fair - my chilaquiles were tasty enough, but absolutely swimming in salsa verde to the extent that it was a bit overpowering. But I’d still recommend stopping by for a drinks break whilst exploring the sights of the centre. We particularly enjoyed the 1.5 ltr jug of lemon juice - fresh, sharp, and not too sweet.
Mi Compa Chava Marisquería
First off, I apologise for not having pictures for this one. However, please take it as a sign of how good it is, that despite having visited several times I'm usually so focussed on the food that I never seem to remember! Bustling Roma Norte spot Mi Compa Chava Marisquería is one of my go-to Mexico City restaurants, that I make sure to visit every time I'm in town. The menu is a love letter to all things seafood, with a focus on tacos, ceviches, and aguachiles.
The menu is extensive, and solely in Spanish, so can take a bit of deduction (and Google translate) to decipher. If you want to get ahead, I've found the menu here (but apologies in advance if it ends up out of date!). Thankfully though, you can't really go wrong. I'd recommend getting a selection of bites from each section to share. The seafood tower (Senora Torres) is a signature dish, a towering pile of raw seafood paired with avocado, cucumber, and bathed in a chilli sauce. However my personal favourite is the Camarones Zarandeados, the grilled shrimp served with lime and salsa. They're some of the best shrimp I think I've ever had, thick and juicy with just the right amount of char, and packing a serious punch of tangy chilli flavour. I've never quite made it as I tend to fill up on tostadas, but the dessert flan looks good too!
It's on the pricier side for Mexico City, and you may have to queue during peak times, but it's well worth a visit.
Lardo
If you don't fancy for queueing for hours for Roma Norte's most in demand breakfast spots, try Lardo. This stylish Mexican-European spot is a bit further out from the centre, meaning it thankfully tends to be that bit quieter. The restaurant hosts an airy interior centred around a vast bar top, as well as a small foliage filled outdoor terrace.
The menu is, put simply, a joy. There are Mexican staples like chilaquiles, international dishes such as croque madame, and an excellent selection of sandwiches (Adam swooned over his sourdough with roast beef and Gruyère). Besides that, there's a laundry list of pastries, many I’ve never even heard of (what is a Mamet, or a Pixtle Berliner?). We tried a cardamom bun, flaky, rich, but not too overpowering.
Lardo is relatively close to Chapultepec park, where you'll find the castle and archeological museum. A great spot to walk off all the pastries!
Mercado Roma
Another spot I seem to find myself at every time I'm in Mexico City is Mercado Roma. The format - cool street food haul hosting a number of small vendors, with communal tables - is pretty ubiquitous in every major city at this point. But Mercado Roma does it particularly well. Described as a "gourmet market", it's definitely a fairly upscale addition to the already pretty bougie Roma neighbourhood.
There's a number of options here, but I usually end up going for tostadas or birria tacos at one of the Mexican joints. If you're looking for a break from Mexican cuisine, you'll find plenty of international dishes too. Head to the back of the hall to find plenty of table seating, where staff will come up to take drinks orders from the surrounding bar stalls.
La Ventanita Cafe
If there's one thing Mexico City does particularly well, it's kerbside dining. La Ventanita is one of the best to do it, taking over the corner of a bustling Roma Norte plaza in a shroud of green foliage. It's the kind of spot that always seems to be busy, but staff are nonetheless attentive and there's enough seating that you hopefully shouldn't be tasked with too long a wait.
We visited for breakfast, and were rewarded with an immediate table and hefty menu of both international and breakfast dishes. There's enchiladas and chilaquiles, or perhaps french toast, and a wealth of egg dishes to pick from. You'll soon learn that pastries are big business in CDMX, and staff soon swoop over with an impressive tray of pastries to choose from.
My baked eggs in bechamel with bacon and rosemary potatoes was simple and hearty, whilst Adam raved about his Chicken Milanese burrito served with pickled veg. Ultimately, a great Roma Norte institution to start your day the right way.
More Mexico City Restaurants, Cafes & Bars
A few more spots I either don't have pictures of but recommend, or have on my list but haven't quite made it to myself yet:
- Finca don Porfirio: (pictured) Cafe in an otherwise unassuming department store with a birds-eye view over the impressive Palacio de Bellas Artes. You'll probably have to queue, and yes you're pretty much there for the view - but what a view, ey?
- Panadería Rosetta: When I'm talking about Roma Norte queues, I'm talking about Panaderia Rosetta. This popular cafe and bakery attracts bustling crowds of locals and tourists alike most mornings, for their famous laundry list of pastries.
- Restaurante Rosetta: Michelin starred fine dining in one of the most beautiful settings in Mexico City. I have yet to have a suitably fancy occasion worthwhile of a booking, but it's on my list.
- Maizajo: Michelin lauded taco spot that I didn't quite make it to, but is top of my bucket list for next time! Apparently the downstairs taqueria is preferable to the upstairs restaurant, you'll probably have to queue, and the rib eye tacos are a must. Try em and report back, si?
- Cafe de Nadie: I know the whole listening bar concept is absolutely everywhere now, but Cafe de Nadie does it well. A cosy, vibey little cocktail spot in Roma Norte.
- Taquería Orinoco: One night we couldn't be bothered to sit in a restaurant, Adam picked up dinner from this popular taco spot. The menu is a simple range of pastor, beef, and chicharron tacos with various additions and plenty of spicy sauces for an extra punch. My favourite pick was the pastor, but it's worth trying them all!
This is by no means the be-all and end-all definitive guide to every single thing to do in Mexico City. I mean, it's such a vast city that I suspect you could spend years exploring and still struggle to scratch the surface. But I hope it provides a starting off point for some of the best things to do in CDMX if you're just starting to discover this incredible city. As always, if you have any other suggestions please do pop them in the comments below. I wholeheartedly hope I find myself back in Mexico City soon, so I'll need some new spots to check out!
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