GUIDE TO MEXICO CITY by a cheese professional
Mexico City is my home, and I couldn't be prouder of it. Its neighborhoods are diverse and unique, and it takes a lifetime to explore them all. From the mainstream attractions to the hidden gems, I've had the pleasure of experiencing a good part of it.
Jess
IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT MEXICO CITY
01
SIZE & POPULATION
Mexico City, formerly known as Distrito Federal until 2017, is the most densely populated city in Mexico. Despite being the smallest state in Mexico, it covers an area of 1485 km² and has a population of 22 million.
02
POLITICAL DIVISION
There are 16 territorial divisions in Mexico City known as delegaciones, with the most famous being Miguel Hidalgo, Cuauhtémoc, Benito Juarez, and Coyoacán. In Xochimilco you can visit the chinampas and Milpa Alta and Tlalpan have extensive agricultural projects.
03
STREET FOOD
Mexico City is renowned for its vast array of street food, including the famous tacos such as pastor and suadero that originated in the city. The availability of different options varies depending on the time of day location. I will advise some caution as Mexican microflora is different and more resistant to certain foods, but there are plenty of delicious taco options available at different establishments throughout the city. Additionally, on Sundays, you can try Barbacoa, which features sheep meat tacos.
04
CULTURAL OFFERING
Mexico has incredible concert halls and cultural events. It's recommended to check for upcoming events during your planned visit. Estadio Azteca, located in Mexico City, is one of the biggest stadiums in the world and serves as the home stadium for the local team América.
Our museums are incredible and affordable, I recommend you to check if you need to make a reservation in advance because some are very busy, like the Casa Azul, I recommend purchasing your tickets in advance.
Mi casa es tu casa
We enjoy having visitors and strive to make them feel at home. While many Mexicans speak basic English, please be aware of our culture and customs. It's important to not assume that everyone can speak English, as our native language is Spanish. Some useful phrases to know are "Hola, mucho gusto", "Está muy rico", "Me llamo", "Yo vengo de", "por favor", and "gracias".
RESTAURANTS
Mexico City has a wide range of Mexican cuisine from various states, as well as international dishes. Due to its diverse population, the city has integrated gastronomy from all over the globe. It's important that traditionally our main meal of the day is lunch, while many restaurants serve dinner, I recommend for you to check in advance the hours.
EL CARDENAL
A classic restaurant for breakfast. The first meal of the day is incredible important for us, and El Cardenal makes a ritual out of it.
BOTÁNICO
Ae Navarro's proposal is amazing as she takes a personal approach to the classics. The onion soup is exceptional, and she gives special attention to sourcing ingredients. Additionally, the service is impeccable. Recently debuted in the Michelin Guide.
SALÓN RÍOS
Cantinas is good food and good drinks, one cannot exist without the other. Salón Rios has a very good menú with classics like beef tongue in the Cuauhtémoc. On the second flor there is a dance hall.
FISHERS
Excellent hungover cure. This chain reinvented the classics of the West Coast with a fantastic bar that starts running at 9:30 am. Go for the Ahogadita de Camarón an a solid Bloody Mary
NICOS
I highly recommend having lunch at Nicos in Mexico City, which is an institution known for serving "Cocina de Mayoras". Mayoras are the guardians of recipes that have been passed down for generations. They were born in the kitchens and they inherit an ancestral métier.
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TERRAZA CHACHACHÁ
This spot offers a great view of the Monument a la Revolución, which was originally planned to be Mexico's Capitol but later became a monument to celebrate the end of the dictatorship. The Cantina serves delicious food and drinks, and it's an ideal place to watch the sunset.
ESQUINA COMÚN ⭐️
Ana Dolores has an incredible knowledge of techniques in the kitchen, and emphasises in mexican techniques. Her farm-to-table experience is sure to be a memorable highlight of your stay.
MAXIMO
Maximo is worth visiting, Edwardo knows how to use Mexican Ingredientes with pristine techniques and a very personal style.
MASALA & MAIZ
This syncretism comes from a very personal union between Norma & Saqib, they are parters in life als. An amazing atmosphere, great food, great wine and a very ethical vision of food and service.
TACOS
Tacos it's a division on itself. We take them very seriously, our two main tacos are Pastor and Suadero, they are a religion to us. While each neighborhood has its own favorites, we occasionally embark on a pilgrimage to discover the best tacos in the city.
EL PAISA DE CORUÑA
PASTOR
This tacos are not for the faint hearted or sensible stomachs, they are tacos de barrio in my opinion, are the best Pastor Tacos in Mexico City. A perfectly made pastor taco will have layers of onion between the meat, which helps to caramelize meat with the onion's juices.
EL JAROCHO, ROMA NORTE
TACOS DE GUISADO
Taco is literally food on a tortilla, and in this particular place you will find tacos de guisado. Guisado is Everything Everywhere All at Once, english defines it as stew, but is a simplistic definition. Guisados is a thing on its own and you will find them in abundance in Mexico.
LA CHINAMPA, NÁPOLES
PASTOR
A solid option suited for visitors that want to get a good taco without the risk. But be aware, they have different locations but the good ones are located near the WTC.
LOS COCUYOS, CENTRO
SUADERO
Suadero is a Beef Confit, meat cooked in it's own fat for a very long period of time. Patience allows a hard piece o meat to turn in to a tender, buttery bite. Contrast perfectly with the lemon and salsas picantes.
EL PESCADITO, CONDESA
FISH TACOS
Good baja style tacos, with numerous locations. For lunch, the tacos are massive so I recommend ordering one by one, they will have assorted toppings for you to put on top of the taco.
EL CHULO
CARNITAS & GORDITAS
To be honest I have never tried a good carnitas taco outside a market, street stall or Quiroga, Michoacán. This ones are the best carnitas tacos in Mexico City. Meat cooked to perfection that sold out everyday. Carnitas is a pork confit, where all the animal is cooked. You can find all the parts of the pork in a good taco stall.