Mexico City Guide

DIA DE MUERTOS

The best time to visit Mexico City is at the end of October, just around the Day of the Death. During the last weekend of the month you can witness a new Mexican tradition - a spectacular parade invented by the James Bond movie (Spectre).

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The entire city dresses up for a month more than for any other occasion (and please do not expect much from Christmas). You can see colorful skull sculptures displayed along Paseo de la Reforma or Monumento de Revolucion (Mexicraneos).

ROMA / CONDESA

Colima Blanca

• Drinks and thematic cocktails / special menu around holidays

• Thu to 1pm to 12am, Sun 1pm to 9:30pm

• Colima 168, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX

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Mi Compa Chava

• Trendy seafood lunch/dinner place, local flavor

• Tue to Sun, 12pm to 8pm (always full in popular times; come to opening)

• Zacatecas 172, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX

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Molino Pujol

• Breakfast, early lunch: Tortillas, tamales, elotes, tacos de aguacate, chilaquiles, cafe de olla

• Mon to Sun 9am to 7pm

• Gral. Benjamín Hill 146, Hipódromo Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06100 Ciudad de México, CDMX

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GinGin Cibeles

• Drinks; trendy place (i.e. one wall is decorate with skulls)

• Mon to Sun 4pm to 2am

• Av Oaxaca 87, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX

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Churrería El Moro

• Coffee break with churros

• Mon to Sun 8am to 11pm

• Recommended location in Parque México: Av Michoacán 27, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc, 06100 Ciudad de México, CDMX (other locations)

HISTORICAL CENTER

Azul Histórico

• Lunch/Dinner - tasty Mexican food, gorgeous location; order mezcal

• Mon to Sun 9AM–12PM, 1–11PM (popular place, come to opening if for lunch)

• Isabel La Católica 30, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX

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Balcón Del Zócalo

• Breakfast/Lunch/Coffee/Drinks

• Gorgeous view on Zocalo

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Bellas Artes

• Ballet folclórico - absolutely gorgeous cultural event, traditional costumes

• In the evening on Wednesdays and Sunday mornings

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Wrestling / Lucha Libre

• Sometimes a bit too much but crazy entertaining; locals bring even kids here

• Buy tickets online on Ticketmaster

• Dr. Lavista 189, Doctores, Cuauhtémoc, 06720 Ciudad de México, CDMX

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POLANCO

Soumaya

• Open daily, free; a collection of over 66,000 pieces of art (Wikipedia)

• Museum is at least as impressive as Guggenheim; start at the top and walk downstairs

• Blvd. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Granada, Miguel Hidalgo, 11529 Ciudad de México, CDMX

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Anthropological museum

• Closed on Sunday and Monday

• Av. Paseo de la Reforma s/n, Polanco, Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX

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Parque Lincoln

• Large number of restaurants and cafes (lunch, drinks, coffee, desserts)

• Av. Emilio Castelar 163, Polanco, Polanco III Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX

COYOACAN

Center of Coyoacan

• Visit central park (search for Fuente de los Coyotes)

• Grab an ice cream from any of the shops (not on the street)

• Take a ride on a red tram from the park: starts at Jardín Hidalgo, finalizes at Plaza Santa Catarina

• Other location of Compa Chava, seafood restaurant: Presidente Venustiano Carranza, Felipe Carrillo Puerto ESQ, Coyoacán, 04000 Ciudad de México, CDMX

Museum of Frida Kahlo

• Monday closed; long queue in peak hours (come to opening or in the first hour)

• The house of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera

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XOCHIMILCO

• How to get there: Embarcadero Nuevo Nativitas Xochimilco (Waze/Google Maps/Uber)

• Buy tacos and snacks at the market; cold drinks are sold on the boats; other food can be bought from nearby boats

• Hire Mariachis who pass by on their own boat

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PYRAMIDES

Teotihuacan

• 1 hour drive from Mexico City; buy a tour at any hotel or agency

• Bring hat, sunglasses, sun cream (believe me)

• Eat in a cave at La Gruta Teotihuacan

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