When we first decided to take a vacation to Mexico City, we received two very distinct and opposing reactions. From our parents and slightly older coworkers, we often heard: “Why would you want to go there?” or “Nice knowing you” and from our more travel-savvy (and often younger) friends and coworkers, we heard things like “Wow! I’ve heard great things!” or “I’ve been wanting to go there!” While we had done our due diligence researching and planning our trip, we have to admit, we were a little apprehensive leading up to the trip. Who was more in the know, the doom-sayers, or the modern explorers?
This leads me to the first thing that surprised us about our trip to Mexico City…
Safety
…just how safe we felt throughout our entire trip. Don’t get me wrong, there were moments where I felt like I had to watch my back (as you should an any large city) and we definitely took some additional precautions, but overall, we never once felt in danger. If two Midwestern güeros with limited Spanish can navigate the city, pretty much anyone can.
Architecture
It is hard to research “must-sees” in Mexico City without reading about the architecture. Names like Barragan, Le Corbusier, and van der Rohe made frequent appearances in architectural guides and histories of the city. It wasn’t until we arrived in the city, though, that we realized that the architecture wasn’t relegated to just a few “must-sees” but was absolutely integral to the city. From the noticeably art deco facades of Colonia Condesa and La Roma, to the modern museums and shopping of Polanco and the post-Colombian Spanish Palacio de Bellas Artes and La Casa de Azulejos in El Centro Historico, you couldn’t walk more than a few blocks without being awe-struck by a new beautiful structure. By far our favorite architectural stop, was Casa Gilardi in the colonia of San Miguel (pictured above). Luis Barragan’s final house, Casa Gilardi (still privately owned by the original owner) is an Instagramer’s dream come true. From the striking pastels and harsh lines, to the large jacaranda tree around which the courtyard (and by extension the entire house) was built, make sure to clear space on your phone (and bring the 500 pesos for the photography fee).
Coffee
As avid coffee-drinkers, we have long made a habit of seeking out the best local brews and roasts in any city we travel to. It isn’t always easy (looking at you Malta), but sometimes we hit the jackpot. Mexico City was one of those times. There is a lot to be said about Mexico City’s coffee offerings and coffee culture (more than I will put in a short, listicle-type blog post), but I will say that if you are a coffee connoisseur you will find yourself right at home among both the haute third-wave roasteries and the hole-in-the-wall neighborhood joints. Here are a few of our favorites:
Almanegra Café (pictured above) - Tonalá 53, Roma Nte.
While there are multiple locations, their Roma location was a frequent morning stop for us.
Buna - Orizaba 42 Roma Norte
Grab a latte and walk around the beautiful Plaza Río de Janeiro
Café Avellaneda - Higuera 40-A, La Concepción, Coyoacán
If you find yourself in Frida Kahlo’s old stomping grounds of Coyoacàn (which you should), make sure to stop by this tiny, but delicious, neighborhood shop.
Museums
Mexico City has an absolute glut of museums. Almost to a fault, Mexico City is packed with amazing museums. More than you could ever see in one trip. In fact, we only made it to three museums in our 7 days in the city. While we can’t speak to all (150!!!) museums, we can personally vouch for the Museo Nacional de Antropología, Castillo de Chapultepec (both conveniently located in Parque Chapultepec), and Museo Frida Kahlo. While we had to cut many great museums from our list, these three that we were able to visit were definitely worth it.
If Mexican history (both pre- and post-Colombian) interests you, you can’t go wrong with a day spent in the Museum of Anthropology. Boasting a massive collection of indigenous and colonial artifacts (even the “infamous” Mayan calendar), you can definitely get lost in the rows and rows of history. If you have been hitting the StairMaster, definitely make the trek up to Castillo de Chapultepec, if nothing else, at least for the view. While the castle, and the artwork within, are worth a visit, the view down the Paseo de la Reforma simply can’t be beat. Finally, any Frida Kahlo fan would be remise if they didn’t visit the former home of the artist in the Coyoacàn neighborhood. Just make sure to buy your ticket ahead of time, as the lines can be quite long.
It is Overwhelming…
….but, like, in a good way. With a population of almost 9 million (closer to 30 million if you count the surrounding areas) it is easy to get a little overwhelmed in Mexico City. Venturing through the densely packed Centro Historico can be a little harrowing if you are unaccustomed to the crowds. However, if you are able to look past the hectic and chaotic surface, you will be able to find some great gems in the area. The heavy-hitters (Palacio de Bellas Artes, post office, and Zocalo) are of course must-sees, but if you are brave enough to venture into Mercado Merced, you’ll find streets and alleys packed to the brim with color and intrigue. (I will note that many online tour guides recommend avoiding this area. While we felt safe in this market, we did have a local tour guide).
If the hustle and bustle of Centro Historico starts to give you anxiety, I recommend heading a little bit west to amble down the (comparatively) quiet and peaceful tree-lined avenues of Condesa. The Hipodromo area is especially recommended. Strolling past the quaint houses, shops, and cafes of Avenida Amsterdam on a warm, sunny morning is a great way to leave the crowds behind.