Coming from Nebraska, Mexico City was a surprisingly quick destination to reach. Although it would have been incredible to spend a week there, our quick 4 days there still allowed us to see so much of the rich history and incredible food scene that this city has to offer — and certainly left us hoping for more. so, so much to explore! We could certainly keep coming back over and over and still find more to explore. Here is a little taste of what we experienced during our quick little trip to CDMX.
Transportation
We flew into the Mexico City Airport and just took an Uber to our Airbnb. Walking is almost always our primary form of transportation, but when we needed an alternative, Uber was great. It was super cheap and widely accessible throughout the city. I’ve heard the bus and train systems are great as well, but we didn’t end up using them.
Language
At least a basic understanding of spanish would be ideal for navigating. Google translate is really helpful too!
Where we stayed
We stayed on the fringe of the Roma Norte neighborhood. This is the Airbnb we stayed in. It was such a cute little loft with everything we could possibly need. It had a gated entrance with a security guard 24/7 so we felt very comfortable. We are already planning to book the same airbnb next time we go back. We loved the location because we could easily walk to anything we wanted in 5-15 minutes, but it was still on a quieter street.
Safety
No matter where you travel it is important to be aware of your surroundings. As with most cities, there are definitely areas that you probably shouldn’t go to. I found this post to be a helpful starting point for figuring out where to go and where not to go.
Coffee, Food, + Sights we loved
Coffee
Curva Café - This coffee shop was the closest to our Airbnb which was very convenient. It ended up being our favorite shop we visited overall! They provided excellent service, roast their own coffee, and had a very inviting aesthetic,
Otrocafe - This shop had really great coffee (both filter and espresso drinks). Incredibly aesthetic.
Feral - Tiny, so not a great place to get work done or linger for a super long time, but delicious coffee and kind baristas.
Fuego & Cafe - This was another top coffee experience for us. The baristas came to the table to do the pour over which was so fun.
Paradigma Café - Great coffee, kind baristas, and an incredible quiche.
Food
Lunch/Dinner:
Paradero Conocido - Delicious chille relleno taco and chilaquiles.
Ca Phe Vietnamese - Some of the best vietnamese food I’ve ever had. The pho was excellent!
El 123 - The baba ganoush was top tier. The tom yum soup and spring rolls were also great! THe atmosphere was really great too!
Chicojulio - Great shrimp and cheese taco in Roma Norte!
Sweets:
Panadería Gala - If you’re into speakeasies then you will LOVE this new in the Roma Norte neighborhood. Panadería Gala is hidden in a cozy kitchen at the end of a long corridor.When you arrive, you ring a doorbell and are escorted to a table where you can taste freshly baked bread straight out of the oven. The experience here is so fun and definitley worth your time, but the pastries are better at Panaderia Rosette.
Panadería Rosetta Bakery - Be prepared to wait, but I can guarantee it will be worth the wait! We went here three times during our short stay. They have a variety of artisan breads as well as flaky, buttery pastries that rival some of the pastries we had in Scandinavia last summer. My favorite was a rosemary lemon bread that had preserved lemons in it. We ate the whole loaf before we even got on our plane to leave.
SIGHTS
Walk Roma Norte – A neighborhood known for its bohemian vibe with a lot of local shops, cafes, and restaurants. It is the perfect place to spend a morning exploring and people watching. Start your morning with a stroll down Avenida Alvaro Obregon, one of the main streets in the neighborhood and then see where the morning takes you from there.
Museo de Arte Moderno - After a yummy breakfast in one of the many cafes, make your way to the Museo de Arte Moderno.The museum can take around 2 hours to explore depending on how much you like to read about the artworks. You can explore the museum on your own or take one of the guided tours that are offered in English. (60 min walk from Airbnb, 30-ish via public transit, 19 via car/Uber)
Shopping in Roma Norte - Afterwards, walk around the neighborhood and pop into some of the shops. We found some beautiful local pottery to take home with us at a very affordable price!
Walk over to Condesa - Once you work up an appetite, walk over to the “hip” neighborhood of Condesa for some lunch. Condesa backs directly up to Roma Norte making it an easy walk over. Known for its trendy restaurants and cafes Condesa is home to a young community where you will find many people running or riding bikes. There are lots of little boutiques, parks, and cafes to explore here as well.
Chapultepec Park - Chapultepec Park, the largest park in the city — a great place to come to relax or take a walk.
Angel of Independence - At the end of Paseo de la Reforma, you will find the Angel of Independence, one of Mexico City’s most iconic landmarks.
Frida Kahlo Museum - Inside of Kahlo’s former home, a small museum dedicated to her life and work. I am so sad we didn’t make it here, but it is on our list for next time.
Centro Historico - (Where we stayed) - In the afternoon, make your way to the Centro Historico, Mexico City’s historic center. This is one of the largest and most well-preserved historic centers in the Americas. The area is full of colonial-style buildings, plazas, and churches.
Museo Nacional de Antropologia - We didn’t make it to this because it was closed on Monday (and I didn’t look ahead at the schedule ahead of time), but I know it’s a must for our next trip to Mexico City. The museum is massive and has an impressive collection of ancient Mexican artifacts. Everyone we talked to around the city said we had to go. Don’t make the same mistake I did, add it to your itinerary and look at the schedule ahead of time.
Stroll through Zocalo - This is the largest square in Latin America and is surrounded by some of the city’s most important buildings, like the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace. A great place to people-watch and just take in the atmosphere of Mexico City.
