Destination Mexico City CDMX | what to do for a day or a week

What a pleasant surprise Mexico City was. I have not been there for over 30 years and was impressed on what a a great desitnation CDMX has become. Right now, has has to be one of my favorite large cities to visit. The food was great (except for dinner a Pujol). It was a plasant city to walk around and see a place with such a mix of culture. And the mix of different neighborhoods was fascinating. The art scene appeard alive and well, and for the most part, everyone appeared rather happy and well taken care of. I felt safer there than I do in many areas of Los Angeles. I really want to return to Mexico City and explore deeper, it a very interesting city with a rich culture.

Flights are rather easy to find to MEX… but the Airport is very frumpy. And I highly recommend having a car pre-arranged for pickup to your hotel. A very chaotic taxi scene at the Airport.

Las Alcobas
Polanco: Av. Pdte. Masaryk 390
The Location could not be better for this Boutique Hotel, located in the heart of Polanco. A great area for your first time to Mexico City. And it didn’t hurt that we were upgraded to the Presidential Suite.

Habita Hotel
Polanco: Av. Pdte. Masaryk 201
Located just don the street from Las Alcobas. This is another great Boutique Hotel, with a great modern vibe. The rooftop bar, one of the few in CDMX is rated one of the 10 must go to rooftop bars in the world.

Hotel Condesa DF
La Condesa: Av. Veracruz 102
Really cute and non-fussy hotel in the La Condesa region, just a bit south of Roma. Not as upscale as the Polanco area, but charming and quaint.

Downtown México
Centro
Located right in the heart of the historical Centro District. Walk out of the lobby and you are right there in old Mexico City.

The St. Regis Mexico City
Paseo de la Reforma 439
The modern and newish high end Mexcio City. The St. Regis here is a beautiful hotel in the heart of CDMX. Diplomats and Power Brokers converge here, and in the invitation only La Table Krug. The rooms can be mighty nice if you get a higher end Suite… and the service is not bad, though not up to Hong Kong or London standards.

Of note: All the above hotels Preferred Partner properties, enjoy complimentary VIP amenities when booking with me (e.g. room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, daily breakfast, complimentary WiFi, and one lunch or dinner for up to two people per room).

Quintonil
Polanco: Av. Isaac Newton 55
Probably my best meal in Mexico City, and deserves being on the The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list. The set meal was brilliant and representative of Mexico. The beverage pairing was well thought out and presented quite nicely. The restaurant is also pleasantly low-key, sometimes these high-end dining establishments get a bit sutffy, not here.

Rosetta
North Roma: Colima 166
Had a fabulous lunch here. Great meal from start to finish. Reservations are a must… but a good place to dine without a lot of hoopla.

Casa Virginia
Roma: Monterrey 116
Highly recommended by those who know.

Astrid & Gastón
Polanco: Tennyson 117
Bringing their Lima food experience to CDMX.

Pujol
Polanco: Tennyson 133
Probably one of my biggest Dining Disappointment in quite some time. We can only hope that this was an off night for them, because this was one of the least pleasant high-dining experiences I have had in years. If the service was standard for them… who did they bribe to get on the The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list?

Or perhaps they were having a bit of labor issues?

Soumaya Museum
Granada: Boulervard Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 303
Yes, it’s that crazy looking silver building, and is worth a run through. I particularly liked the extensive paintings of Venice, a whole floor dedicated to a variety of artists and their vision of Venice. The main floor has an incredible Ivory Collection which can rarely be seen outside of China.

Centro: Historical Downtown
Av Francisco
A good day can easily be spent here. Start out at Sanborn’s for a snack and then mosey slowly over to the National Palace to see all the Diego Rivera murals. There is plenty to see in between these spots. You can easily just spend a day here.

Templo Mayor Museum
Centro: Seminario 8
Just a bit north of the National Palace. The ancient Aztec ruins in the heart of old Mexico City.

La Condesa / Roma
Spend a bit of time, just exploring these neighborhoods. Great restautrants, bars, coffee shops and Art Galleries are all about.

Uber works great here, so use them to get around or taxis. But traffic is hellish, so don’t overplan your days with a lot of running around.

Explore a different district each day, and at your leisure. Hiring a tour guide for a day did work well for Mexico City, helped getting all those must see items taken care of efficiently. And a good guide does get you in where typical tourists don’t wander as often. But do make sure to take a bit of time to wander on your own… CDMX has a few hidden treasures that can only be discovered by not looking for anything in particular.