A bicycle path runs down the middle of tree-lined Reforma Avenue. Image credit: mure3496/Shutterstock
Roaming the City’s Colonia
Metropolitan Cathedral in the city’s Zócalo. Image credit: Diego Grandi/Shutterstock
Traditional Mexican trajinera boats on the Xochimilco canals. Image credit: Hemis/Alamy Stock Photo
Exploring Cultural Institutions
A trip right now to this large Latin American metropolis promises an exhilarating blend of surprises as Mexico City reinvents itself as a cutting-edge destination for contemporary art, design, and architecture, and the latest global hotspot for gourmet fine dining and creative mixology cocktail bars.
This is the new, unconventional CDMX (Ciudad de México), as everyone calls the Mexican capital, and these innovative trends perfectly complement the beloved historic attractions of one of the oldest cities in the Americas. Here, savvy travelers have long marveled at ancient pre-Hispanic ruins, sumptuous Baroque churches, and palaces of the Spanish Colonial era alongside the simpler, local pleasures of feasting off juicy tacos, spicy tortillas, and fiery tequila in traditional tavernas.
Initially, the sheer physical size and immense population of the city can be daunting, but exploring is unexpectedly easy as the bus and Metro systems are efficient and safe, while Uber is always just a call away.
What makes exploring the city so enticing is that surrounding the Centro Historico, travelers can discover a whole series of very different neighborhoods, each one known as a colonia, with its own personality and attractions. Wandering through the grand boulevards, parks, and avenues of chic Polanco, you will pass luxury boutiques, seeing elegant waiters serving delicate macarons at Ladurée and exclusive fine-dining restaurants like celebrity Chef Enrique Olvera’s Pujol, where a table needs to be reserved weeks in advance.
A very different world awaits over in romantic Coyoacán, a seductively arty colonia since Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera made their home here a century ago. Sit upstairs at funky diner Los Danzantes, order the signature Mulato cocktail – mezcal, vermouth, bitters – and enjoy the view over the lively tree-fringed zócalo, where Mexico City locals promenade on the weekend. Like each colonia, Coyoacán has its own covered market. This one specializes in artisan crafts, colorful masks, and handwoven textiles, while San Juan Bautista parish church is a peaceful oasis dating back to 1560 and is decorated with exquisite Baroque frescoes.
For a very different vibe, head for the pastel-painted Art Deco villas lining the shady streets of La Condesa. Here, cosmopolitan digital nomads sip cappuccinos and barista-made cold brews at co-working cafés, fashionistas browse boutiques like Mutuo that showcase Mexican stylists whose creations are sustainable and locally produced, while over at España Park, hipsters walk their dogs and take outdoor exercise classes. And don’t miss a lazy stroll through the adjacent Roma colonia, which is more bohemian and studenty than La Condesa. Be sure to join the line of foodies patiently waiting for the wickedly irresistible guava rolls, creamy tres leches cakes, and decadent chocolate banana conch freshly baked at the cult Panadería Rosetta.
Mexico City’s museum scene is remarkable, and an essential element in everyone’s itinerary. The big problem is choosing between the crucial but busy must-sees and the quieter under-the-radar venues. For a journey of discovery through the pre-Hispanic art of Mexico’s Indigenous Aztec, Maya, and Olmec people, the National Anthropology Museum is unparalleled. Take a guide and be prepared for a marathon tour.
The Palacio de Bellas Artes is a Belle Epoque jewel, and viewing Diego Rivera’s monumental murals is like taking a walk through Mexico’s tempestuous soul. From the newcomers on the arts scene, the futuristic Museo Soumaya rivals the Guggenheim Bilbao for architecture. The soaring minimalist interiors showcase the private collection of Carlos Slim, who donated his personal collection to the nation: Monet, Manet, Gauguin, Titian, and dozens of Rodin sculptures.
After the city’s museums have closed their doors, adventurous visitors can spend an evening plunging into the world of popular culture. Three times a week, the Arena Mexico hosts the country’s famed Lucha Libre masked wrestling. Up to 10,000 fans turn up for three hours of thrilling competitions performed by incredibly athletic masked male and female stars. It is an unforgettable experience.
Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe and Mexico City skyline views. Image credit: WitR/Shutterstock
With grandiose architecture, lush green spaces, and booming art and food scenes, writer John Brunton explains why it’s no wonder the city’s residents wouldn’t want to live anywhere else
Rediscover Mexico City
Destination: Mexico
June 2025 (Volume 28)
El Califa de León Taqueria. Image credit: Octavio Hoyosa/Shutterstock
CDMX has always been a paradise for food lovers. And today the city is finally established on the world’s fine-dining stage, recognized by the revered Michelin Guide, publishing Mexico City’s first edition last year, and revolutionary restaurants like the elegant Quintonil breaking into the top ten of the more avant-garde World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Michelin has recognized tradition, too, awarding one of its precious stars to the humble street-food stand El Califa de León, cooking up a storm with a single, impeccable dish: grilled beef tacos. Be prepared for long lines, though the satisfied look of most happy diners shows it is worth the wait.
SAVORING MEXICAN CUISINE
Downtown is a good place to start a trip, with a pilgrimage to the landmark Zócalo, a public plaza and the heart of the city’s Centro Historico. Stepping into this immense square is an instant immersion into the history of Mexico, symbolized by the nation’s proud bandera of independence flying atop a soaring flagpole over the National Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Templo Mayor ruins of the original city of Tenochtitlan, founded 700 years ago by the Aztecs.
A short stroll away, plunge back into the present with the teeming crowds in dazzling, chaotic La Merced Market, as old as the Zócalo itself. Be prepared for a wonderfully intoxicating assault on the senses with rickety stands stacked high with smoky multicolored chilies, exotic tropical fruits, and irresistible food stalls.
Downtown is also full of hidden gems that tourists often walk straight past, such as the grandiose 18th-century Palace of Iturbide, now an eclectic arts venue, the tiny Templo de San Bernardo, filled with ornate Baroque decor, and spectacular Palacio de Correos, the central post office.
Savvy travelers have long marveled at ancient pre-Hispanic ruins, sumptuous Baroque churches, and palaces of the Spanish Colonial era
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