Guides
Eighteen long-reads on eating, drinking, staying, and moving through Mexico City — written by our editors, verified on the ground, and updated on a rolling schedule.
When is the best time of year to visit Mexico City?
A month-by-month honest breakdown — temperature, rain, festivals, and whether you'll get caught in a 4 p.m. downpour walking to dinner.
How do I actually get a reservation at Pujol or Quintonil?
The two-month rolling window, the exact clock time to log in, and the six alternatives that never make it into the guidebooks.
Where do locals get the best tacos al pastor in Mexico City?
The seven trompos worth crossing town for — and the ordering script that stops you looking like a tourist.
How much should you tip in Mexico City?
Restaurants, bars, taxis, hotel staff, and the small tips that are expected but never printed on the bill.
Can you drink the tap water in Mexico City?
The short answer, the long answer, and what to do about ice, salads, and street-food water in practice.
What is the safest way to get around Mexico City?
Uber, DiDi, the metro, walking, and street taxis — what our editors and their families actually use, day and night.
What is Condesa like and where should I eat there?
Condesa's shaded parks, Art Deco streets, and the restaurants and cafés that make it worth planning a stay around.
What is Roma Norte in Mexico City actually like?
The most-discussed colonia in CDMX, honestly assessed — what to eat, where to stay, and what the neighborhood is really about beyond Instagram.
How spicy is Mexican food actually — and how do I order for my heat tolerance?
The honest answer is 'it depends' — here's how to navigate salsas, chiles, and menus so you get what you want.
Is Mexico City good for vegetarians and vegans?
Better than its reputation suggests. Here are the restaurants, the classic dishes, and the phrases to know.
Which boutique hotels in Mexico City are actually worth it?
The small properties our editors book for their own friends visiting — with honest notes on what each does well.
Will the altitude in Mexico City affect me?
Mexico City sits at 2,240m / 7,350ft. What that actually means for your first 48 hours, and how it affects eating and drinking.
What are the best cocktail bars in Mexico City?
The bars on the World's 50 Best list, the newer rooms worth watching, and the classic hotel bars still doing it right.
Which mezcalerías in Mexico City are worth going to?
Not every place with a mezcal list is a mezcalería. Here are the bars our team drinks at — the ones that actually know their palenqueros.
Is Coyoacán worth a day trip from central CDMX?
Frida Kahlo's neighborhood, honestly assessed — what to see, what to skip, and where to eat while you're there.
Is Mercado San Juan worth visiting in Mexico City?
The chef's market of CDMX — what to eat, what to buy, and which counters inside are worth sitting at.
How should I experience Día de Muertos in Mexico City?
The parade, the ofrendas, the cemetery visits — how to see the holiday well without treating it like a costume party.
Where do you get serious specialty coffee in Mexico City?
Mexico grows world-class coffee — here are the roasters and cafés in CDMX that actually treat it that way.