Curator’s statement
Mexico City is a cultural hub at the center of a diverse art scene, vibrant culture, and rich history stacked with picturesque cafes and stunning rooftop bars. This city draws in travelers of every kind from all over the world, with many returning again and again—especially the foodies of the world. With so many amazing sites to see, things to do, and endless bites to eat, my list of must-dos continues to grow. Mexico City should be on everyone’s list to visit, explore, and eat their heart out. This guide is based on my time visiting during Dia de los Muertos, so a few things may be different depending on when you decide to go.
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Things to do in Mexico City
Walk the streets of Condesa and enjoy your own DIY walking food tour. Stop at the trucks and vans on the side of the street and enjoy the best tacos for the cheapest price.
Go on a street food walking tour
This is for people who love to eat and aren’t afraid to get out of their comfort zone. There are various walking tours that you can book ahead of time and that feature different neighborhoods in Mexico City. If you’re pretty confident in exploring on your own, then just walk down the lively streets of Condesa and Roma Norte, and you’ll likely find vendors selling tacos, tortas, tamales, and everything delicious.
Explore Bazar Artesanal Mexicano and Plaza Coyoacán
You’ll find the Bazar to be a massive two-story building with numerous vendors selling unique souvenirs like affordable artwork, colorful figurines, and little trinkets to bring home as gifts for family and friends. Just across the street is Plaza Coyoacán, where you can walk around the square and enjoy people-watching or check out Parroquia San Juan Bautista. A notable restaurant in this area is Corazón de Maguey.
Have a feast at Coyoacán Market
After exploring the Coyoacán neighborhood and visiting the famous Frida Kahlo Museum, venture over to Coyoacán Market. This lively market has been open for over a hundred years and is packed with vendors who sell clothing, souvenirs, and artwork, along with neighboring food stalls. You must visit the bright yellow tostadas stall called Tostadas Coyoacán “Las Originales.” Plan to have a seat at the counter to hunker down with your food. This spot gets crowded, so be ready to place your order when one of the servers comes by.
Have a snack session at Zócalo and Constitution Plaza
During Dia de los Muertos, Constitution Plaza is a vibrant hub bursting with elaborate decorations and live entertainment. You’ll find numerous vendors selling savory snacks like elote and sweet treats like churros. Another notable site in this plaza is Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México, an ornate Catholic cathedral. Try to get a reservation at a spot at one of the nearby restaurants, like Balcón del Zócalo, to get great views of the plaza from above.
Catch the sunrise from a hot air balloon and enjoy breakfast in a picturesque cave
No trip to Mexico City is complete without going on a hot air balloon ride. There are numerous tour operators that can pick you up in Mexico City and take you on a very early morning adventure to Teotihuacán, where you’ll embark on a sunrise balloon ride. You’ll watch the sunrise with the other hot air balloons in flight. This is truly magical and worth every penny. Tip: Be sure to bring a layer (or two) to wear on your hot air balloon flight because it’ll likely be chilly in the morning. Each balloon ride is about 45 minutes long, so be sure you can stand up without any issues for that duration of time.
Places to eat & drink in Mexico City
Enjoy a delicious breakfast or brunch at Corazón de Maguey.
Food establishments
Ling Ling by Hakkasan: An upscale Asian-inspired establishment located in a skyscraper with great views of Bosque de Chapultepec and top-notch service. Be sure to arrive early for your reservation since Ling Ling is accessed by escalators and multiple elevator rides. Reservations are recommended. Bonus points to this place for somehow knowing one of us was celebrating a birthday without anyone telling them.
Contramar: A must-go if you want to live out your seafood dreams. There’s indoor seating and patio seating. Be sure to order the pescado a la talla for the table to share.
Las Chalupitas: A laid-back spot that serves home cooking. My friend who grew up with this food said he felt all the nostalgia during our meal.
Parrilla Gourmet/Clandestino Bar: A late-night food stand with the best choriburger and choripan. The food preparation takes a little bit, but I promise it’s worth the wait.
Corazón de Maguey: A vibrant cantina that serves a fantastic breakfast menu. I highly recommend the tamal de mole negro.
Tostadas Coyoacán “Las Originales”: Located inside Coyoacán Market, this is THE SPOT for your tostadas. My only regret is not being hungry enough when coming here.
Sweets and treats
Churrería El Moro: Multiple locations mean multiple opportunities to enjoy these delicious churros offered by this popular churreria.
Señor Croissant: A cute café where you can get a little caffeine fix, plus a delicious croissant. I highly recommend the almond croissant. They also sell adorable tote bags, which can make a memorable and useful souvenir.
Camelia Café: An adorable cafe serving top-notch espresso. They have bags of coffee beans you can buy and take home with you.
Bars
Baltra Bar: Named of the World’s Best Bars, this cozy, Darwin-inspired bar serves creative cocktails in a romantic atmosphere.
La Clandestina: A great place for mezcal, with a menu that includes 25 mezcals from various regions of Mexico.
Deleted Souls: In a dark setting with bright neon lights, this small cocktail bar has very interesting drinks on the menu. Everyone at our table took turns with which creative cocktail to sip on next.
Wallace Whisky Bar: A very lively, multi-level bar with what seems like countless whiskeys, delicious cocktails, and a fun makeshift dance floor with the best DJ.
Need to know
The street food vendors have a unique system for serving tacos. They wrap plastic around a plate to serve you your food. After you’re done eating, you return the plate and then they swap out the plastic for the next customer. It’s fast, easy, and honestly pretty hygienic when compared to washing the plate in a bucket in someone’s trunk of their vehicle.
Most establishments accept cards, but make sure to bring pesos to pay for your street food.
Ubers are a very affordable and safe way to get around the city. A 20-minute ride will only cost you less than $3 to $5.
Practice your Spanish before you go. English isn’t as common as you might expect.
Please don’t drink the tap water.
Travel Advisor
Tracy Delossantos
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Mexico City page.