Explore Mexico City: A Native’s Insider Guide

Today I am revealing a secret I have been gatekeeping for years: my ultimate guide to Mexico City. I am a Chilanga, whose Mexico City roots go back multiple generations. I grew up in la Colonia San Jerónimo until my family moved to South Florida when I was twelve. My extended family still lives there and I go back to visit several times a year. I have made a habit of weekend trips to CDMX due to its affordability and proximity to Miami.

As a native, I have become the go-to resource for what to eat, see and do in Mexico City. Friends (and friends-of-friends) look to me for a local’s perspective to avoid pesky tourist traps. Over the years, I have compiled a list of my tried-and-true staples, sprinkled with the latest hot spots. The list has made the rounds with my inner circle BUT today is the first time I share it publicly. I figured it was time to share the wealth.

The list below is by no means comprehensive. Rather, it should serve as a jumping-off point for building your itinerary. I focused on highlighting unassuming places I have loved since I was a niña, places you won’t find in a travel guide. While there will be some overlap, you should supplement it with more current resources like Michelin Guide, World’s 50 Best Bars, and TimeOut. Mexico City has A LOT to offer—old and new. In fact, I encourage you to add your own “Mexico City musts” in the comments below. I will certainly keep adding to the list as I recall or discover new places worth your time. Happy travels!

Traditional Mexican Restaurants – Breakfast and Coffee

• Fonda Margarita – casual, traditional Mexican breakfast dishes
• Sanborns Café – casual, traditional Mexican breakfast dishes inside a department store. Several locations
• Delirio Monica Patino – casual, coffee and limited menu of traditional Mexican breakfast dishes
• El Bajío – casual, menu of traditional Mexican breakfast dishes
• Postales de Cafe – casual, coffee house with pastries
• Quentin Café – casual, coffee house with pastries
• Terraza Gran Hotel de Mexico – buffet style brunch with unique views of the Zócalo plaza

Traditional Mexican Restaurants – Lunch and Dinner

• El Califa – casual, tacos lunch or dinner
• El Cardenal – not casual but not super fancy, traditional lunch dishes (look at menu before going). Several locations, must make reservation
• Don Vergas Mariscos – casual, seafood for lunch
• Em – high end, farm-to-table fare
• Azul Histórico – Gwyneth Paltrow fave for dinner in a beautiful setting. Must make reservation in advance
• Hacienda San Angel Inn – not casual but not super fancy, traditional dishes for lunch or dinner (look at menu before going), beautiful setting. Must make reservation
• Contramar and Entremar – two restaurants, similar vibe, delicious seafood for lunch or dinner. Must make a reservation
• Pujol – fancy, prix-fixe dinner of traditional dishes with exploratory twist. Must make a reservation far in advance
• Dulce Patria – fancy, dinner of traditional dishes with exploratory twist. Must make a reservation
• Pollo Bruto – casual, specializes in pollo asado
• La Hacienda de Los Morales – fancy, traditional dishes for lunch or dinner, requires reservations

Non-Mexican Restaurants Mexicans Like

• Arturo’s – French
• Anónimo Cocina – International cuisine with a Mexican twist
• Rokai – Sushi and Ramen
• Blossom – Chinese
• Suntory – Japanese
• Taverna – Mediterranean 
• La Taberna Del Chanclas – Spanish, great alternative if no occupancy at Azul Histórico
• Ultramarinos de Fran – Spanish, good for happy hour/tapas

Desserts

• Santa Clara – long-standing Mexican chain of ice cream and other dairy products
• Panaderia El Globo – long-standing Mexican bakery and pastry chain, must-visit for an old-school Mexican bakery experience
• Helados Cometa – artisanal ice cream

Bars & Clubs

• King Cole Bar – indoor bar at the St. Regis, good views good cocktails
• Fifty Mils – indoor/outdoor bar at the Four Seasons, beautiful terrace and rated number one cocktails in the world at some point (inside/outside)
• Artemisia – speakeasy
• Hotel Condesa – the ground floor indoor terrace is good for lunch or daytime cocktails
• La Clandestina – small indoor/outdoor bar good for a nightcap of mezcal
• Tlecan Mezcaleria – artisanal mezcal bar with pre Hispanic vibes/decor
• Hanky Panky Cocktail Bar – speakeasy, requires advance reservation
• Bar Oriente – club-like ambiance with DJs, live music and private karaoke rooms
• Downtown Hotel Bar – outdoor rooftop bar with delicious cocktails, near El Zócalo and above Azul Histórico. Good for an afternoon cocktail and appetizers or nightcap.
• Departamento Studio Bar y Azotea – club-like ambiance with DJs and live music indoors (Studio Bar) and outdoors (Azotea)

Sight seeing

• Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Khalo (near San Angel Inn, inside/outside)
• Soumaya Museum (inside)
• Museo de Arte Moderno (inside/outside)
• Museo de Antropologia (inside)
• Desierto de los Leones (outside)
• Castillo y Parque de Chapultepec (mostly outside, but castle is indoors)
• Bibliotheca Vasconselos (world renown library for its architecture and size, indoors)
• Zocalo – center of Mexico City, point of political importance (outside)
• Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico – small museum near Zocalo that has Mexican impressionist artist Claudell’s studio on the top floor (torre de las mil ventanas)
• Iztaccihuatl volcano – intermediate day hike or more advanced mountaineering. I went on one that included transportation to/from Mexico City through Viator.com.

Shopping/Markets

• La Ciudadela (inside)
• Mercado de Coyoacan (inside)
• Mercado de los sábados (outside, only on Saturdays)