Why we went…
Mexico City is quickly becoming one of our favorite cities. We have now been three times. This last time we brought the kids. We come for the food, the culture, and the beauty. The close proximity to Los Angeles makes it easy to visit for a weekend.
How we got there…
An easy three-hour flight on Aeromexico!
Where we stayed…
When looking for lodging in Mexico City, we suggest Polanco, Roma or Condessa. These neighborhoods are all pretty central and very charming. Each of these neighborhoods has fantastic restaurants and beautiful streets to explore. We have also staying on the Paseo de la Reforma close to the Chapultepec Park. While not as quaint, the location here is very central and an easy walk to the park, and about a 20 minute walk to Roma.
Las Alcobas – We loved this boutique hotel in Polanco. The rooms are small, but nice and clean. The location is great for walking around the upscale neighborhood of Polanco.
St Regis Mexico City – A beautiful hotel with nice rooms. The breakfast is exceptional! Situated on Paseo de la Reforma the location is very central. The immediate surroundings aren’t charming, but it is an easy 10 minute walk to Chapultepec Castle and a 20 minute walk to Roma.
The Ritz Carlton Mexico City – A couple buildings down from the St Regis on Paseo de la Reforma. Spectacular views and easy access to the park and Chapultepec Castle. Clean contemporary rooms.
What we ate…
Eat Like a Local Street Food Tour – One of our favorite things to do in Mexico City. For us, a perfect weekend in CDMX starts with a street food tour and ends with a fine dining experience. Both are equally out of this world. Eat Like a Local is also women run and women staffed.
Pujol – Definitely one of the best restaurants in Mexico City. We have been twice. The first time we enjoyed the tasting menu, and the second time we sat at the bar and had the Taco Omakase. Both experiences were fantastic, and both included the famous mole. I love that they move you from the dining room to the garden to enjoy dessert and another drink or coffee. We brought our kids to the taco omakase experience. Ainsley ate almost every bite (she didn’t love the mole), and they were able to make Spencer a chicken dish that was fantastic.
Quintonil – So far, this is my favorite dining experience that I have had in Mexico City. We came for a late lunch which I highly recommend. It was just two of us and we sat at the bar where we enjoyed watching the chefs prepare the food. We had the wine and beer pairing which was great and very unique.
Contramar – We love Contramar. The menu is primarily seafood and the signature red and green whole snapper lived up to its billing. Spencer was also able to get a whole mango for dessert, so he was very happy.
Em – This was a pleasant surprise! Unfortunately, we were so full by the time we ate here that we couldn’t order the tasting menu but the a la carte menu was fantastic. The ambiance was beautiful and minimalistic. Em is located in Roma Norte and is quickly rising in the ranks of great restaurants in Mexico City.
Filigrana – This is Spencer’s favorite restaurant in Mexico City, and it has his favorite dish of all time, the crispy beef jerky starter. We all loved it too, and the decor is divine.
We discovered Pollo Bruto on the food tour and loved it so much, we came back for Sunday brunch. This is a great casual and reasonably priced dining experience. The chilaquiles are the best I have had.
What we did…
Chapultepec Park is a must for every trip to CDMX. We could wander the park grounds for hours. We love exploring this beautiful and open natural space in the middle of one of the worlds most bustling cities.
While exploring the park, visit Chapultepec Castle. This beautiful 18th century castle sits on top of a hill in the park. The views are fantastic and the building and grounds are spectacular and filled with history.
The Museo Nacional de Antropologa is about a 20 minute walk through the park from the castle. It is a beautiful walk and you will pass through street vendors and by the lake. This is a huge museum with so much to see. Here are the top 5 things to see which includes the Piedra del Sol and Montezuma’s Headdress.
The Zoologico de Chapultepec was a pleasant surprise! We highly recommend for families or anyone who loves zoos. The setting is beautiful and the animals were particularly active the morning we went. The biggest surprise was the giant pandas on display with no crowds.
The neighborhood of Coyoacan in the southern part of the city is worth a visit. The Mercado de Coyoacan is a great place to shop for artisan items and souvenirs. Coyoacan is also home to the Museo de Frida Kahlo. This beautiful and very photogenic museum is a must do!
San Angel is another beautiful neighborhood in the southern part of the city that is fantastic to explore. There is wonderful shopping, beautiful cobblestone streets and a gorgeous church.
The Centro Historico has many beautiful buildings including the Zocolo and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. On Sunday’s you can ride bikes or walk on Paseo de la Reforma. This is a fun activity for locals. We were able to coordinate a bike rental through our hotel.
One of our favorite activities with the kids was attending Luche Libre. We bought our tickets through Ticketmaster, but you can also have your hotel concierge help with the purchase. Luche Libre is really entertaining. We were on the edge of our seats cheering all night long. There was also a great food hall across the street from the arena to grab a casual bite to eat before the match.
If you have enough time visiting the pyramids of Teotihuacan is fascinating day trip. We hired a private driver and tour guide who was very informative. The trip did take the full day, but the sites were well worth it. On this tour we also visited the Basilica de Guadalupe, an obsidian store, and had a lovely lunch with views of the pyramids.
Traveling Lyons 