PLANNING
When to go: Mexico City can be explored any time of year - we went in January, and it was warm during the day and chilly in the mornings and evenings. It was perfect weather to explore neighborhoods on foot. It is also dry season this time of the year.
How long to stay: There is plenty to do in Mexico City and you could easily spend more time there than we did. We went over a holiday weekend, and flew out on a Thursday night and returned on a Monday (took one full day off of work). We were able to see a lot in that short amount of time. The flight is only a few hours, and the lack of major time difference from the U.S. makes it an easy weekend trip.
Other notes: Many don't realize that Mexico City is at an elevation of over 7,000 feet! Drink plenty of water when there to minimize the effects of high altitude.
STAY
Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City - Great location on the Paseo de la Reforma, and is walking distance to Chapultepec Park and many great neighborhoods (La Condesa, Polanco, and Roma Norte to name a few). The hotel's beautiful interior courtyard has a great restaurant and bar area, and is especially lively for weekend brunch. Our room overlooked the courtyard, and it was quiet at night. We had one hiccup when our room was double booked with another guest late in the evening after we had already checked in, which is definitely not typical of a Four Seasons Hotel. The rest of our stay, however, was great.
Lounge in the courtyard at the Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City
Street in the La Condesa neighborhood
EAT
Contramar - I came for the famous tuna tostadas which exceeded my high expectations. Everything else was fantastic. I joke that I am going to fly down to Mexico City just to eat these when I get a craving. SO good.
Churrería El Moro - I LOVE churros, and these are the best I've ever had. El Moro has multiple locations in the city, so there is no excuse not to try these!
Mercado Roma - A gourmet food hall with a ton of amazing food options and an amazing courtyard.
Pujol - I wanted to eat at Pujol SO BAD, but planned this trip at the last minute and it was of course fully booked. It is on The World's 50 Best Restaurants List, and the pre-set menu prices seemed very reasonable for such a highly acclaimed restaurant. This is at the top of my list the next time I am in Mexico City - I have heard such great things, and now the restaurant has also added an omakase taco bar...yes, please.
ADVENTURE
Day trip to the Pyramids of Teotihuacán - By car, the drive to Teotihuacán is ~1 hour, but there are also options to take public transportation. We booked a private driver through our hotel in order to simplify our day and maximize our time. We spent a few hours exploring the large archaeological complex. The Pyramid of the Sun is one of the largest buildings in Mesoamerica, and you are actually able to walk the stairs to the top, which overlooks the entire area. There are also other smaller pyramids that are open for climbing - this definitely differentiates this complex from others that I have visited. Keep in mind that many of these are very steep, so go at your own pace - many have chains or rails you can hold on to during the climb and descent. Additionally, there is also a museum on the premises.
Chapultepec Park and Castillo de Chapultepec - Once in the park, walk the trail to the castle at the top of the hill, which has beautiful gardens and views over the city. The park itself is beautiful and is full of craft and food vendors - a great way to experience local life.
National Museum of Anthropology - One of the most interesting museums I've ever been to - very well done and worth the time it takes to walk through the numerous exhibits. The celebrated Aztec Calendar Stone (pictured below), is a crowded spot in the museum for good reason.
Onora Casa - I loved this home goods store, which sells beautiful modern goods made by local artisans. Located in the Polanco neighborhood.
PACKING ESSENTIALS
Best to dress in layers - you may want to be in a t-shirt or even a tank mid-day, but in the morning or at night, a light/medium weight jacket, scarf, and booties were key! We did a ton of walking on this trip, so definitely plan to bring comfortable walking shoes.
If visiting the Pyramids of Teotihuacán, I would definitely recommend tennis shoes with good traction and a hat/sunscreen.
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