Thoughts on Mexico City

I love Mexico City. I usually go at least twice a year.

Mexico City is huge and is broken down into a bunch of neighborhoods and zones.

The LA Condessa neighborhood is my favorite. It's full of great restaurants, bars, parks, etc. It's a quiter, laid back area. Mix of artists, musicans, and expats, but not hipstery.

The Reforma/Insurgetes neighborhood is great is well. It's more urban. A lot of office buildings and white collar workers, foreign embassies, banks, etc. It's great during the day but kind of dead at night. The Zona Rosa district adjacent to Reforma has a lot of night life, about half gay bars and half night clubs so be aware of which bar you're going to if that's going to be a problem. Do NOT go to any strip club. They are run by mexican mobs. There will be guys on the street with cards to the strip clubs saying they can get you in for free, but then you have to pay a ridiculous amount to leave.

There's also some cool stuff just outside the city. The ancient city of Teotihucan is about an hour out and has massive pyramids you can climb to the top and get some great views. Thereso a restaurant in a cave there, a little touristy but cool nonetheless. You can also go to Xochimilco and hire one of the Venice style boato and see the Aztec canal system.

Mexico City is a very cosmopolitan city and relatively cheap. You really feel like you're so much further from home, it has almost a European feel in some areas. But it can be dangerous and you really need to be aware of your surroundings and stick to safe areas. I would recommend hiring a car for the entire day, less than $80 US. Your hotel can arrange it for you. It's reputable since most concierge/valet get kickbacks from the drivers.

Let me know if you have any questions about hotels, getting around, etc.

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The LA Condessa neighborhood is my favorite. It's full of great restaurants, bars, parks, etc. It's a quiter, laid back area. Mix of artists, musicans, and expats, but not hipstery.

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That sounds just like what I'm looking for. I would prefer to stay somewhere pretty quiet but still with cool parks, restaurants and art.

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That sounds just like what I'm looking for. I would prefer to stay somewhere pretty quiet but still with cool parks, restaurants and art.

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It's a relatively quiet area for a city of 9 million people.

The hotels there are all national or local, no worldwide hotel chains in Condessa.

My favorite restaurant in Condessa is Fonda Garfua. They have a great upstairs balcony which is great for sitting outside at nignt.

Great post. Appreciate the info.

How do you get around there? Taxi? Subway? Rent a car?

I'm planning a trip this summer and this seems to me to be the biggest question mark. I want to stay in the Polanco but I want to go check out the Zocalo, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and other things that are pretty far.

Yeah my friend got his phone stolen on the subway over there. I was actually supposed to go with them but had to cancel due to work.

It shouldn't be a problem going by myself right? Any tips on safety or areas to avoid?

Cool, thanks..substances won't be an issue

Have you ever been to Guadalajara?

Or Todos Santos in Baja?

Just other options I could visit-Mexico City is definitely somewhere I need to go to, but I could visit either of these as well.