Mexico City Travel Guide: The Ultimate Itinerary for Art, Food and Style Lovers

Mexico City radiates with a cultural electricity that inevitably seduces its visitors. Each neighborhood within the sprawling metropolis unfolds with innovative cuisine, creative cocktails, world-class museums and awe-inspiring historical sites. The city is a magnetic art and design scene, full of friendly locals.

This irresistible allure stems from a blending of ancient traditions with modern creativity. The buzzy cityscape boasts historic architecture alongside sleek skyscrapers, and street food vendors serve family recipes steps away from award-winning gastronomy temples.

With nonstop service from Austin to Mexico City offered on Aeroméxico and Delta, the cultural hub is a convenient two-and-a-half-hour flight away. Every corner of the city is poised to tell an exciting new story of Mexico’s rich past while reimagining its future.

Top places to stay

When it comes to accommodations in Mexico City, options range from intimate boutique hotels to international luxury properties, each offering a unique slice of the city’s character. Consider the centrally located Casona Roma Norte, a reimagined boutique hotel in a charming historic building. For classic luxury, the Four Seasons Mexico City offers its signature doting service and plush accommodations in a historic 18th-century palace centered around its charming courtyard, a notable haven to enjoy a crisp cocktail. In the posh Polanco neighborhood, Casa Polanco occupies an elegantly restored 1940s mansion that feels like staying in a stylish private residence with personalized service. In Condesa, Octavia Casa provides a minimalist design sanctuary that celebrates Mexican craftsmanship and a rooftop terrace for sunset cocktails.

Essential dining

The scale of dining options in Mexico City has rightfully earned the locale a place on the world stage as a top culinary destination. Award-winning haunts like Pujol remain essential, especially its unique taco omakase experience. Nearby, the two-Michelin-star-boasting Quintonil offers a vibrant take on Mexican ingredients. Masala y Maíz explores the culinary connections between Mexico, India and East Africa in a swanky modern dining room. Don’t miss Chef Elena Reygada’s Rosetta, a celebration of Mexican ingredients, or her beloved sister concepts, Panaderia de Rosetta and Lardo.

For the quintessential Mexico City lunch experience, join the see-and-be-seen crowd at Contramar and linger for hours over classic seafood fare. Enjoy a seasonally driven menu at Máximo Bistrot amongst a design-forward ambiance. Head to Voraz, a hip gastro pub, for innovative takes on classic shareable dishes, and don’t forget a sweet stop for hot chocolate and churros at Churrería El Moro.

Capture the essence of the city’s food scene with its most iconic dish — tacos. Try the birria at Tacos Don Juan, the barbacoa at Los Tres Reyes or the al pastor at Tacos Del Valle, or choose to set out on a mouthwatering adventure at the no-menu Expendio de Maíz Sin Nombre.

Where to drink

Mexico City’s cocktail culture ranges from sultry speakeasies to buzzy mezcalerías. Snagging a spot at Ticuchi, the moody, candlelit cocktail den with innovative shareable dishes, is a must. Another can’t-miss experience is the theatrically made creative signature cocktail at Hanky Panky. Lastly, Bar Las Brujas is a mixologist’s cocktail laboratory featuring unexpected ingredients.

Tuck away in the open-air garden of Salon Palomilla for classic sips. Wine enthusiasts should head to Hugo Wine Bar, a chic bar celebrating a globally curated wine list and delicious small plates. Or take the night up a notch with salsa dancing to live music at the classic Club San Luis.

What to do and see in Mexico City

Mexico City’s cultural offerings are as rich and varied as its culinary scene. Architecture aficionados should make a pilgrimage to Casa Estudio Luis Barragán, the UNESCO-recognized home and studio of Mexico’s most celebrated architect. In Polanco, the stunning beauty of Museo Jumex and Museo Soumaya’s buildings are just as inviting as the significant art collections inside.

For a quintessential Mexico City experience that dates back to Aztec times, venture to the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco to cruise the ancient canals, surrounded by mariachi, micheladas and weekend revelry. Art lovers should be sure to visit Museo Frida Kahlo, the iconic blue house where Kahlo lived and worked, while literary buffs will be in awe at the Biblioteca Vasconcelos, a “megalibrary” featuring floating bookshelves.

Watch a Ballet Folklórico performance at Palacio de Bellas Artes, where the stunning Art Nouveau exterior gives way to art deco interiors housing Diego Rivera murals. For something completely different but no less authentically Mexican, catch an entertaining Lucha Libre Wrestling Match at Arena Coliseo.

Serious shoppers will be enticed by the city’s mix of high design, artisanal craftsmanship and unexpected treasures. Purchase artwork by established and up-and-coming regional artists at Mooni, or stop in Le Laboratoire’s art gallery, coffee shop and fashion boutique compound. Find unique styles by talented Latin American designers at Trinitate Polanco and Pepa Pombo. For design-forward home goods and artisan-made decor, don’t miss IKAL and Lago DF. Treasure hunters should head to La Lagunilla Market to discover an antique heaven, while vintage fashion devotees will swoon over Irene Buffa.

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