This is a quick list of our favorite things based on our stay in Mexico City (CDMX) for October and November 2025. Before you go, download these must-have mobile device apps: (1) Uber, (2) WhatsApp (everyone uses this for messages in Mexico), (3) Google/Apple translate (unless your Spanish is really good, and even then it’s a handy store of vocabulary), and (4) Ecobici (see, 4 below).
10. Fly Delta/Aeromexico Nonstop.
Most major US cities have nonstop direct flights to CDMX, including Seattle (Delta/Aeromexico). In less time than it takes to fly across the country, you’re in Mexico in time for dinner—as painless as air travel gets these days.
9. Condesa/Roma.
The best neighborhood (also the safest, most fun, and pleasant) is Condesa/Roma. Ideally, you want a quiet street close to its two parks, Parque España and Parque México. Restaurants and coffee shops abound, and there are more dogs than people.
8. Hotel vs. Apartment.
There are many apartment and hotel options, which you can find on Booking.com (which I prefer because of the map view that, unlike Airbnb, shows actual locations of available properties). Then use Google maps street view to check out the surroundings. You don’t need to pay US four star prices, and for example we put a visitor up at the Nido Condesa hotel in a beautiful one BR unit with rooftop garden for US$130/night.
7. Dining.
There are too many great restaurants to name, but two local favorites were Botánico (on this list of top 50 restaurants in the world) and Huset. Try the street tacos if you dare (we didn’t), or just line up at one of the many locations of Taqueria Orinoco (worth the wait, order el pastor). Then get churros for dessert on the way home at Churrería El Moro.
6. Must Visit Attractions.
Start with Chapultepec Park and the Castle (which the US Army shelled, stormed, and occupied in 1847—more on this later). Then visit the Zócalo (central square) and Palacio De Bellas Artes. Then pick a few of the over 150 fine museums in CDMX, starting with the Anthropology Museum (allow half a day at least, and consider hiring a guide). And no trip to Mexico would be complete with the day trip to the pyramids of Teotihuacán, book your tour here with Giovanni, transportation included: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/4323065
5. Getting Around.
Use Uber, not taxis, which is easier and safer. For the adventurous, buy a Metro card and figure out the subway and bus system, which can be faster than driving given traffic.
4. Ride a Bike.
CDMX has a good bike share program called Ecobici that you sign up and pay for via a mobile app, and there is a passable network of bike only lanes in the city. Not to be missed is the massive cross-town bike ride every Sunday (watch this first), for which you’ll want to reserve in advance some real ebikes from my friend Arkedii here: https://www.ebikerental1.com/
3. Play Tennis and/or Pickleball.
The Junior Club in south Condesa is an amazing facility with 12 red clay tennis courts, Olympic sized swimming pool, weight room, spin bikes, with cheap daily/weekly/monthly rates for visitors. You won’t meet any other tennis players, as they’re strangely hurting for members, but you can hire a pro to hit with. There’s also a lively pickleball scene that plays at this park, and you can find out more on their website: https://pbmx.mx/
2. Music.
There are a couple really fun jazz and performance venues near Condesa. Jazzatlan Capital, located here, is a really cool club with stages upstairs and down, plus food and drinks. Surprisingly high quality classic jazz performers. The Foro Del Tejedor is this unique bookstore, restaurant, and concert venue where we saw several amazing shows, located here. You wouldn’t go wrong randomly showing up on a Friday or Saturday at either place, neither one sells out very often.
1. Visit a Mercado.
In Condesa, the nearest real mercado is the Mercado Medellín, where you can buy everything from crafts to clothing to whole sharks and other unusual produce items. If you want more craft items, Uber or subway to the Mercado de Artesanías, which has an immense selection.
