Travel Guide Mexico City - Culture, commerce and a cathedral
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Travel Guide
Mexico City
Culture, commerce and a cathedral
02 Quick view 05 Top 10 sights 11 Hotels
02 Mexico 07 Shopping in Mexico City 12 GEO Tip
04 Travel etiquette 08 Restaurants 12 24 hours in ...
04 Health 09 Nightlife
05 Phone calls & Internet 10 Calendar of events
© Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images
LH.com/travelguide Mexico City 01/15
Travel Guide
Mexico City
02
Quick view
Mexico City: Culture, commerce and a cathedral
Vast, fast and dynamic, Mexico City is one heck of a megalopolis. DF or Distrito
Federal, as the city is known by locals, packs in Aztec ruins, grand colonial
architecture and huge city parks. The mighty capital of Mexico, and its centre of
culture, arts and commerce, is fairly safe compared to other
regions of the country. It boasts some of the most incredible museums in Latin
America and the world, as well as a thriving arts scene that dates back to the great
muralists like Diego Rivera. Meanwhile, its innovative take on Mexican culinary
traditions is not to be missed.
Mexico
General Information
Country overview
Mexico is one of the most popular travel destinations in Latin America. Nowhere
will you find a more diverse range of natural spectacles and fascinating structures
dating from several centuries. More than 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) of Pacific
and Caribbean coastline beckon with the promise of relaxing bathing vacations
amid dream surroundings; Acapulco and Cancún are among the biggest magnets
for beach lovers and divers. The architectural legacies of the Olmecs, Toltecs,
Maya and Aztecs hold a fascination for all visitors. The best-known archeological
sites are Chichén Itza and Uxmal on Yucatán and the pyramid city of Teotihuacán
in the Central Highlands. Mexican culture has been shaped by Indigenous and
colonial influences have shaped Mexican culture, which is extraordinarily colorful.
Festivals are held throughout the year, and if you can, arrange to celebrate the Día
de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day (November
1 and 2) with Mexicans. The spectacle commemorating the dead involves weird
skull and skeleton jewelry and morbid baked goods.
Geography
Mexico is at the southern extremity of North America and is bordered to the north
by the USA, northwest by the Gulf of California, west by the Pacific, south by
Guatemala and Belize, and east by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Mexico's geographical features range from swamp to desert, and from tropical
lowland jungle to high alpine vegetation.
Over half the country is at an altitude greater than 1,000m (3,300ft). The central
land mass is a plateau flanked by ranges of mountains to the east and west that lie
roughly parallel to the coast. The northern area of this plateau is arid and thinly
populated.
General knowledge
Key facts
Population: 124,7 Million (estimate 2018)
Capital: Mexico City (Ciudad de México)
Language
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Spanish is the official language.
Currency
Mexican Peso (MXN; symbol M$) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of
M$1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20. Coins are in denominations of M$10, 5, 2 and
1, and 50 and 20 centavos.
Note: The M$1,000 and M$500 notes can be difficult to change and are
sometimes not accepted.
Electricity
110 volts AC, 60Hz. American two-pin (flat) plugs are usual, but most sockets
cannot accept a US-style three-pin plug.
Public holidays
Listed below are the public holidays for the period January 2020 to December
2021.
2020
Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day): 1 January 2020
Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day): 3 and 4 February 2020
Natalicio de Benito Juárez (Birthday Benito Juárez): 15 and 16 March 2020
Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday): 5 April 2020
Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday): 9 April 2020
Viernes Santo (Good Friday): 10 April 2020
Domingo de Pascua (Easter Sunday): 12 April 2020
Primero de Mayo (May Day): 1 May 2020
Batalla de Puebla (Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla): 5 May 2020
Día de la Independencia (Independence Day): 16 September 2020
Día de la Raza (Columbus Day): 12 October 2020
Día de los Muertos (All Souls’ Day): 2 November 2020
Aniversario de la Revolución (Revolution Day): 15 and 16 November 2020
Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe): 12 December
2020
Día de Navidad (Christmas Day): 25 December 2020
2021
Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day): 1 January 2021
Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day): 1 and 5 February 2021
Natalicio de Benito Juárez (Birthday Benito Juárez): 15 March 2021
Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday): 28 March 2021
Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday): 1 April 2021
Viernes Santo (Good Friday): 2 April 2021
Domingo de Pascua (Easter Sunday): 4 April 2021
Primero de Mayo (May Day): 1 May 2021
Batalla de Puebla (Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla): 5 May 2021
Día de la Independencia (Independence Day): 16 September 2021
Día de la Raza (Columbus Day): 12 October 2021
Día de los Muertos (All Souls’ Day): 2 November 2021
Aniversario de la Revolución (Revolution Day): 15 and 20 November 2021
Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe): 12 December
2021
Día de Navidad (Christmas Day): 25 December 2021
All information subject to change.
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Travel etiquette
How to fit in
Social Conventions
Despite its pre-Columbian traditions, Mexico is a largely Christian country.
Travelers should behave with sensitivity in religious matters and respect Catholic
customs. Children are welcome everywhere. Even an attempt to make yourself
understood in Spanish will generally be warmly appreciated. If you are invited to
dinner in a Mexican home, it’s better not to arrive bang on time. It’s also a good
idea to allow extra time for bus and train journeys, as well as appointments. A
handshake is the usual form of greeting.
Clothing
Smart leisurewear is acceptable on the street. Formal attire is only suitable for
official occasions. Jeans, shorts, sneakers and sandals are only appropriate in
bathing resorts. Restaurants in Mexico City generally expect a more elegant
standard of clothing. Your travel baggage should also include long-sleeved clothes
and long trousers to protect you from insect stings and bites.
Taking photographs
Always ask permission before you take a Mexican’s photograph.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted on public transportation, in schools, taxis, at airports or
bus stations, or most restaurants.
Tipping
Some hotels and restaurants include a service charge in their bills. In restaurants,
it is usual to tip roughly 10 to 15 percent of your bill. Porters and chambermaids are
happy to receive roughly one U.S. dollar per item of baggage or day of your stay.
Health
Health
Food & Drink
Water in bottles or marked 'drinking/sterilised water' can be drunk without
precautions. All other water for drinking, brushing teeth or ice should be boiled or
sterilised. Milk in major cities, hotels and resorts is pasteurised; otherwise, it
should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available. Only eat well-cooked meat
and fish, cooked vegetables and peeled fruit.
Other Risks
Diarrhoea and sunburn affect some travellers.
Outbreaks of malaria, filariosis and dengue fever have occurred, chiefly in the
southeast states of Chiapas and Veracruz and the northern border states of
Chihuahua and Tamaulipas. So, taking precautions against mosquito bites by
using DEET and covering arms and legs in the evenings is wise.
Rabies is present. If bitten, seek medical advice without delay.
Take care when going from sea level to high altitude – if you’re sensitive to it, don’t
go on any major hikes the first day you arrive. Allow several days to acclimatise to
altitudes over 2,500m (8,200ft). Initial symptoms include headaches,
breathlessness (especially when walking up hills), dizziness and nausea. This
should pass within 72 hours.
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Vaccination against hepatitis B is sometimes recommended, especially for those
spending long periods of time in Mexico. Hepatitis C occurs. All normal
precautions should be exercised to avoid exposure to sexually-transmitted
diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
Contractual physician of Lufthansa
Dr. Reimers Hauser, Armin
Vito Allessio Robles 117-104
Col. Florida
C.P. 01050
Mexico
D.F.
Tel. +52-5661-9023
Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it
bear the cost of any treatment.
Phone calls & Internet
Phone calls & Internet
Telephone/Mobile Telephone
Dialing code: +52
Telephone
Public telephones are found in casetas de teléfono – normally in restaurants,
snack bars and small stores. You will also find public card telephones on the
street. These are operated by various telephone companies, and telephone cards
can be purchased in supermarkets and kiosks, for example. Making international
calls from your hotel can be horrendously expensive, so make sure to inquire
about prices before making a call.
Mobile Telephone
A cell phone is called a teléfono celular in Mexico. A regional cellular network
using TDMA and GXM 1900 operates in Cancún, for which a tri-band device is
required. It usually costs far less to buy a cheap cell phone with a Mexican SIM
card locally, from Telcel (telcel.com) or Movistar (movistar.com), say. Network
coverage is good in Mexican cities, but there may be gaps in rural areas.
Internet
Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using
public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all
passwords, credit card details and banking credentials entered. Use of a VPN app
or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.
Top 10 sights
Top 10 sights in Mexico City
Templo Mayor
All that’s left of the mighty temple that lay at the heart of the Aztec Empire are these
ruins, but they’re still worth visiting for a taste of the pre-Hispanic history buried just
beneath modern-day Mexico City.
Semanario 8, Downtown Opening times:
06060 Mexico City Tue-Sun 0900-1700
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Mexico
Tel: +52-55/40 40 56 00 www.templomayor.inah.gob.mx
Xochimilco
Hire a traditional trajera boat for the afternoon and glide around the verdant
waterways of Xochimilco, the last remnant of the great Aztec canal system, which
the conquistadors drained.
Xochimilco
Mexico City
Mexico
Palacio de Bellas Artes
This stunning domed palace still puts on the city’s most important classical
concerts and dances, but it’s worth entering just to see the incredible murals
inside.
Av. Juárez Esq. Eje Central, Centro Opening times:
Histórico Tue-Sun 1000-1800
06050 Mexico City
Mexico www.palacio.bellasartes.gob.mx
Tel.: +52-55/86 47 65 00
Zócalo
Once home to an Aztec palace, the vast central plaza known as Zócalo now
features two remarkable buildings: the imposing cathedral and the Palacio
Nacional.
Plaza de la Constitución, Downtown
06010 Mexico City
Mexico
Teotihuacán
Around 50km from Mexico City is one of the most important archaeological sights
in Latin America – the soaring pyramids and ancient city complex of Teotihuacán.
Zona Arqueologica de Teotihuacan, Opening times:
Carretera Ecatepec Pirámides km22 Daily 0930-1600
+600
55800 Teotihuacán www.teotihuacan.inah.gob.mx
Mexico
Tel: +52-59/49 56 02 76
National Museum of Anthropology
Lose yourself in one of the world’s most fascinating museums, taking you from
before the Aztecs to the Spanish Conquest and beyond, with countless artefacts,
and information about Mexico’s hundreds of ethnic groups.
Av Paseo de la Reforma y Calzada Opening times:
Gandhi S/N Tue-Sun 0900-1900
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Chapultepec Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo www.mna.inah.gob.mx
11560 Mexico City
Mexico
Tel: +52-55/40 40 53 00
Frida Kahlo Museum
The so-called blue house, Casa Azul, was the home of Frida Kahlo growing up.
Apart from documenting her life and showing some of her work, it has a beautiful
garden.
Londres 247, Del Carmen, Coyoacán Opening times:
04100 Mexico City Tue and Thu-Sun 1000-1735, Wed
Mexico 1100-1730
Tel: +52-55/55 54 59 99
www.museofridakahlo.org.mx
MUNAL
One of the most important art museums in Latin America, this legendary
neoclassical masterpiece contains hundreds of works from Mexico and beyond.
Tacuba 8, Centro Histórico, Opening times:
Cuauhtémoc Tue-Sun 1000-1730
06010 Mexico City
Mexico www.munal.mx/en
Tel: +52-55/86 47 54 30
Bosque de Chapultepec
If the traffic-clogged chaos and pollution of DF get too much, slip into this
enormous park-cum-forest in the middle of the city, which also contains some
important monuments.
Avenida Constituyentes, Chapultepec www.sedema.df.gob.mx/bosquedechap
11850 Mexico City ultepec
Mexico
Tel: +52-55/52 12 21 71
Basilica de Guadalupe
This peculiar-looking church marks the spot where the Virgin appeared to an
indigenous man, Juan Diego, in 1531, and is now visited by pilgrims from across
Latin America.
Fray Juan de Zumárraga # 1 Opening times of the museum:
Col. Villa Gustavo A. Madero Tues – Sun 1000-1730
Delegación Gustavo A. Madero.
07050 Mexico City www.virgendeguadalupe.mx
Mexico
Tel: +52-55/51 18 05 00
Shopping in Mexico City
Shopping in Mexico City
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Key Areas
Zona Rosa can satisfy most shopping needs with countless clothing stores and
more, but well-heeled shoppers might seek out Polanco, where the city’s most
expensive shops lie. Meanwhile, various antiques and vintage shops are opening
in the trendy Condesa and La Roma neighbourhoods.
Markets
If you’ve the stomach for trawling through an endless maze of stalls, there are
some great finds to be had at the Mercado Artesanal de Ciudadela (Avenida
Balderas and Plaza de la Ciudadela), including cheap clothes, colourful crafts and
flamboyant sombreros.
Shopping Centres
The Centro Comercial Santa Fe (centrosantafe.com.mx) is an impressive shopping
center. But for one of the oldest shopping centres in the New World, visit Portales
de los Mercaderes, which specialises in Taxco silver, next to the Zócalo.
Restaurants
Restaurants in Mexico City
Mexican food is world famous. But while it’s essential to visit taco stands and
restaurants while here, there’s plenty more to try –from zesty Oaxaca broths to rich
stews conjuring ancient flavours. There are also some excellent Japanese and
Argentine joints.
Los Girasoles
With outdoor tables looking out to Bellas Artes and Aztec-inspired dishes, this is
one of the city’s finest restaurants.
Tacuba 8-10, Plaza Manuel Tolsá, Price: Luxurious
Downtown
06000 Mexico City
Mexico
San Angel Inn
A 17th-century hacienda hosts this classy restaurant that was once a Carmelite
monastery.
Diego Rivera 50, San Angel Price: Luxurious
01060 Mexico City
Mexico
Alekzander
For international cuisine in a buzzy setting, head to this handsome joint in La
Roma.
Álvaro Obregón 130, La Roma Price: Moderate
06700 Mexico City
Mexico
El Faraón Taquería
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Quite possibly the best taquería in DF, this place is popular with Condesa locals at
night; try the grilled cactus.
Oaxaca 92-93, Condesa Price: Budget
06700 Mexico City
Mexico
La Casa de Toño
Head to this local legend for pozole (fiery meat broth) cooked with motherly love.
Sabino 166, Santa María La Ribera Price: Budget
06400 Mexico City
Mexico
Nightlife
Nightlife in Mexico City
Thumping nightclubs, cracking live music venues and stylish hipster hangouts all
rub shoulders in DF. Kick your evening off with a round of tequilas and botanas
(appetisers) in atraditional cantina. Remember you’re at altitude – drinks are likely
to go to your head more quickly than you might be used to.
El Imperial
For cutting-edge bands and club nights with rock music, head to this hip venue.
Av. Álvaro Obregón 293, Cuauhtémoc,
Roma Norte
06700 Mexico City
Mexico
Sala Nezahualcoyotl
Opened in the 1970s in the city’s huge university, UNAM, this is a spectacular
venue for classical concerts.
Insurgentes Sur 3000, Ciudad
Universitaria, Coyoacán
04510 Mexico City
Mexico
Las Musas del Papa Sibarita
A poky, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it joint specialising in live jazz, the Papa is full of
charm.
Orizaba 218 A, Cuauhtémoc
06700 Mexico City
Mexico
Pata Negra
Perhaps the most popular nightspot in Condesa, this trendy bar-club always offers
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a late-night party.
Tamaulipas 30, Condesa
06140 Mexico City
Mexico
Felix
A hip little bar in the heart of La Roma, this is the ideal place to try mescal, the
cactus juice that’s outdoing tequila.
Álvaro Obregón 64, La Roma
06700 Mexico City
Mexico
Calendar of events
Calendar of events
Electric Daisy Carnival
Electric Daisy Carnivals are in the US, India - and now in Mexico. On two days,
high-profile DJs and an energetic audience will do their best.
February 28 - March 1, 2020
mexico.electricdaisycarnival.com/en/
Venue: Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Crowds swell for this powerful re-enactment of the crucifixion when hooded
penitents hobble on bloodied knees flagellating themselves.
April 5 - 11, 2020
Venue: Centro Histórico
Fall of Tenochtitlán
On August 13, 1521, Tenochtitlan fell to the Spanish conquerors. Tenthousands of
Aztecs were killed. Every year on the 13th of August the siege and the battle are
being remembered near the monument of Cuauhtémoc, last of the aztec rulers.
August 13, 2020
Venue: Plaza de las Tres Culturas, Tlatelolco
Día de los Angelitos (Day of the Angels) and Día de
los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Families build extravagant altars decorated with candles, flowers and skull-shaped
candy and bread to honour their dead relatives with a feast of their favourite food
and drink.
September 16, 2020
Venues: Zócalo and suburb of Mixquic
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Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe (Day of the Virgin
of Guadalupe)
One of the many religious celebrations honouring the Virgin Mary. On the Day of
the Virgin of Guadalupe, pilgrims from around the country converge at the famous
basilica in Mexico City to pay their respects. The devotees come to the church to
see the revered shroud which holds the image of Mary, which is on display here.
Celebrations are also held in Puerto Vallarta and San Cristobal las Casas where
Tzotzil and Tzeltal Indians dress in traditional costumes to pay their respects to the
Virgin. The celebrations include special masses, fireworks, processions, parades
and live music.
December 12, 2020
Venues: Basílica de Guadalupe, Mexico City
Hotels
Hotels in Mexico City
Tourists often make the mistake of staying Downtown, but while the historical
centre is fascinating during the day, it can be a little sketchy at night.Better to stay
in hip Condesa, full of stylish boutique hotels, or the lively Zona Rosa.
Condesa DF
This spectacular wedge of a building has been the trendiest place to stay in DF
since opening in 2005.
Avenida Veracruz 102, Condesa Category: Luxurious
06700 Mexico City
Mexico
Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico
This opulent five-star hotel on the city’s main square, Plaza de la Constitución,
really lives up to its name. Occupying an Art Nouveau building fittingly furnished
with Tiffany leaded glass elements and crystal chandeliers, this hotel naturally
offers every modern comfort and convenience.
Avenida 16 de Septiembre 82 Category: Luxurious
06000 Mexico City
Mexico
Imperial Reforma
Built in 1904, this old boutique favourite is located on the important Paseo de
Reforma.
Paseo de la Reforma 64, Júarez Category: Moderate
06600 Mexico City
Mexico
Zócalo Central Hotel
It doesn’t get much more central than this: Right next door to the cathedral on the
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Zócalo, this luxuriously appointed hotel housed in a truly magnificent building
offers guests every modern convenience. Tip: The hotel restaurant has one of the
best roof terraces in town.
Avenida 5 de Mayo 61 Category: Moderate
Centro Histórico
06000 Mexico City
Mexico
Hotel Isabel
This charming hotel is very popular with low-budget travelers. Located on a narrow
side street close to the Zócalo and the Metro station Isabel la Católica. The rooms
and bathrooms are functional and delightfully old-fashioned rather than luxurious –
and the price is unbeatable.
Isabel la Catolica 63 Category: Budget
06000 Mexiko-Stadt
Mexiko
GEO Tip
Mercado de Sonora
The Witchcraft Market
Services for every conceivable spiritual need are on offer at Sonora Market
(mercadosonora.com.mx), including soul purification, exorcism and calling up
distant loved ones. Helpful artifacts can also be had here, among them fetishes,
luck-bringing powders and Santa Muerte - Day of the Dead – figures. Worldly
goods, such as textiles and ceramic tableware are also sold here.
Mehr auf GEO.de
https://www.geo.de/reisen/reiseziele/19226-rtkl-sehenswuerdigkeiten-mexiko-
sechs-erlebnisse-die-ihnen-mexiko-stadt
24 hours in ...
... Mexico City
PR
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9 a.m. – Coffee above the Zócalo
A cathedral dating from colonial times, a pre-Columbian pyramid and a gigantic
flag of the Republic of Mexico: At the Balcón del Zócalo, you can enjoy breakfast
within sight of the scenes of the most important moments in the country’s history.
The restaurant boasts the best view of one of the largest squares in the world and
serves tropical fruit juices, sweet filled pastries and other Mexican specialties. To
locals, the Zócalo is the heart of their city. Events are held here almost daily, and
tens of thousands of fans regularly make their way here to see world-famous
musicians, such as Roger Waters and Manu Chao. Tip: Definitely pick a table on
the terrace!
Balcón de Zócalo www.balcondelzocalo.com/
Av. 5 de Mayo 61
06000 Mexico City
Mexico
Tel.: +52-55/5130 5134
10:30 a.m. – Diego’s blaze of color
Stroll across the Zócalo and you find yourself right outside the national palace, the
seat of the federal executive branch of Mexico’s government. This magnificent
building dating from the Spanish colonial era is particularly worth a visit for the
murals that artist Diego Rivera created here in the 1930s, impressively portraying
social life in the various phases of the country’s history: the hustle and bustle of an
Aztec market, the turmoils of the Mexican revolution, and the decadent feasts of the
colonial upper class.
Palacio Nacional www.palacionacionaldemexico.mx/
Plaza de la Constitución S/N
06066 Mexico City
Mexico
12 noon – A snack with Popocatépetl
After a leisurely, 15-minute stroll from the Zócalo through the busy shopping street
Francisco 1 Madero, aka Madero Street, it’s worth climbing the 140 meters to the
observation platform of the Torre Latinoamericana tower for a panoramic view that
lets you grasp the city’s true dimensions: the endless ocean of buildings, the cul-
de-sacs, and the mountains circling Mexico City. On a clear day, you can see as far
as the still active volcano Popcatépetl in the west and its neighbor, Iztaccíhuatl.
Snacks and copious meals are always to be had here, at what was once the
highest skyscraper in all of Latin America.
Torre Latinoamericana torrelatinoamericana.com.mx/
Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas 2
06000 Mexico City
Mexico
1:30 p.m. – Pay a visit to the fine arts
How about some marble? Just a few meters away from Torre Latinoamericana,
there’s the Palacio Bellas Artes, or Palace of Fine Arts, a building constructed
almost entirely from the precious stone. It is the most famous opera and ballet
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theater and concert hall in Mexico, but it also offers quite a lot more during the day.
Don’t miss, for instance, the mosaic stage “curtain” made in 1912 by Tiffany
Studios in New York; the million crystals making up the leaded glass panel refract
the light in a literally brilliant depiction of the Valley of Mexico. The contemporary
exhibitions at the National Museum of Architecture within the Palace of Fine Arts
and the Museum of Memory and Tolerance facing it are always worth a visit.
Palacio de Bellas Artes palacio.inba.gob.mx/
Av. Juárez / Esquina Eje Central
06050 Mexico City
Mexico
Tel.: +52-55/8647 6500
3 p.m. – Chill time in the park
High time for a relaxing break, and a great place to chill is Alameda Park right next
door to the Bellas Artes, a couple of square meters of green in this city of people of
streets. Sit on a park bench and watch a shoeshine at work or children playing by
the Venus Fountain, or simply close your eyes and take in the sounds of one of the
largest cities in the world all around you. Take the time for a short detour to the
monument honoring President Benito Juárez. Juárez reformed the country in the
19th century and is highly revered by Mexicans.
Alameda-Park
Parque Alameda
Av. Juárez
06000 Mexico City
Mexico
4 p.m. – Lunch courtesy of Mexico’s head chef
The best time for lunch and the Azul Histórico is the ideal restaurant for it. Turkey in
chocolate chili sauce, mushroom soup and handmade tortillas are just some of the
dishes on this restaurant’s menu, which features only the best in Mexican
specialties – and that’s no coincidence given that head chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita
is also known as the “anthropologist of Mexican cooking” for his efforts to preserve
the traditional culinary specialties of the country with his research and in books.
Diners interested in indulging in a little shopping after their meal in the cozy
courtyard of the Azul Histórico restaurant will find a number of small shops upstairs,
selling ceramics, textiles and chocolate.
Azul Histórico azul.rest/azul-historico/
Isabel la Católica 30
06000 Mexico City
Mexico
Tel.: +52-55/55101316
7 p.m. – A cool beer beckons
In 1928, Don José Iglesias, Don Pepe for short, opened a bar with great panache,
where he served meat-filled tortillas and fresh draft beer. Today, Salón Corona is
one of the most-frequented cantinas, as the traditionally popular Mexican bars are
called. Whether you spend an entire evening here or just drop by for a swift beer, a
visit to the bustling Salón Corona is always an unforgettable experience. And if
you’re feeling hungry again, we can certainly recommend a portion of Tacos al
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Pastor.
Salón Corona www.saloncorona.com.mx/
Calle de Bolívar 24
06000 Mexico City
Mexico
Tel.: +52-55/55125725
9 p.m. – A breath of world weariness
Sentimental’s your thing? Then you are sure to love the atmosphere on Plaza
Garibaldi square, where mariachi musicians dressed in their traditional vests and
large sombreros gather every night to play for visitors. It’s not rare to see tears
falling as romantic couples, holidaymakers and lone men listen to the mariachis
sing to their trumpets, violins and guitars. The volume on Plaza Garibaldi and in the
nearby bars is turned up until late into the night. If you find yourself flagging after
the long day, you’ll find vendors selling a somewhat unusual option for recharging
your inner batteries: toques – weak, battery-powered electric shocks.
Plaza Garibaldi
Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas 43
06000 Mexico City
Mexico
11 p.m. – Dance behind the cathedral
The terrace of the Centro Cultural de España is the place where night owls should
end the evening. DJs play electro, indie, jazz and rock here till late into the night
and live bands regularly perform here. So you can get a taste of the city’s nightlife
and enjoy a drink on the center’s balcony right behind the cathedral here at the
heart of Mexico City. The project, sponsored by the Spanish Embassy among
others, places great emphasis on cultural diversity, hence the many contemporary
exhibitions, film festivals, seminars and children’s theater events that also take
place here.
Centro Cultural de España ccemx.org/
República de Guatemala 18
06000 Mexico City
Mexico
Tel.: +52-55/5521 1925
LH.com/travelguide Mexico City 15/15You can also read
