This sprawling, complex, always changing megalopolis is a study in contrasts. From its epic street food to its chef-driven, pilgrimage-worthy restaurants, Mexico City is arguably the most exciting food city in the world. Its art scene—folk and cutting-edge contemporary—is equally dynamic. And its sophisticated hotels, grand public parks and boulevards, and chic shopping streets rival those of Europe. There’s no way you can see, taste, and do all you’ll want to in one visit. But don’t worry, it’s a place that gets deep under your skin. You’ll be back.
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Mexico City Travel Guide
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Featured
In Mexico City, Aztec-Era Floating Gardens Offer a Path to Sustainable Eating
Xochimilco, largely known to travelers for its colorful party boats, has been an important food source during the pandemic.
Your Next Big Mexico Trip Is a Drive Across the Border
Last-meal-worthy fish tacos and biodynamic wineries are much closer than you think.
FAA Downgrades Mexico’s Air Safety Rating—Here’s What That Actually Means
The change in safety rating is not an assessment of individual airlines.
26 Best Hotels in Mexico City
This city’s choice of accommodations is as eclectic as the city itself.
Editor Hotel Recommendations
- Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mexico City$$ | Masaryk 390, Polanco Chapultepec, Mexico City 11560Read full reviewLas Alcobas earns its reputation as one of Mexico City’s top hotels, delivering on design, amenities, service, and especially food.
Readers Choice Awards
Gold List - Casa Polanco$$$ | Luis G. Urbina 84, Mexico CityRead full reviewIn Mexico City’s posh Polanco neighborhood, this elegantly renovated Spanish Revival-style mansion feels like a peek inside the lives of well-to-do locals.
Hot List - Mondrian Mexico City Condesa$$ | Aguascalientes 156, Mexico City, Mexico City 06100Read full reviewA property that somehow manages to capture the metropolis’ thriving art scene, historical past, and modern cosmopolitan vibes.
- Hotel Carlota$ | 73 Río Amazonas, Mexico City 06500Read full reviewA design hotel with personalized touches near Mexico City’s Paseo de la Reforma.
- Umbral, Curio Collection by Hilton$ | C. de Venustiano Carranza 69, Centro Histórico, Mexico CityRead full reviewAn ideal outpost for art-driven travelers who seek to experience Mexico City’s aesthetic delights of past and present.
- The Alest Hotel$ | Eugenio Sue 45, Polanco, Mexico CityRead full reviewA taste of British style in Mexico City’s poshest neighborhood.
- Brick Hotel$$ | Orizaba 95, Roma Nte., Mexico City 06700Read full reviewA sleek, design-forward option with history in the heart of Mexico City’s Colonia Roma neighborhood.
- The St. Regis Mexico City$$$ | Paseo de la Reforma 439, Cuauhtemoc, Mexico City 06500Read full review“Luxurious” doesn’t quite capture the full experience at this Yabu Pushelberg-designed hotel on Paseo de la Reforma.Readers Choice Awards
- The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City$$ | Av. Paseo de la Reforma 509, Mexico CityRead full reviewBook for the view of sprawling Mexico City from your private balcony 40 stories up.Readers Choice Awards
- Sofitel Mexico City Reforma$$ | 297 Avenue, Av. Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City 06500Read full reviewWhere to find unmatched rooftop views and the best spa in Mexico City.Readers Choice Awards
- Casa Goliana$ | Guanajuato 199, Mexico CityRead full reviewCouples and solo travelers frequent this period-style boutique hotel in La Roma, known for its personalized service.Readers Choice Awards
- Hotel Habita$$ | Av. Pdte. Masaryk 201, Mexico CityRead full reviewA global smorgasbord of 30- and 40-somethings seek out this OG design hotel in Polanco, the Beverly Hills of Mexico City.
- JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City$$ | Andrés Bello 29, Mexico City, Distrito Federal 11560Read full reviewSet in the upscale Polanco District, the JW Marriott delivers name-brand luxuries, including plush accommodations, 24/7 room service, a rooftop pool and hot tub, and more.Readers Choice Awards
- Nima Local House Hotel$ | Colima 236, Mexico CityRead full reviewWith just four bedrooms, this refurbished house in leafy Roma feels like a luxurious home away from home.
The Best Things to Do in Mexico City
- 25 Best Things to Do in Mexico CityEverything to do in one of the Americas' very oldest cities.
- 20 Best Museums in Mexico CityMexico City has long been a center for anthropology and history. In recent years, it's also become one of the world's hottest cities for art, design, and architecture—and it's got the institutions to prove it.
- 13 Best Markets in Mexico CityMexico City's markets run the gamut from food to antiques to spell-casting materials. Exploring them's not just a great way to shop—it's a great way to get to know the city's soul.
- 5 Best Day Trips from Mexico CityThese places make ideal getaways from the country's capital.
- What To Do in Polanco, Mexico City: Our GuideWhat to see, what to eat, where to shop in this opulent and artistic neighborhood.
- 14 Best Things to Do in Zócalo, Mexico CityCentro Historico, or "Centro," colloquially, is both the historic center and beating heart of Mexico City—like Times Square, but with more soul.
Editor Recommendations
- Self-Guided Centro Historico Cantina Crawl$ | Let's start at Tío Pepe: Avenida Independencia 26 Colonia Centro Cuauhtémoc, Ciudad de MéxicoRead full reviewBeer and tequila prevail.
- Iglesia San Ignacio de LoyolaAvenida Horacio y Moliere Polanco Miguel Hidalgo , Ciudad de México 06030Read full reviewIt's both a place of worship and a haven for architecture nerds.
- Cárcamo de DoloresAvenida Rodolfo Neri Vela Bosque de Chapultepec II Secc Miguel Hidalgo , Ciudad de México 11100Read full reviewThose who've seen everything haven't yet seen this.
- Monumento a la RevoluciónPlaza de la República S/N Tabacalera Cuauhtémoc, Ciudad de México 06030Read full reviewThe largest triumphal arch in the world.
- The Centro Zocalo Historico BodealoresPlaza de la Constitución Centro Histórico Centro Cuauhtémoc 06010 Ciudad de México CDMX, Ciudad de México 06010Read full reviewOne of the best (and cheapest) shoe-shine experiences you'll find.
- Museo AnahuacalliMuseo 150 San Pablo Tepetlapa Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04620Read full reviewPart studio, part museum and part shrine for Mexican art that Diego Rivera built as an architectural piece uniting past, present, and future to the natural environment.
- Sculpture Garden at the Museo Universitario Arte ContemporáneoCentro Cultural Universitario, Mario de La Cueva, Universitaria, Mexico City 04510Read full reviewEven if you don't love art or sculptures, this garden is still a lovely place to spend a few hours.
- Eat Like a LocalCalle Ozuluama 21, Hipódromo, Mexico CIty 06140Read full reviewThis Mexico City–based company runs intimate, casual culinary tours that immerse visitors in the city's vast food scene.
- Colonia JuárezMexico CityRead full reviewOnce gritty, the area is now teeming with great boutiques, bars, and restaurants, especially the leafy central square.
- Museo Jumex303 Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Mexico City 11529Read full reviewMuseo Jumex is a contemporary art museum with works by the likes of Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst.
- Lucha Libre at the Arena ColiseoRepública de Perú 77, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Mexico City 06000Read full reviewA giant venue that hosts sporting and entertainment events, the Arena seats as many as 23,300 spectators.
- Dolores Olmedo MuseumXochimilco, Mexico CityRead full reviewThe private art collection of Mexican heiress Dolores Olmedo is on display at her hacienda-style former estate, with impressive gardens.
19 Best Boutique Hotels in Mexico City
All you have to do is pick the right one for you.
The Best Places to Eat & Drink in Mexico City
- 28 Best Restaurants in Mexico CityThe stand-out spots in a city that's dense with incredible food.
- 20 Best Bars in Mexico CityFrom highbrow dens to working-class cantinas, and a few mid-range newcomers, we've got you covered.
- 13 Best Markets in Mexico CityMexico City's markets run the gamut from food to antiques to spell-casting materials. Exploring them's not just a great way to shop—it's a great way to get to know the city's soul.
- Mexico City Dance Halls in PhotosAn accompaniment to Mexico City Dance Halls
Editor Restaurant and Bar Recommendations
- Mi Compa Chava$$ | Zacatecas 172, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, Mexico, , Mexico CitySeafood is a hangover cure in Mexico, and almost everyone eating here is intent on either fixing last night's damage or getting a head start on creating today's.Hot List
- Omusubi House$$ | San Luis Potosí 188, Roma Nte., Mexico City 06700Soulful Japanese dishes served from a small Mexico City storefront, in perfect, ambulatory fashion.
- Jules Basement$$$ | Mexico CityEnter through a sliding refrigerator door and head down the steps to this incredibly low-lit speakeasy and cocktail bar in the back of an unassuming restaurant.
- Licorería LimantourÁlvaro Obregón 106, Mexico CityLimantour is considered the ideal for cocktails in Mexico City, so much so that its mixologists train others across the capital.
- Ahuehuete$$ | Ciudad de MéxicoThe team behind Ahuehuete has been collecting bottles throughout the years, traveling to rural villages to find interesting batches for their private collection.
- La Rifa Chocolateria$ | Calle Dinamarca 47 Cuauhtémoc , Ciudad de México 06600Sip on some chocolate and learn all there is to know about this beloved Indigenous product.
- LardoAgustín Melgar 6, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06140 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico, Mexico City 06140
- Los PanchosTolstoi 9, Mexico City 11590
- Sushi IwashiAv. Emilio Castelar 204, Mexico City 11550
- La Docena$ | Av. Álvaro Obregón 31, Roma Nte., Mexico City 06700Fresh seafood and cured meat for everyone.
- La Polar$ | Calle Guillermo Prieto 129, San Rafael, Mexico City 06470Coming up on a century of birria.
- Limosneros$$$ | Mexico City, D.F.Tourists staying in nearby hotels, wealthy Mexican families, and couples on early-in-the-game dates come here for creative agave drinks and snacks.
- Masala & Maíz$$ | Calle Marsella 72, Juárez, Mexico City 06600An update to the three-course prix fixe tradition of comida corrida.
Foraging for Ant Larvae, the Past and Future of Mexican Gastronomy
In the highlands of Hidalgo, farmers forage and harvest ant larvae, known as escamoles, for some of the country’s most high-end gastronomic experiences.
More from Mexico City
Style & Culture
On Location: In ‘Rotting in the Sun,’ Jordan Firstman Confronts the Role of the Mexico City Tourist
Comedian Jordan Firstman sits down with ‘Condé Nast Traveler’ to discuss his new film, which follows him from Oaxaca to Mexico City.
Destinations
Ask a Local: Artist Luisa Salas’ Ideal Mexico City Weekend Includes Dance Parties and Cool Galleries
Curating the perfect CDMX itinerary isn't easy, but these art galleries, eateries, and garden parks are well worth your time.
Shopping
How I Packed for a Weekend in Polanco, Mexico City
The chic dresses, light layers, and comfortable walking sneakers I packed.
Food & Drink
My Favorite Airbnb Experience: An After-Dark Bike and Food Tour Through Mexico City
We cruised through Roma Norte and Condesa, picking up agua frescas, vegan suadero tacos, and esquites along the way.
Food & Drink
Author Gary Shteyngart's Dispatch From a Multi-Day Food Tour of Mexico City
Gary Shteyngart gathers some friends and heads out on an epic Mexico City grub crawl, hitting chilaquiles joints, creaky cantinas, and farm-to-table restaurants.
Style & Culture
Diego Luna's Favorite Places in Mexico City
The "Andor" actor opens up about his beloved home town—and the road trip he can't wait to take.
Style & Culture
On Location: How Alejandro Iñárritu's ‘Bardo' Captures the Magic of Mexico City and Pulled Off an Ambitious Scene at Chapultepec Castle
Lifting the curtain on some of the season's most exciting new releases.
Places to Stay
My Favorite Airbnb: A Bright Loft in Mexico City With Vintage Decor and a Lush Patio
It's a slice of mid-century modern Mexico City.
Destinations
The Mexico City Bar and Restaurant Openings We’re Excited About
From a hole-in-the-wall taquería to a French bistro with a top-notch wine list.
Destinations
A Mexico City Tour of Architect Juan O'Gorman’s Design Legacy
The architect behind Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo’s studio was known for fusing traditional Mexican motifs with functionalist design.
News & Advice
Why Colonia Cuauhtémoc Is Our New Favorite Neighborhood in Mexico City
In just a few streets, this neighborhood has a little of everything we love about Mexico City.
Places to Stay
Currently Obsessed With: The Pink Room at Ignacia Guest House in Mexico City
Just when I thought Mexico City's hotel scene couldn't get any better, Ignacia Guest House proved me wrong.
News & Advice
The Dance Halls of Mexico City Show Off a Different Side of the City
These decades-old dance floors are more intriguing than ever.
News & Advice
Our Favorite Places to Shop in Mexico City
The high-energy capital is known for its folk art and grand architecture. Now, modern design and homegrown fashion are bringing a new edge.
Places to Stay
My Favorite Airbnb in Mexico City: A Colorful, Tropical Oasis in Condesa
There's no better home base for eating your way through the city.
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