CDMX: Mexico City’s Must-See’s

A city where colonial and modern design collide, the world’s best restaurants share streets with .50-cent taco stands, and well-trained dogs roam leashless strutting behind their owners in the park – this is Mexico City and this post outlines all you need to know about CDMX and why we fell in love with it.

CDMX is one of the world’s biggest cities and each neighborhood has something unique to offer its residents and those visiting. We spent a full week here which I strongly urge should be the minimum amount of time spent in CDMX – trust me, you’ll want to stay longer. We wished we stayed for a whole month! The neighborhoods outlined in this guide have an updated urban feel. The streets are clean, there are parks on each block, and you can walk to most places to avoid the city traffic while taking in the beautiful architecture (or stop at some street taco stands along the way).

A lot of digital nomads have flocked to CDMX as many U.S. companies have offices or HQs in the city, rent is much cheaper, and although a large city, each neighbor has a strong sense of community. If you’re a work-from-home warrior and are looking into CDMX for an extended stay, there are tons of We Works and coworking spaces. Most Airbnb’s have a dedicated workspace like the one we rented in Condesa.

THINGS TO KNOW

• Main Airport: Benito Juarez International Airport. Without traffic is about 25mins to Condesa/Roma Norte neighborhood. With traffic (which is usual) about 45mins to 1hr
• Traffic: CDMX ranks 9th in traffic congestion while Los Angeles ranks 24th. If you’re staying in the neighborhoods outlined below, you will be able to walk almost anywhere. We tried to avoid ride share’s as it was more fun and faster to walk the majority of the time. We only took them to visit other towns like where Frida Kahlo’s museum is
• Street food is a must: you will not regret it. Stick to vendors that seem busy and have the locals in line.
• Pesos: cash is always king. I order pesos at my bank ahead of time to avoid currency exchange fees. Wait to exchange cash until you are out of the airport and can go to a bank near where you are staying – they will have the best rates there. This way, you’ll never be left without cash to get tacos from the street vendors on your way home.
• Affordability: CDMX is VERY affordable. Street tacos are around .50-cents to $1 each while local restaurants have plates for $6-10. There are upper-scale restaurants where your bill will be about half the cost compared to America.
• Credit card: Most restaurants, pharmacies, and stores take credit cards. Make sure you have an international card that doesn’t charge exchange fees and you get travel points (we love our chase and capital one cards for this exact reason!)
• What’s App: Download it. It’s used instead of iMessage and you can text restaurants to make reservations. It’s also how the majority of the world communicates so always good to have!
• Tap water: Stick to bottled water. Although CDMX is very developed, you are better off just avoiding tap water all together
• Knowing the language: I speak Spanish so we got around easy but you will be fine if you don’t. The majority of people in the city know enough English to help you out. Download the app “Translate Now“ which can play out loud the translation in Spanish if you need to communicate with someone. Before you go, listen to the podcast on Spotify “Coffee Break Spanish“. Each episode is only 5-10mins (enough for a coffee break) and they start with the basics and dive into what you’ll need to know for travel Spanish. The episodes get really advanced if you’re interested in learning more!

WHERE TO STAY

Roma Norte & Roma Sur: the two most popular areas for digital nomads in CDMX and one of my favorites. The streets are made up of beautiful colonial homes, lush running paths, and dogs and their owners enjoying the sunshine in the parks. A lot of restaurants and bars outlined below surround this neighborhood and Condesa.

La Condesa: about a 10-15 minute walk from Roma Norte & Roma Sur is Condesa. Equally as popular, Condesa borders Chapultepec Park (one of the largest urban parks in the world) and offers many trendy restaurants and fun nightlife. We rented this Airbnb which allowed us to walk almost anywhere in the city and was amazing. Very Bohemian.

Hipódromo: right next to Condesa. This is with Parque México is here which is to be considered the “green lungs” of this area. Avedia Amsterdam is the most famous street as there is a beautiful pathway dedicated to pedestrians that is lush. You weave in and out of the amazing restaurants, yoga studios, cafes, and shops. Really cool art deco architecture

Zona Rosa: The literal meaning “Pink Zone”. While the whole city is very progressive this is the LGBTQ+ epicenter of CDMX. This area is similar to Condesa as there are several streets that turn into weekend-long block parties.

Polanco: The most affluent area of CDMX and on the other border of Chapultepec Park. About a 35-minute walk from Condesa, Polanco has great museums, is home to many famous restaurants including Pujol (5th best restaurant in the world), and has beautiful high-end stores or co-working spaces to enjoy.

WHAT TO DO

• Lucha Libre Fight: Also known as Mexican wrestling, is a way of life for many people in Mexico City and a sport with the second-highest spectator rate after football in Mexico. We booked our tickets through Viator which included round-trip transportation for about $75/each USD
• Chapultepec Park: one of the most-visited urban parks on the planet and one of the largest – 1,700 acres. There are 9 museums, 2 lakes, a castle, and so much more. Go see the Chapultepec Castle. It’s the only true castle in North America because it’s the only home on the continent that once housed members of a royal family — Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota. You can rent bikes to bike around and see museums like the Musem of History and the Musem of Contemporary Art
• Casa Azul Frida Kahlo Musem: located about 25mins from CDMX in Coyoacan, Mexico City is Museo Frida Kahlo. This is one of the best things we did and I urge you to not miss it. This is the original home she shared with Diego Rivera and you can see their entire home which includes their bedroom, living room, kitchen, and even her art studio. You learn so much about her life and the struggles she endured while witnessing her original iconic outfits and paintings.
• Mercado de Coyoacan: right next to the Frida Kahlo Musem is a massive, two-story market. They sell everything from textiles, fruits, food stalls, and trinkets.
• El Bazar Sabado: visit Coyoacan on a Saturday. You can see Frida Kahlo’s museum then head over to the mercado de coyoacan. On Saturdays, there is a handicraft market in the historic San Angel neighborhood which is artsy and colorful. They close down many of the streets so pedestrians can roam
• Xochimilco Boats: about a 45-minute car ride from Condesa is the town of Xochimilco in southern Mexico City. This town is known for the famous canals of Xochimilco, the last remnants of a vast water transport system built by the Aztecs. Colorful gondola-like boats float past man-made islands and tiny boats filled with food vendors, artisans, and mariachi bands that fill the canals. We booked through Airbnb Experience and @vkystravels. Victoria who runs the tour is incredible. She grew up here and shows you so much more than just the boats. We went through the local markets, tried incredible food, and learned a lot about the rich history that makes up Xochimilco. Tell her Natalia sent you, she’ll welcome you with open arms and have mezcal and cold drinks waiting on the boat for you.
• Explore the neighborhoods: while it may seem obvious, simply walking around the neighborhoods was our favorite part. Stopping along the way in stores or bars that we stumbled upon and being a part of the daily hustle and bustle was our favorite memory from this trip. Spend some time in the parks, admire the architecture, and eat a few street tacos (or ten).
• Working out: there is a chain of gyms called Smart Fit that has a location in Condesa and Roma Norte. They have a day pass you can buy at one of their self-serve machines for $5/day USD. Many of the parks have outdoor gyms with lots of machines. There are also tons of running trails that are just for pedestrians – my favorite was this one it’s a 1.2mile loop trail that goes around a Paruqe México in Roma Norte (another amazing park)

WHERE TO EAT

Brunch

• Lardo: there is a bar that normally has less of a wait. Amazing pastries (they have some vgn and gf options), breakfast plates, drinks, and vibe. This was a block from our Airbnb in Codesa and we couldn’t get enough. We didn’t have a reservation but I would encourage you to book one especially if coming for dinner
• Freims: in Roma Norte right next to Paruqe México. Amazing patio, good happy hour, and is great for brunch or dinner. It has an eclectic yet comfy vibe with cartoon murals painted across the walls.
• Niddo: in Polanco, really nice baked goods and pastry spot for breakfast
• Filligrana: stylish restaurant/bakery in the heart of Codensa with a modern interior vibe.
• Madre Cafe: a great breakfast spot in Roma Norte. There is a garden, a rooftop for later in the afternoon, or fire pits at night. Delicious eats and a historic colonial feel.
• Jardín Chapultepec: great boozy brunch spot nearby park of Bosque de Chapultepec in Condes.

Lunch/Dinner

• Pujol: number 5th restaurant in the world. You NEED A RESERVATION. Book in advance. We did the tasting experience at the bar but there is a dining room experience as well. Expect to be there for about 3-4 hours. We got a reservation at 4pm and left around 8:30pm. This was the most incredible fine dining experience we have ever experienced and is 100% worth it. It is on the pricey side but if you can manage it, PLEASE go. 
• Azul Codesa: in Hipódromo. Very famous chef, classic Mexican dishes. Their mole is insane and incredibly well-priced. 
• Terrezza Cha Cha Cha: in the Chauhtemoc district but go for sunset really pretty rooftop with a great view can only book 30 days out. Good seafood and tostadas 
• Contramar: in Roma Norte. Famouns tuna tostadas and seafood. Schedule a reservation 30 days in advance. They also do brunch on the weekends
• Rosetta Restaurant: beautiful plant-filled courtyard located in Roma Norte. Their menu changes seasonally. Make sure to book reservations in advance. Known for their pastas.
• Madre Cafe: so gorgeous and a dj at dinner, paella, burrata, has a super boujee rooftop bar. In Roma Norte 
• Blanco Colima: we ate here on our last night and it was one of the best. Upscale cuisine with a great bar. It’s a gorgeous colonial white. building in Roma Norte and the vibe at night is romantic and moody
• Huset: wood fire grill and shady patio in Roma Norte. At night the patio is filled with lights and tables are outfitted with plates of gnocchi, sea bass, or delicious vegetable plates like their mashed sweet potato
• Botánîco: a great patio in Hipódromo. Modern cuisine with fresh, local ingredients. The garden is filled with cacti and plants that make you feel like you’re in an oasis inside the city
• Meroma: fried artichokes and soft shell crab entree are a must. Known for its great cocktails and trendy feel in Roma Norte.

WHERE TO DRINK

• Ololo: speakeasy that only spins vinyl in Hipódromo. You need a reservation
• Gin Gin: in Roma Norte, good cocktails and fun industrial vibe. Usually have DJ’s on the weekends
• Mama Rumba: nightclub with live bands and Dj’s
• Departemento: Roma Norte bar live music go 12 – 3am on Thursday or Friday, it is a really fun gay bar that is 3 levels. It is a club so they do have a cover and bag check at the door
• Café de Nadie: one of North America’s 50 best bars. They spin vinyl and the staff is amazing. In Roma Norte
• Handshake Bar: also in Roma Norte, you do need a reservation. Made the list of North America’s 50 best bars.
• Toledo Rofoftop: very boujee and pricey but a really cool rooftop and view in Condesa. Gives off modern Tulum vibes
• Supra: bohemian venue with good cocktails and live DJs in Roma Norte. Another great rooftop
• Hank Panky: cocktail bar in Roma Norte. It is a speakeasy so make reservations
• Brujas: cocktail bar in Roma Norte. The name in English means “witches”. It’s a female-led cocktail bar and amazing. On America’s 50 best bars.
• Limantro: 2-story space with a terrace in Roma Norte. Good for drinks and appetizers
• Baltra Bar: on America’s 50 best bars and in Codesa. Electic and vibey spot

If I haven’t made it clear yet, CDMX is one of the most special places that I’ve ever visited. Whether it’s a romantic getaway, a bachelorette, or a true digital nomad experience, this city has something to offer anyone. We will be back!