Travel: Mexico City

Written By Stefanie Sillin

Have you ever made plans to visit a place and even before stepping foot there you known you’ll love it? That’s how it felt to, plan a trip to and, visit CDMX. I had been dreaming of visiting this design and food mecca for years and in February I had a chance to make a short trip to the city. It was clear that even before visiting I was going to fall deeply in love all that Mexico City had to offer. 

I tend to love destinations that both evoke feeling in architecture but also calm the nervous system. In some odd way, Mexico City was that for me. Despite its population of 9.2 million people (insane, I know…), the pockets of distinct neighborhoods felt like they were both stimulating and soothing all at once. I split my stay between two different hotels, Ignacio Guest House and Casona, both in the Roma Norte neighborhood. To know anything about CDMX is to know that it’s chock full of gorgeous boutique hotels. I combed through what felt like hours of TikTok videos, travel lists, and more to find places to stay in the neighborhoods with dreamy tree lined streets and the best food and shopping. Below is that list, and as a note, some of these are larger hotels with greater amenities. 

I can’t praise Ignacio Guest House more, it’s somewhere I anticipate staying every single time I visit Mexico City. From the interiors designed by Andrés Gutiérrez to the complimentary breakfast made fresh daily and cocktail service at night to the rooftop hot tub, Ignacio Guest House checked literally all of my boxes. 

City Center

  • Circulo

  • Design Hotels 

  • Volga Hotel

Roma Norte 

  • Colima 71

  • Casa Pani

  • Casa Wynwood

  • Brick Hotel 

  • Nima House 

  • Maison Celeste

  • Colima 71 

  • Casona 

  • Ignacio Guest House 

Condesa

  • Hotel Condesa 

  • Casa Cuenca 

  • Hotel San Fernando 

  • Four Seasons 

  • Casa Decu 

  • Casa Cleo

Polanco

  • Campos 

  • Wild Oscar 

When dreaming up an urban vacation I picture myself strolling down the street in the morning and grabbing a coffee and pastry at a local cafe. I’m a planner by nature but there’s something about filling the time between scheduled activities with aimlessly walking that fills my heart with such contentment. As American’s we live in a world obsessed with hustle culture and fast-living, Mexico City is not that. And I love it so dearly. Here are all of the shops I mapped out for my CDMX visit, along with a few attractions to consider for your visit. 

Shopping

  • L’aviva home 

  • Casa Mimi

  • Studio IMA 

  • Ago Projects 

  • Chic by Accident 

  • Casa Bosques 

  • Ven a Mi

  • Trouvé

  • Decada Muebles Vintage 

  • Tuza 

  • Atra 

  • Bogus Studios 

  • Esrawe / Masa Galeria

  • Morada Morada (vintage clothes) 

  • Goodbye Folk (vintage clothes) 

  • Revolver (vintage clothes) 

  • Roma (vintage clothes) 

  • Bazar Velas (candles)

  • Tetetlan (yoga) 

  • La Lagunilla (Sunday flea market) 

  • Jardin Dr. Ignacio Chavez (Saturday flea market)

  • Artisan market 

  • 180°

  • Irene Buffa (high end resale) 

  • Cardon (cool clothing) 

  • Void 

  • Carmen Rion (Mexican designer) 

  • Audette (CDMX designer bags)

 Attractions 

  • Casa Pedregal (Luis Barragan) 

  • San Angel Market 

  • Originario (colonia Roma) 

  • Metro Pino Suárez (ancient ruins at end of station) 

  • Ago Projects 

  • UNAM 

  • La Laguna 

Food. It is truly my love language, and I cannot picture a trip not centered around it. Just like my growing list of places to shop in CDMX, my list of restaurants and cafes, wine bars, jazz clubs, etc. is never-ending. I ate some of the best food of my life there, and that is no exaggeration. If you ever feel overwhelmed with where to eat in Mexico City, make sure you prioritize Masala y Maiz and Expendio de Maiz. I promise you can’t go wrong. 

Restaurants 

  • Masala y Maiz

  • Mendl 

  • La Tonina (tacos) 

  • El Califa de Leon 

  • Cafe de Tacuba

  • Lardo 

  • Pujol 

  • Expendio de Maiz

  • Contramar / Entramar

  • Propio

  • Paris 16

  • CampoBaja

  • Maximo Bistro

Cafe 

  • Cafebreria el Pendulo

  • Hulu

  • Panderia Rosetta

  • Dominique Patisserie 

  • Fonda Margarita

Tacos

  • Tacos Orinoco

  • Tacos Hola

  • Jenni’s Quesadillas

Bars 

  • Cicatriz

  • Bosforo 

  • Nazas 

  • Felix 

  • Covadonga

  • La Clandestina

  • Maison Artemesia

  • Nive Wine Bar 

  • Husman Bistro

  • La Clandestina

I can’t seem to get Mexico City off my mind, I have truly fallen in love with this city and I hope that this list helps you plan your trip. Whether in the near future or in the years to come. With love xx 

Stefanie Sillin