Things to do and more!

Question

What are some of the best hotels in Mexico City?

Answer

Condesa + Roma + Reforma • *La Valise Hotel: Roma N, super chic, only three suites, $$$$ but worth it, no lobby. (Roma) • *XOMA Viadora: Surprisingly great apartment hotel located in Roma. Great rooftop and interesting architecture. (Viadora has others, but the XOMA property is hands down their best.) • The Mondrian / Andaz: Rooms are not so great, but the location, 60s style architecture, and lobby vibe are all excellent. • *Nima Local House Hotel: Feels like a home, only 4 rooms. Lovely rooftop. (Roma) • Brick Hotel: Roma N, well located but rooms can be small, architecture is a bit off inside – but well located in the heart of Roma. • *Ignacia Guest House: Roma N, $$$, used to really cool, but they recently renovated and it’s not so chic anymore – but they did add some new rooms, so now has 9 rooms total. • Octavia Casa: Clean, modern design. (Condesa) • Condesa DF: great neighborhood, but it’s ready for a renovation. • Four Seasons: Everyone’s go-to when they want 5*. Courtyard and building are beautiful, but the rooms could use an update. • The Ritz: Across the street from the Four Seasons. Feels like you’re in Tokyo. Ling Ling by Hakkasan is their fun, new sceney Asian restaurant at the top. It’s across the street on Reforma, so you need to drive most everywhere for dinner and outings. Polanco + Lomos • Pug Seal Allan Poe Suites: Groovy spot in Polanco. Ask to be in the old wing. New wing is so so. • Pug Seal Anatole France: A little worn / rock and roll. Insist on a larger room. • *Casa Rombos: Incredible modern house in Lomos. Best for a buyout, but they will do individual bookings. It’s a little inconvenient, but worth it for a group stay. (Lomos) Downtown • Circulo Mexicano: If you end up staying downtown, then this is the spot by Grupo Habita – but generally, it’s a bit too touristy downtown. • Downtown Hotel: Worth going to see for the architecture and restaurants, but I wouldn’t stay there (too dark and too many people coming and going).

Question

Restaurants in Condesa, Roma, and Jaurez

Answer

• *Contramar: Lunch only. A classic (Condesa) • *Elly’s: Already a classic. Chef, Elly, is from New York. (Juarez) • *Rosetta: a favorite, Mx Italian, very pretty space, excellent food (Roma) • *Máximo Bistrot: My fav! Stunning new location, excellent food, also owns Lalo and Havre 77 (Roma) • *Meroma: Excellent food and great for cocktails. (Roma) • *EM Restaurante: Excellent Japanese Meican. Moved into the old Maximo space. Dark and moody mixologist bar, 686, upstairs. (Roma) • *Paramo: hip + fun tacos. Great for groups! (above El Parmita) (Roma) • *La Docena: hot spot for fish + oysters, go to the one in Roma over the one in Polanco • *Sartoria & Bottega Sartoria: excellent Italian, although I don’t love the modern space, their wine bar across the way is great too • *Masala y Maiz: excellent Indian food (Juarez) • Merkava: Really good Israeli food! • *Makan: Excellent Singaporean inspired food and natural wines. Entrance feels like a back alley in Asia. Mexican / Asian couple who two of the cities up and coming owners / chefs. • *Choza: Restaurant and listening room. Fun Sunday afternoon brunches. • Nueve Nueve: Excellent Mexican food from the same owners of the CDMX Nobu. Not vibey, but a consistently lovely spot. (Roma) • Yoru: excellent sushi “local” (Condesa) • Havre 77: French restaurant, same chef as Maximo (Juarez) • Husman Bistro: Recently moved into a new space and now a full restaurant / bistro. (Juarez) • Pasilla del Humo: Good for mole. • Marmota: Chef is from Portland, great space on Plaza Rio de Janeioro (Roma) • Huset: Beautiful garden, good food, great for weekend brunch (Roma) • Dooriban: New cool but casual Korean restaurant (Roma) • Lardo: Beloved chef of Rosetta fame, best for brunch – but it gets packed (Roma) • Casa Virginia: Chef from Delirio, good for group dinners (Roma) • De Mar a Mar: Rustic casual restaurant with excellent seafood (Juarez) • Pizza Felix: Best pizzas in DF (Roma)

Question

Restaurants in Polanco

Answer

• Pujol: Design is beautiful and it’s a beautiful dining experience, but food for the price not worth the hype. - Chef Enrique Olvera. Michelin starred. • Quintonil: Excellent food! Michelin starred • Hacienda de los Morales: An institution known for it’s mole. • *Dulce Patria: vibe not the best, but great food • *BÉC: A favorite gathering spot for those in Polanco. • *La Barra de Fran: Another favorite local’s spot serving tapas. (Polanco) • Malix: Fun new foodie spot from chef Alonso Madrigal. • Bajio: Traditional Mexican food. • Taqueria El Turix: For cochinita panucho - street tacos! sometimes a line.

Question

Other notable restaurants

Answer

• Tetetlan: Excellent Mexican in a Luis Barragan house. Worth going for the architecture. (Coyoacan) • San Angel Inn: Elegant old school place for a Friday lunch. Excellent margaritas (a must!) and surprisingly excellent food. Make a reservation for the back garden – otherwise, it feels a bit touristy. • Sud 777: Prix fixe. Rated one of the best restaurants in Latin America. (Pedregal)

Question

What to do in Centro Historico

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• *Bosforo: Cool little mezcal bar (downtown) • El Cardenal: Famoud old school Mexican restaurant good for brunch or lunch (downtown) • San il Defenso: mural museum • Palacio de Bellas Artes: theater with Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros murals • Palacio de Correos: old post office building • Sanborns Casa de los Azulejos: colonial house with hand painted tiles • Downtown Hotel: for architecture, restaurants, shops and rooftop – worth seeing but prefer staying elsewhere) Restaurants at Downtown: Azul Historico - Mexican and Puntareana – seafood, and Terrace - drinks) • Lodos: art gallery • El Pendulo: bookstore

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Venturing South of the City?! Explore the following!

Answer

• *Tetetlan: Luis Barragan house and restaurant, near San Angel and San Angel Inn and Frida Kahlo House (Coyoacan) • *San Angel Mercado & San Angel Inn: Famous for margaritas, old school style, beautiful courtyard. • *Casa Azul: Frida Kahlo’s House, buy tickets online. • *Museo Dolores Olmeda: Incredible collection of Diego Rivera’s and Frida Kahlo’s, home of Diego Rivera’s lover after Frida. (It’s been closed since the pandemic, but maybe open • *Xochimilco: Floating gardens, get on boat – it’s surprisingly fun…although touristy. Go with a group. • OR…for a more magical Xochilmilco experience, book lunch and a farm tour through Arca Tierra. Particularly special at sunrise. https://arcatierra.com/

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Art + Galleries + Museums

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MUSEUMS • *Museo Dolores Olmeda: Diego Rivera (south of the city) • *Museo Anahuacalli (built by Diego, housed much of his private collection) • *Casa Azul (Frida Kahlo’s house) • Diego Rivera Mural Muesum (Centro) • National Palace (more Diego murals) • Biblioteca Vasconcelos (incredible library architecture) • MUAC (contemporary Mexican, south of the City on UNAM campus) • Antroplogy Museum • *Cuadra San Cristobal (famous Barragan house outside of the city, check availability to see). Book tour through The Travelling Beetle. https://www.thetravelingbeetle.com/ • Museo Soumaya, Polanco • Museo de Arte Moderno, Bosque de Chapultepec • *Museo Jumex, Bosque de Chapultepec (contemporary art museum, great architecture • Museo Tamayo (Bosque de Chapultepec) • Museo Nacional de Arte (MUNAL) (Centro) ART + GALLERIES + OTHER MUSEUMS • *Galeria OMR (Roma) • *JO-HS Galeria: Great new gallery opened by Elizabeth Johs, a young New York gallerist (SMdC) • *Kurimanzutto: One of the top galleries. A particular treat if you can get a tour of the owner’s home – reserved for collectors. (SMdC) • Maia Contemporaria: Located in Casa Basalta, across from Rosetta. Beautiful modern architectural renovation of an old building. (Roma) • *Chic by Accident: Roma N (for design – call for an appt) • *El Nido de Quetzalcotl & Casa Organica: Incredible park outside the city. You have to arrange in advance for a private tour. You can even stay there for a night! • Other Roma Galleries: Celaya Brothers Galeria, Machete • Other Condesa Galleries: Haus of Gaga, Proyecto Monclova, Proyecto Paralelo, Hippodromo • Labor. • *Polanco Museums: Soumaya, Tamayo, Anthropology Museum, Castillo de Chapultepec • *Casa Gilardi: Last house designed by Luis Barragan, make an appt, people still live there • Casa Luis Barragan: make reservation

Question

Feeling like something different, fun, and a little touristy?!

Answer

• *Lucha Libre: Best at Arena Mexico — get ringside seats! • *Pyramids of Teotihuacan: Go on a balloon ride with Volare. More interesting to see the pyramids from the sky than on the ground. Volare has the best safety record of all the companies. • *Xochimilco: Floating gardens, get on boat - go with a group! (south of the city)

Question

Want to do a little boutique shopping?!

Answer

• Roma: Walk on Colima Street and throughout Roma for shopping in general. • Metate: Two chic little boutiques on Colima with handmade Mexican designs / designers. • IMA: Stands for “In My Apartment”. Furniture and jewelry design. By appointment only. (Roma) • *Carla Fernandez: (Roma and Juarez) • Vintage Stores: *Vintage Hoe, Void, and Goodbye Folk (all in Roma) • Apartment 25 (Roma) • *180 Shop: Men’s & Women’s. La Troupe and few other Mexican designers. (Roma) • Marika Vera (Roma) • La Tienda del Savoy: antique shop (Condesa) • *Lago: Mexican designers in one store (Polanco) • *Sandra Weil: Interesting Mexican designer (Polanco) • *Onora: Home store with beautiful Mexican arts and crafts (Polanco) • *Originario: Colorful design store by the owners and designer of Ignacia Guest House.

Question

Ready to party?? - Late night Clubs, Dancing, and music!

Answer

• *MN Roy: One of the best late night club. Incredible architecture. (Roma) • *El Departamento: Bar / club: Was way too crowded when we went and not my favorite. Ok music. Apparently less good these days. (Roma) • *FÜNK: One of the top clubs (Condesa) • Sky Bar: Opening December 2022 (Condesa) • LooLoo: Late night club. (Juarez) • Toledo: Another rooftop spot, closes early (Juarez) • Parker and Lenox: Food and live music (Juarez) • Jardin Paraiso: same owners as cafe Paraiso. Closes at midnight. Open during the day! Tulum style music and Jungle vibes. Really fun! • Cafe Paraiso: Cool little club. My favorite! Opens at midnight. (Condesa)

Question

BARS: Let's have a drink!

Answer

• *Xaman: Cool mezcal bar (Zona Rosa) • *La Clandestina: cool, tiny mezcal bar (Condesa) • *Canopia / Siqe: Great, vibey spot. Open for lunch as well. (Condesa) • *Ololo: Vibey spot. Good for small private gathering. • Terra Seca: Cool little mezcalaria off of the restaurant Makan. (Roma) • 686: Mixology bar above Em Restaurante. Feels very Tokyo. (Roma) • Hanky Panky: Clandestine cocktail bar (Juarez) • Baltra Bar: cool, small spot (Condesa) • Blanco Colima: great architecture, prefer the bar/lounge, food is okkk. (Roma) • Rosetta Bar: At the top of Rosetta, great spot to meet before dinner (Roma) • Bar de Brujas: Good meeting spot next to Pigeon. (Roma) • 686: Mixology bar / speakeasy above EM Restaurante (Roma) • Le Tachinomi Desu: Natrual wine bar at night. Amazing matcha by day (by Edo Kobayashi) (Juarez) • Tokyo Music Bar: Small, but super cool vibe! Need a res for drinks (Juarez / Little Tokyo) • Limantour: Cocktails (Roma) • Traspatio: Cool, casual bar / café open on Sundays (Roma) • Amaya: restaurant and wine bar, all natural wine list (Juarez)

Question

Mexico VAT Tax Refund

Answer

VAT (Value added tax) refund. If you expect to make larger purchases, plan to submit a Mexico VAT Tax Refund Form to get a refund. You can find the form online at Money Back: https://moneyback.mx/?lang=en_us Register online at Money Back. You will need to upload copies (photos) of your passport, boarding pass, FMM immigration form, purchases and receipts. Watch the short tutorial. Select the “tourism” box as the purpose of your trip on travel forms Pay using credit cards so you have a record. Save your receipts. The cash limit is $3,000 pesos per person The minimum purchase must be $1,200 pesos (and purchases are not cumulative) Take a picture of your FMM form. FMM means Forma Migratoria Multiple. It allows you to enter Mexico without a visa. You will complete it on arrival. There is no limit on your tax refund. Make purchases. Submit the completed form.