Mexico City Itinerary: 3 Perfect Days, Curated by a Local Artist

Start at Chiquitito in Lomas, on Monte Ararat Street. It’s a small café with a really nice book selection (for kids and adults), so it’s a great place to have a light breakfast, good coffee, and maybe pick something up to read.

This is a small taquería that’s quickly become one of my favorites. I’d 100% recommend a taco from the black angus trompo, or a Robalito taco (al pastor-style fish). It’s simple, but really well done and with a slightly different selection than usual. Heads up: It’s tiny, so go early or be ready to wait a bit.

Head into Chapultepec and spend some time walking through the park. I’d recommend going through the botanical garden and making your way to Lago Algo—It’s a gallery and restaurant in a wild-looking modernist building. Grab a carajillo (espresso and Licor 43) at the bar. It’s the classic Mexican afternoon pick-me-up.

It’s a classic one in Mexico City, a broad take on Asian cuisine, but everything is consistently good, and the space and vibe are always on point. I highly recommend their Tom Yam ramen.

This is a relatively new spot with great drinks—like the Piña-Chaya cocktail—and a really good ambience. It feels genuinely connected to the local creative scene; definitely worth ending the day here.

This one is always busy, so try to get there early, but it’s easy, reliable, and a good way to start the day without overthinking it. I usually get a guayaba roll to get started and then some Green Chilaquiles with sunny side up eggs on top.

Head to Casa Basalta on Calle Colima. It’s a stunning Porfirian-era house that was remodeled into a creative hub. Instead of just one shop, you can spend a couple of hours here exploring different levels. Check out MAIA Contemporary for some of the best emerging art in the city. For shopping, hit IKAL Store, which is like a high-end gallery for Mexican and Latin American design, and AMO AMY, which is probably the coolest spot for women’s streetwear and curated luxury pieces. The whole building has this great energy where art, fashion, and architecture just kind of bleed into each other.

I love Lebanese food—the vibe here is perfect, and the food is authentic. It’s full of greenery, tiles, and a cozy but modern vibe, so it feels like you’ve been transported somewhere else. It’s quiet and tucked away from the street chaos; a nice break before heading back out.

This is the gallery I work with the most in this country, and I always recommend it. The whole block is curated by the same team, so you’ll find a mix of art, objects, and clothes, all from Latin American creators.

Small menu, very well executed, delicious food (do not skip the avocado and furikake tostada!), and a great atmosphere. Fugaz is a small place with a more intimate dinner vibe, but that’s part of why I love it. It feels like a place where people who actually live here go to have a quick meal with good friends and good music.

After dinner, go next door to Fantasma for drinks: good wine, good music, and a very easy vibe. It’s the kind of place where you can just sit and talk before heading back to the hotel.

This day moves slightly away from the more touristy areas again. Narvarte and Del Valle are neighborhoods I lived in for a while, and they have a much more local feel: still young, still creative, but less exposed. Start with a good flat white, and a torta de aguacate, requesón y arúgula.

Go check out the iconic murals at the Secretaria de Educación Pública (SEP). It’s a bit of a detour, but the courtyard is packed with Diego Rivera murals. It’s much more “real” and way less crowded than the typical tourist stops. It shows you the raw, historical side of the city’s creative soul.

This is a very casual, low-key small spot, but honestly, one of the best meals in the area. I strongly recommend the veggie Tlayuda and some tetelas or guacamole as starters. One of my favorite local places in the area, it’s 10000% worth visiting.

This is an outdoor padel club that’s become a massive social hub. More than just the sport, it’s about the atmosphere here—which has a very clean, modern look. You can book a match or just grab a beer on the terrace and watch. It’s the best way to see how people in the city, both Mexicans and foreigners, actually spend their Friday afternoons.

This place was started by people who work in music and the creative scene, so the sound system is exquisite. The design leans “warm brutalist” with lots of concrete but with nice wood details. For food, I’d keep it simple: Try the Short Rib Quesabirrias. It’s comfort food, but elevated.

The area around this plaza is always alive. Go to Bar Las Brujas—it’s inside a famous “haunted” building—and order the Ritual cocktail (they use a lot of local herbs). If you want wine, walk a block to Caiman. Just order a glass of whatever Mexican natural wine they’re pouring and sit by the window.