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About -Mexico City
When most people think of Mexico City the first thing that comes to mind is crime. But as I tell everyone, just like every other big city in the world, there are areas that are unsafe and you just avoid them. I personally never felt threatened for a single moment. The people were terrific and it feels like any other metropolis when you are there.
Mexico City is absolutely huge (over 24 million people) and so there are tons of different zones. The key is to plan your day by sticking to one or two zones and exploring them. We took Uber almost everywhere we needed to go. If taking a cab, just make sure to get it from a taxi stand. Remember that the city is 7000 feet above sea level so you might get altitude sickness the first night you are there. Just try to avoid drinking alcohol that night and get good rest.
Overall, Mexico City was one of our greatest trips. If you love interesting people, incredible food, lovely public spaces and awesome art, then you will be in heaven. The markets were fantastic and they were a photographer’s dream. Just make sure to plan your days so you are not stuck in traffic and be open to any magical experience that comes your way. We had plenty!!!!
NOTE: If I bold a place in my descriptions, it means we visited/ate/shopped there
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Eat / Play / Shop
Galleries:
-Kurimanzutto gallery
-Galeria de Arte Mexicano
-Labor
-Centro de la Imagen (photography)
-MARSO Galeria Arte Contemp
-Gallerie OMR
-Proyectos Monclova
-Galeria Arroniz
-Galeria Hilario Galguera
There’s lots of graffiti. You can do a graffiti tour with Stylewalk MX Tour or Street Art Chilango
Museums:
-Casa Luis Barragan
–Casa Azul – Frida Kahlo’s House (buy tickets online in advance)
-Museo Tamayo
-Museo Anthropologia
-Museo Templo Mayor
–Museo Art Populares (loved this museum)
-Museo Franz Mayer (private collection)
-Museo Soumaya
-Museo Art Moderno
-Museo Jumex(in Polanco north)
-Museo Dolores Olmedo (Kahlo and Rivera; private collection)
-Museo Universitario Arte Contemporaneo
-Museo de Juguete Antiguo Mexico
Places to Visit:
-Zocolo
-Metro Cathedral
-Palacio Nacional (Diego murals – a must!!! try to get a local guide to explain them)
-Centro Cultura de Espana (music performance Fri/Sat at 10 pm)
-Castillo Chapultapec
-Palacio de Bella Artes
-Parque Mexico
-Casa de los Azulejos (House of Tiles)
-Espacio Escultorico de la UNAM (sculpture garden)
-Archivo Diseno y Arquitectura (industrial and decorative design)
-Xochimilco (floating gardens of the Aztecs)
-Chapultepec Park (castle; botanical garden)
-Iglesia de la Santisimo Trinidad
-Palacio Postal (gilded; great architecture)
Shopping:
-Fonart (arts and crafts store)
-Fabrica Social
-La Ciudadela Centro Artesanal (craft market)
-The Shops at Downtown
-MUMEDI (shop inside design museum; loved it)
-Tienda MAP (in the Museo Art Populares)
-Plaza del Angel (Antique mall; Mon 10:30 – 7)
-Antiguedades San Cristobal (on Durango)
-Victor Artes Populares Mexicano
-Taxonomia
-Remigio
Markets:
Must
–Mercado Merced and Sonora (where locals go to shop for fruits, veggies, flowers)
–Bazaar Sabado (eat at Saks resto nearby; great jewelry at Cristina Romo/Eduardo Herrera)
-Mercado Coyocan (snacks: quesadillas, tostadas, sopes; try El Jardin del Pulpo)
Good
-La Lagunilla (antiques on Sunday; get there early)
We didn’t go to but worth a visit…
-Mercado Insurgentes de Artesanias y platería (good for silver)
-Mercado San Juan (gourmet food; unusual meat; exotic produce)
-Mercado Medellín (in La Roma; good to buy food and grab a bite)
-Bazar Santo Catarina (antique; in Coyocan)
-La Portales (antiques; daily)
-Plaza del Angel (flea market outside on Sat; bit more upscale than Portales)
-Mercado Jamaica (colorful; wholesale flower)
-La Ciudadela Centro Artesenal (artisinal market; good silver)
-Mercado de Cuauhtemoc (vintage market)
Eating: (* means highly recommended)
-Fonda Fina
-Balcon del Zocalo
-Dulce Patria (in Polanco)
-Maximo Bistrot (French leaning Mexican; local) *
-Lalo! (casual) *
-La Docena (leisure; seafood) *
-Pujol (highest rated restaurant; make reservations well in advance) *
-Fonda Mayora (breakfast)
-Contramar (good for lunch) *
-Nicos (lunch; around 60 years; traditional)
-El K-Guamo (octopus tostada)
-Quintonil *
-Farmacia Internacional (lunch)
-Panderia Rosetta
-Los Danzantes (near Frida’s house) *
-Nueve nueve
-Lardo (Breakfast)
-Candy at Dulceria de Celaya
-Churreria El Moro
-La Casa de la Sirenas
-La Casa de la Tlayudas
-Huset
-Garum
-Merotoro (surf and turf)
-Corazon de Maguey
-Sobrinos
-Azul Historico
-Taco stands: Salon Corona; El Huequito; El Tizoncito; El Güero; El Pescadito
-Ojo de Agua (amazing organic food; great juices)
-El Capital
-Cantina Covadonga (food pretty good; go for the atmosphere – it’s a traditional cantina with men playing dominos and lots of energy)
-Café El Jarocho (well know for their coffee and hot chocolate; in Coyoacan) *
Drink:
–Hotel Condesa DF rooftop
-Xochimilco’s trajineras – bar
-Mezcalarias: El Palenquito (Roma Norte); La Clandestina (Condesa); Bosforo; La Botica
-Pata Negro (live music)
-La Numero 20 Cantina (salvación mezcal; Salma)
-Cantina Tio Pepe
-Salon Tenampa (Mariachi bands)
Look up Ruth Algeria for a food market tour
Day Trips:
-Tepoztlan
-Taxco (silver centre)
-Puebla
-Teotihuacán (1 hour away; get a guide; pyramidruins of ancient city)
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Itinerary
-We visited Mexico City for 5 days (then headed down to San Cristobal for 5 days)
-We stayed at Casa Decu (great little boutique hotel; great rooftop breakfast space)
Day 1: 1/2 day around Chapultapec Park
Day 2: Mercado Sabado, Coyoacan (walked around Plaza Hidalgo & Centenario; visited Frida’s House; ate our way through Mercado Coyoacan)
Day 3: Historical Centre
Day 4: Visited markets and strolled around Condesa and Roma
Day 5: Museums
