Irene & Matthew
Things To Do
PASEO DE LA REFORMA
Paseo de la Reforma is one of Mexico City's main streets. It runs through an upscale residential neighborhood many corporate businesses, and the city's historic district. Along Reforma, you will be able to find Tourist Police, who speak multiple languages, including English. If you can walk along on Reforma, you'll get to the Angel of Independence, one of Mexico City's most famous and iconic statues. This statue is represented in our wedding logo, as an homage to this amazing city. While heading there, you will also pass by a famous fountain, called "La Diana Cazadora" (Diana the Huntress). Also located on Reforma is the Chapultepec area, which is home a couple of museums, the Zoo, the National Auditorium and some other things. Every Sunday, a portion of Reforma is closed for cycling, roller blading, and scooters. Go ahead and explore!
ÁNGEL DE LA INDEPENDICIA
The Angel of Independence, most commonly known by the shortened name El Ángel and officially known as Monumento a la Independencia, is a victory column on a roundabout on the major thoroughfare of Paseo de la Reforma in downtown Mexico City. It is visible from Paseo de la Reforma, and a fun spot to walk around to see the crazy traffic, beautiful trees and buildings on Reforma. This icon is included in our "monogram"/logo, as a nod to the city.
CHAPULTEPEC CASTLE
Located in the heart of Mexico City, Chapultepec Castle is a historic site and local landmark. Inhabited since the days of the Aztec Empire, Chapultepec Hill offers a commanding view of the sprawling city. The fortress was the home of legendary Mexican leaders including Emperor Maximilian and Porfirio Diaz and played an important role in the Mexican-American War. Today, the castle is home to the first-rate National Museum of History. There are numerous paintings in the museum, including famous portraits of historical figures such as Miguel Hidalgo and José María Morelos. The best paintings are the masterpiece murals by legendary artists Juan O’Gorman, Jorge González Camarena, Jose Clemente Orozco and David Siqueiros.
CHAPULTEPEC PARK
Chapultepec Park is the second largest city park in Latin America. One of the park's main functions is to be an ecological space for Greater Mexico City. It is considered the first and most important of Mexico City's "lungs", with trees that are centuries years old and replenish oxygen to the Valley of Mexico. The oldest and most visited part of the park include a wrought iron fence and gates that extend around its perimeter. The best known museums in the park are in this section, including Museo Nacional de Historia-Chapultepec Castle, the Casa del Lago, the National Auditorium, the Centro Cultural del Bosque, the National Museum of Anthropology, the Rufino Tamayo Museum, and the Museo de Arte Moderno. It also contains the Chapultepec Zoo, the Jardín de la Tercera Edad, and the Audiorama. These are connected by various paved paths, many of which have names such as the Avenue of the Poets, which is lined with bronze busts of famous literary figures.
CHAPULTEPEC ZOO
Chapultepec Zoological Park, Spanish Parque Zoológico De Chapultepec, zoo located in Mexico City on the original site of Montezuma’s game reserve. Opened in 1926, the zoo is administered by the municipal government. Its grounds cover 33 acres and house nearly 2,000 specimens of about 280 species, mostly in Victorian-style caging. The zoo specializes in hoofed stock and hippopotamuses. It also has a pair of giant pandas and is one of the few zoos outside of China to have successfully bred the animals. The zoo is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 4:30pm and is closed every Monday, as well as January 1 and December 25. Admission is free. You are not allowed to enter with food, large bags or packages, which you may check at the entrance for a 5 peso fee - take note, though, that the zoo's exit is on the opposite side from the entrance, so if you check bags you will have to make a long detour to return for them.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY
The National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología) in Mexico City contains the world's largest collection of ancient Mexican art and has ethnographic exhibits about Mexico's present-day indigenous groups. This is also the largest museum in Latin America. The museum has 23 permanent exhibit halls. Archaeology exhibits are located on the ground floor and ethnographic exhibits are on the upper level. Start on the right and make your way around counter-clockwise to get a feel for how the cultures changed over time, culminating in the Mexica/Aztec exhibit, of which the most famous is the Aztec Calendar, aka the "Sun Stone." This gives the chance to see the pieces in the context in which they were found. The museum is built around a large courtyard, which is a nice place to sit when you want to take a break. The museum is big and the collection is extensive, so be sure to set aside enough time to do it justice. The Anthropology Museum is one of Mexico City's top sights.
RUFINO TOMAYO MUSEUM
Museo Rufino Tamayo, located in Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park, is principally dedicated to the private collection of artist Rufino Tamayo. Founded in 1981, The Tamayo collection features over 300 paintings, sculptures and more by artists such as Picasso, Joan Miró and René Magritte. Well-curated exhibitions change throughout the year, but the focus is always on contemporary and modern art, be it painting, video installation, and other media. The building, designed by Mexican architects Teodoro González de León and Abraham Zabludovsky, is made of reinforced concrete and white marble stone. You would assume such heavy materials would feel like an intrusion in the middle of Chapultepec Park. But the low-slung design and natural tones allow the building to hide in and among the trees. Inside, glass walls and light wood floors make the gallery spaces feel contemporary, open, and spacious. You can easily see all of the exhibits at the museum in 90 minutes or even an hour.
NATIONAL AUDITORIUM
National Auditorium (Spanish: Auditorio Nacional) is an entertainment center at Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City, right past the Chapultepec area. The National Auditorium is considered among the world's best venues. Here you can enjoy the best concerts, art, theatre, dance and many other important events. The total seating capacity is just under 10,000. Constructed in 1952, it was used for volleyball and basketball matches of the 1954 Central American and Caribbean Games and had seen performances of the San Francisco Ballet and New York Philharmonic in 1958. The auditorium was the venue for the gymnastics events at the 1968 Summer Olympics. They have housed all sorts of bands from Morrissey, Barry Manilow, the Cranberries, Backstreet Boys to Bad Bunny, Marc Anthony, Shakira, and Juanes. They typically have a great calendar of shows and events, so make sure to keep an eye at their lineup in case you are interested. You may have a view of this from your room in the hotel!
XOCHIMILCO
Mexico City's Venezia is full of folklore, and is a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown Mexico. Enjoy some great quesadillas, micheladas, elotes, and other snacks and have a blast! The best way to catch a Xochimilco boat (referred to as a "trajinera"), is to get to "Embarcardero Nuevo Nativitas". This is an easy access point, which also has some stores for great souvenirs. Feel free to ask us for more details if you want to plan a Xochimilco excursion. This attraction is in the southern part of the city (45-60 minutes from the InterContinental). We recommend that you hire the trajinera for about 3 hours and going on a Sunday. Sunday is the day all the locals go and make it a day of drinking, dancing, and relaxing. This is an excellent activity for large groups! You can bring your own liquor if you want, or buy cervezas on board! You can also buy food onboard. Enjoy elotes and quesadillas!
TEOTIHUACÁN
Once Mesoamerica’s greatest city, these ancient pyramids are shrouded in mystery. This complex is known for its two massive pyramids, Pirámide del Sol and Pirámide de la Luna. Teotihuacán lies in a mountain-ringed valley just an hour from Mexico City, and it’s the perfect place for a day trip. This is a massive 2,000 yr old UNESCO site with tons to see. Here are the main sights: Pyramid of the Sun – The largest pyramid on site and the third largest pyramid in the world. Pyramid of the Moon – The second largest pyramid on site, used to conduct ceremonies in honor of the goddess of water, fertility and the earth. Temple of the Feathered Serpent – The third largest pyramid at Teotihuacán takes its name from the iconic carved heads that adorn the eastern side. Palace of Quetzlpapalotl – It has ornately carved pillars and beautiful murals, all centered around a beautiful courtyard. Avenue of the Dead – The main path between the pyramids in Teotihuacán. Daily tours and open from 9AM - 5PM.
FRIDA KAHLO MUSEUM
As one explores Frida Kahlo’s work more deeply and enjoys the privilege of getting to know her home, one begins to discover the intense interrelations between Frida, her work, and her house. Her creative universe is to be found in the Blue House, the place where she was born and where she died. Following her marriage to Diego Rivera, Frida lived in different places in Mexico City and abroad, but she always returned to her family home in Coyoacán. Located in one of the oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods in Mexico City, the Blue House was made into a museum in 1958, four years after the death of the painter. Popularly known as the Casa Azul, the Museo Frida Kahlo preserves the personal objects that reveal the private universe of Latin America’s most celebrated woman artist. The Blue House houses some of Frida's most important works. *Special note: Please reserve tickets in advance. They are closed on Mondays
CASA LUIS BARRAGÁN
Luis Barragán, civil engineer and winner of the acclaimed Pritzker Award for architecture, is one of the world's heralded contemporary architects. He's known for his work and vision of considering the outdoor spaces in relation to their indoor space counterparts. His home converted to museum, is one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites. This museum can be visited by reservations/appointments only.
SAN ÁNGEL SATURDAY BAZAAR AND MARKET
The Saturday Art Bazaar and Market at San Angel its a great place to spend a Saturday morning. There is a bunch of restaurants in the main area of the plaza that are really nice for breakfast and the bazaar is full of authentic Mexican artists selling their products. This is in the southern part of the city, about a 20-30 minute drive from the wedding venue. While you are in that part of the city you can also visit Coyoacán (the main plaza) which is also great for strolling around its cobblestone streets and colorful cafes, bookstores and stores. Restaurant Los Danzantes in the main plaza is a really great option for lunch. The Frida Kahlo museum and the Trotsky Museum are located in Coyoacan.
BIBLIOTECA VASCONCELOS
Mexico City's Biblioteca Vasconcelos (Vasconcelos Library), also known as la Vasconcelos and labeled by the press as the Megabiblioteca ("megalibrary"), is a library in the downtown area of Mexico City (Buenavista neighborhood, Cuauhtémoc borough). It was dedicated to José Vasconcelos, the philosopher and former presidential candidate and former president of the National Library of Mexico. Opens daily 8:30AM - 7:30PM
AVENIDA PRESIDENTE MASARYK
Presidente Masaryk is the "Rodeo Drive" or the "Fifth Avenue" of Mexico City. It stretches from Calzada General Mariano Escobedo in the east to Avenida Ferrocarril de Cuernavaca in the west, passing along the north side of the Polanquito restaurant district that borders Parque Lincoln. Some of the best restaurants in Mexico are located in this Polanquito district. Masaryk is of the most expensive shopping districts in the world. You will be able to find plenty of high end stores, extraordinary restaurants, as well as many different bars. Take the time to explore it. While doing so, make sure to check out "Pasaje Polanco", a smaller but historic collection of shops around a courtyard, built in the 1930s. The eastern end of Masaryk (corner with Mariano Escobedo) is only about 1km/5 min drive (10 min walk) away from the wedding venue hotel. If you want to do some more shopping, make sure to check out the "Palacio de Hierro" while in Polanco (Mexican version of a Nordstrom).
PUJOL
If you are reading this, stop what you are doing and make reservations now! Ranked as number 20 on the list of the World's top 50 restaurants. Pujol offers Mexican haute cuisine for the true food lover. If you don't want to go for the formal dinner, the taco-tasting at the bar is a good option. Home of the mole heard around the world, the Mole Madre is now (if Irene's math is right) over 1500 days old. If you've ever seen any travel or food show on Netflix regarding Mexico, chances are you've heard of Pujol or Enrique Olvera. More info on Enrique Olvera: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/enrique-olvera-mexico-city/index.html
CONTRAMAR
Contramar is one our favorite restaurants in the city. This is one of two locations (Entremar is located on Hegel in Polanco) of celebrated chef Gabriela Cámara that focuses on seafood. They have the BEST tuna tostadas and ceviche. Reservations are recommended and we hope you love this restaurant as much as we do. For more information about Gabriela Cámara: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/04/dining/gabriela-camara-mexican-food.html
LA CASA DE TOÑO
If you're a fan of soups, pozole may be right up your alley. Pozole, which means "hominy", is a traditional soup or stew from Mexican Cuisine. It is made from hominy, with meat (typically chicken or pork), and can be seasoned and garnished with shredded lettuce or cabbage, chile peppers, onion, garlic, radishes, avocado, salsa or limes. Pozole is typically served on New Year's Eve to celebrate the new year. La Casa de Toño is a casual restaurant that also serves great flautas and enchiladas.
TAQUERÍA EL CALIFA
Amazing tacos, especially al pastor tacos. It's not the cheapest taquería in CDMX however the quality is totally on the spot. Order an agua fresca or cerveza, kick back, and enjoy!
EL FAROLITO
It's as mouthwatering as it sounds, and these so so good. Try all of the different salsas as well and if you are craving something sweet, treat yourself to fresh Mamey juice. This location is in Polanco, which is about a 12 minute walk from the wedding venue, but there are plenty of them around the city.
ROSETTA
If you are looking to get out of the Historic Center, check out Rosetta for lunch or dinner. Elena Reygadas is one of the most respected Chefs in the city. Located in Roma Norte, this Italian-inspired restaurant is a perfect spot for a date night or lunch after visiting the boutiques in Condesa and Roma for some shopping! She also has a bakery called La Panadería across the street, and is an awesome place to grab baked goods. She has some unique dishes like the Pink Molé, sourdough bread made with pulque (an alcoholic fermented sap from the agave plant), fresh herbs & ice cream, and her famous guava rolls. Reservations are recommended. More about Chef Elena Regyadas: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/chef-elena-reygadas
TÍO PEPE
Tío Pepe dates back to the 19th century, making it one of the oldest cantinas in downtown Mexico City. With its beautiful carved-wood bar and stained glass work, this Chinatown spot has seen a lot. Tío Pepe welcomes a pretty diverse clientele: office workers, regulars, students, and, as of late, expats who know their way around town. Order a michelada or a tequila, and soak in Mexico City’s nightlife.
EL MORO
There is no better way to start or end your day in Mexico than with a fresh bag of hot churros and a hot chocolate from El Moro. The original location in the historic center is open 24 hours a day but there are multiple spots scattered throughout the city's neighborhoods. Be sure to try the Chocolate a la Española. Oh, they have churro ice cream sandwiches too!
PASTELERÍA IDEAL
Pastelería Ideal, a giant and popular bakery downtown, has everything from traditional Mexican breads, pastries, and cookies to special-occasion cakes and molded gelatin. Do not skip the second floor, which houses a seeming museum of giant, opulent, and whimsical wedding and children’s birthday cakes. Take a break from sightseeing in El Centro to ogle them.
CAFFÉ BISCOTTINO
Caffé Biscottino is a super cute and intimate café that is a short 5 minute walk away from the InterContinental. Great lattes and amazing baked sweets.
MAISON BELEN
Super cute and small French-inspired cafe with awesome breakfast and lunch offerings. Maison Belen has a nice patio for people watching and enjoying the weather.