Wed 11 Oct 2023 • Steph Currie
Top Mexico City Recommendations
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by Steph Currie
'Buendi' Amigos (my friends and I say that instead of 'buenos dias'), my name is Steph Currie, and I've been working and living in Mexico City for over a year now. I work at a boutique fitness studio called Commando, and I'm the head coach of the indoor cycling concept called BICI. I arrived in February 2023 with no friends and no clue of how to navigate this city; and I’m proud to say I’ve come a long way! Right now, I’m teaching 12 classes a week, have a growing community of locals, ex-pats and visitors, and I’ve been to some of the coolest places this massive city has to offer. Here’s my list of recommendations in Mexico City - let me know which ones I should try next.
(*all names are linked)
Polanco
This is a beautiful and prestigious neighborhood in CDMX. You'll find a lot of cool bars, designer shops, and gorgeous restaurants. I recommend you to walk on Masaryk and in Parque Lincoln. There is an area called "Polanquito" where you can find all the restaurants/bars.
Restaurants
- Pujol: world famous, the owner is one of the most important chefs in Mexico: Enrique Olvera.
- Blanco Castilar: lunch or dinner; fancy hacienda with amazing ambiance.
- Campomar: seafood restaurant great for lunch or dinner, always full with a crowd.
- Beluga: beautiful restaurant, amazing seafood + oysters
- Animal: exotic restaurant with incredible sushi
- Senora Tanaka: big and vibey sushi restaurant that is always full, beautiful interior
- Quintonil: a close second to Pujol; famous Mexican restaurant on the Masaryk
- Comedor Jacinta: home style Mexican food great for lunch or dinner
- Mandolina: delicious breakfast and lunch; looks like the Amalfi Coast
- Cuerno: steak, international, really good vibes right on street level
- Nobu: in Polanquito; it’s just like all the rest
- Diego y yo: great for dinner and lunch
- Brassi: great international food, cool vibe
- Ojo de Agua: breakfast on the go and a quick smoothie/coffee
-Animal Restaurant in Polanco
-Dog Walker in Condesa
-Beluga, in Polanco
Condesa & Roma Norte
These are different neighborhoods separated by Insurgentes Avenue, but the vibe is pretty much the same. This is considered as the trendy and maybe hipster area and it is characterized by small bars/restaurants with unique environments. Reminds us of the West Village a bit!
I recommend walking on Amsterdam Street, Alvaro Obregon Avenue, Parque México, Parque Espana and Parque Río de Janeiro. But basically, walking around these neighborhoods is the best way to experience the Condesa/Roma experience as you will find art galleries, small cafes and interesting stores.
Restaurants / Bars
- Lardo - Condesa: really popular spot for gringos for breakfast, lunch or dinner
- Botanica - Condesa: an outdoor jungle/garden restaurant with unbelievable food/vibe
- Hugo Wine Bar - Condesa: cute for an afternoon patio; great wine and tapas
- Hotel Condesa DF: rooftop overlooking Parque Espana with amazing tacos + sushi
- Huset - Condesa: delicious International (Spanish) food cooked in a wood fire oven, in a beautiful outdoor terrace; great for lunch or dinner
- Contramar - Roma Norte: one of the most popular restaurants in Roma Norte for Boozy Brunch, seafood on a Saturday afternoon. Hard to get a reso but you can put your name down and wait for a table.. Worth it
- La Docena - Roma Norte: it has a mix of Argentine and Spanish food. Oysters are great too. It’s the sister restaurant to Contramar and easier to get a reservation!
- Maximo Bistro - Roma Norte: one of the most popular restaurants in Roma. Owned by chef Eduardo García
- Blanco Colima - Roma Norte: great for Friday night drinks, DJ with house music and open terrace. This is the sister restaurant to Blanco Castillar in Polanco
- Casa Prunes - Roma Norte: vibey cocktail bar and restaurant in an old Hacienda
- Bar Las Brujas - Roma Norte: speakeasy vibes, amazing cocktails, sexy vibes
- Pigeon - Roma Norte: Mediterranean restaurant that is trendy, right beside Bar Las Brujas ^ makes for a fun night with dinner or cocktails.
- Sesame - Roma Norte: delicious thai and sushi!
- Cabrera 7 - Roma Norte: cute/casual Mexican restaurant for tacos and Margaritas for lunch or something on the go.
- Cafe Toscana - Roma Norte/Condesa/Polanco: great for breakfast/brunch or an afternoon patio
- Mandolina - Roma Norte: Amalfi Coast inspired restaurant with amazing brunch, brunch cocktails and great service
- Lalo - Roma Norte: brunch or breakfast
- Freims - Condesa: brunch or breakfast
- Maque - Condesa: bakery with good breakfast
- Mendl - Condesa: brunch or breakfast
- Cucurucho - Condesa: the BEST breakfast bagels and lattes. Cute and casual.
-Freims, in Condesa
-La Docena in Roma Norte
Coyoacán and San Angel
These are two colonial neighborhoods. If you'll be there on Saturday, I recommend arriving around 12-1pm to Bazar del Sábado in San Angel. You'll see beautiful art in the San Jacinto park. There's also a market where you'll find beautiful Mexican crafts.
Then, you can go to Coyoacán to visit: Casa Frida Kahlo, Mercado de Coyoacán, Centro de Coyoacán (catedral y la plaza), walk on Francisco Soza street.
Restaurants / Bars
- San Angel Inn: a classic Mexican restaurant where you can bring your family if they are visiting Mexico
- Bistro 83: located near Parque San Jacinto. You can have a great lunch after shopping for beautiful Mexican crafts.
- Danzantes: this restaurant is located in Coyoacan. Great Mexican food and they own their own brand of mezcal
- Corazón de Mezcal: this restaurant belongs to the same owner of Danzantes. Amazing food of Oaxaca and delicious mezcal
- El Hijo del Cuervo: a classic bar of Coyoacan. Live music, good beers
-Hotel Condesa DF, in Condesa
Mexico City's Best Tacos
Mexico City is full of taquerias. This city is known for "tacos al pastor". Pastor is a kind of spicy pork that is cooked in something called "trompo". Tacos al pastor are very similar to shawarma, but its Mexican taste makes them much better : ) Mexico City has the best taquerias where you'll find the best tacos al pastor:
- Tacos Orinoco: this is our fave spot; the tacos are different and delicious and you definitely need to experience while you are here
- El Califa: easy, delicious tacos and really fast on Uber eats
- Fogoncito: Very similar to Farolito although there are not so many franchisees in the city, so if you find one, give it a try.
- Charco de las Ranas: A classic. Some people consider it as the best taqueria in Mexico City (Farolito is still my favorite one).
-Beluge in Polanco
Rooftops / Outdoor Experiences
- Soho House Mexico City - in Juarez is a must… it is the coolest house in the world IMO.
- Hotel Condesa DF - rooftop drinks for happy hour, amazing margaritas
- ZuZu Condesa - directly across from Hotel Condesa DF, slightly cheaper
- Supra - Roma Norte - amazing views of the city
- Ritz Carlton - Condesa
- Toledo Rooftop - Condesa: feels like a relaxed Tulum party in the sky
-Supra, in Roma Norte
-Street in Condesa
Day Trips
- Hot air balloons in Teotihuacan - over the pyramids. You have to do this in the early morning at 6am so I only recommend it if you have a few spare days in CDMX. Book your excursion (including transportation) here.
- Canals in Xochimilco - boat day!
- Burrolandia - if you're driving to Teotihuacan this is only a 20 minute drive further, so tag it along and visit the donkey! There were very few people here when we went so we got a personal full tour. My favorite part was riding the train and feeding the donkeys as they run next to you.
- San Angel Inn for Lunch
-Hot Air Balloons in Teotihuacan
-Burrolandia, in Otompan (15 min from Teotihuacan)
-Chapultepec Castle between Condesa and Polanco
Museums/Sights/Things
- Anthropology Museum (Polanco)
- Chapultepec Park (Polanco/Reforma)
- Castillo de Chapultepec (Polanco/Reforma)
- Bellas Artes: You should go on Sunday so you can attend the Ballet Folklorico show that only takes place on Sundays. (Downtown)
- Catedral (Downtown)
- Zocalo (Downtown)
- Hotel Ciudad de México (Downtown)
- Museo Soumaya: (Polanco)
- Museo Jumex (Polanco)
- Zoologico de Chapultepec (Polanco/Reforma)
- Acuario (Polanco)
- El Correo (Downtown)
- Monumento a la Revolución (Juarez/Downtown)
- Walk/Bike on Reforma Avenue where you can visit Ángel de la Independencia, Glorieta de la Diana
- Alameda (Downtown)
- Lucha Libre (Roma Norte) only fun if you have a few beers
- Petanca (Roma Norte) beer hall and lawn bowling, makes for a fun afternoon with friends
-Museo Nacional de Antropologia
So there you have it, enjoy my recommendations of ciudad de Mexico. And if you ever join a SurfYogaBeer trip with us at Mexico, be sure to do a stop over in this amazing city for at least a few days!
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