Mexico City is a sprawling and electrifying capital where ancient Aztec heritage meets contemporary culture — a city of world-class museums and remarkable street food that rewards every curious traveller with unforgettable experiences at every turn.
Mexico: Mexico City – National Anthropology Museum
🏺 The National Museum of Anthropology — More Than You Can Handle in an Afternoon
The Museo Nacional de Antropología — the National Museum of Anthropology — sits in the western reaches of Chapultepec Park and is, by any measure, a serious museum. It holds the world’s largest collection of ancient Mexican art, which is a claim that rather undersells what’s actually inside. There are also extensive ethnographic exhibits covering Mexico’s present-day indigenous groups, spread across 23 permanent halls. You could, if you were that way inclined, spend an entire day here. We were not quite that way inclined, but we could see how it would happen.
Before you go in, be aware that they’re not keen on large bags or rucksacks, so don’t turn up loaded like a Sherpa. The good news is there’s a free bag and coat drop in the main foyer, right next to the gift shop, which is well worth a look in itself — assuming you have any pesos left by that point.
The museum is laid out around a central open plaza dominated by a rather imposing water feature. If you have young children with you, I’d suggest having a plan for this, because they will spot it immediately and head for it with the single-minded determination that only small people and Labradors can summon. Fish them out, dry them off, and prepare yourself for the next challenge, which is that this museum is not remotely interactive. There’s nothing to press, pull or climb on, which means younger visitors may find the whole thing a somewhat extended exercise in boredom.
We were lucky enough to join one of the free guided tours, which run in several languages and take about an hour, covering a couple of the exhibition halls. Highly recommended — our guide was excellent and stopped us staring blankly at things we didn’t understand, which saved a considerable amount of time.
🗿 Five Civilisations, Thousands of Years, and Aching Feet
The exhibition halls are organised around the great cultures that shaped Mexico, taking you on a journey from the very first inhabitants of the region right through to the indigenous peoples who are still very much part of Mexican life today. It’s a sweep of human history that makes the entire existence of, say, the United Kingdom feel like a brief and slightly embarrassing footnote.
Historians and archaeologists broadly agree that five major civilisations rose and flourished on Mexican soil. First came the Olmec, widely regarded as the mother culture of Mesoamerica, who were producing remarkable art and architecture along the Gulf Coast as far back as 1500 BC, which puts them comfortably ahead of most of what Europe was doing at the time. Then came the builders of Teotihuacán, a city so vast and so carefully planned that it was, for a period around 450 AD, one of the largest urban centres on the entire planet. The Toltec followed, leaving their mark across central Mexico between roughly 900 and 1150 AD. The Maya, perhaps the best known of the group outside Mexico, developed one of the ancient world’s most sophisticated civilisations across southern Mexico and into Central America, with achievements in mathematics, astronomy and writing that still impress people who actually understand that sort of thing. And finally the Aztec, who built their extraordinary island capital of Tenochtitlán — on the very spot where Mexico City now stands — and rather dominated the region until the Spanish arrived in 1519 and rather spoiled everything.
Each of these civilisations gets its own space in the museum, which gives you a sense of just how much ground there is to cover.
One of the things that strikes you fairly quickly in Mexico, if you’re paying attention, is just how profound the indigenous heritage runs. Mexico has one of the two largest indigenous populations in the entire Americas — only Peru comes anywhere close — and more than one in ten Mexicans speak an indigenous language as their first tongue. There are 56 recognised indigenous languages in the country, which puts the United Kingdom’s linguistic diversity — Welsh and a bit of Cornish if you’re lucky — firmly in its place. Around eight per cent of the population is formally classified as indigenous, though that figure tells only part of the story. The reality is that the vast majority of Mexicans carry some indigenous ancestry, whether they know it or not. The deeper you look, the more layered it all becomes.
Our tour of the museum began in the Mayan galleries, which felt like a reasonable place to start given that most of us arrive with at least a passing familiarity with the Maya. Their civilisation spread across an enormous swathe of Central America — from south-eastern Mexico through what is now Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador — and at its peak, between roughly 250 AD and 950 AD, it produced cities, mathematics, astronomy and an extraordinarily sophisticated calendar system that the internet later decided predicted the end of the world in 2012. It didn’t, obviously, but you can see why people got excited.
After 950 AD the Mayan civilisation went into a decline that historians still argue about, though a combination of drought, warfare and political collapse seems the most likely culprit. What’s remarkable, standing in these galleries, is the knowledge that this wasn’t some remote, vanished people with no living connection to the present. Many Mexicans today can trace their ancestry directly back to the Maya. It’s not ancient history in the way we tend to think of ancient history. It’s rather more personal than that.
☀️ The Aztecs — Doing Rather Well Until the Spanish Turned Up
The next stop on our tour was the Aztec galleries, and if the earlier exhibits had been impressive, these took things up a considerable notch. The Aztecs came along rather later than the Maya — their civilisation reached its peak between roughly 1250 AD and 1521 AD — which in historical terms makes them practically modern. They established themselves in the Valley of Mexico and built their capital city, Tenochtitlan, on an island in the middle of a large lake. That city is now Mexico City, which puts rather a different perspective on your morning coffee in the Zócalo.
The Aztecs were, by all accounts, extraordinarily effective warriors, and they’d built one of the most powerful empires in Mesoamerica by the time the Spanish arrived. Then Hernán Cortés turned up in 1519 with a relatively small army of conquistadores, some very useful European diseases, and an apparently limitless appetite for gold, and by 1521 it was all over. The Aztec empire collapsed with a speed that, even now, seems almost implausible.
The undisputed star of the gallery — and arguably of the entire museum — is the Sunstone. It’s an extraordinary thing. Carved from basalt, it measures 3.58 metres in diameter, stands 98 centimetres thick and weighs a frankly ludicrous 25 tons. It depicts the five consecutive worlds of the sun from Aztec mythology, rendered in extraordinary detail by people working without metal tools, which still baffles me slightly. The stone was discovered buried beneath the central plaza of Mexico City in 1790, having been lost for centuries. It would originally have lain flat on the ground and, in all likelihood, been anointed with blood sacrifices — which is not something the gift shop tends to dwell on.
Our tour wound up in the Aztec galleries, which was a perfectly reasonable place to stop — the Aztec collection alone is enough to make your brain go slightly fuzzy. The centrepiece is the famous Aztec Sun Stone, also known as the Sunstone Calendar, a vast carved basalt disc nearly four metres across and weighing around 24 tonnes, which was rediscovered buried beneath the main square of Mexico City in 1790. It is genuinely astonishing, and rather puts your average garden ornament to shame.
After the guided tour ended we did what any sensible person does in an overwhelming museum — we wandered. A purposeful sort of wandering, naturally, pausing at whatever caught our eye and moving briskly past everything else. There is a mind-boggling amount to see across all 23 halls, covering civilisations from the Olmec and the Maya through to the Toltec and beyond, each with their own extraordinary artefacts, reconstructed temples and architectural models.
The displays are, it has to be said, predominantly static — cases of artefacts, reconstructions of buildings, explanatory panels — which is magnificent if you’re an archaeologist and slightly numbing if you’ve been on your feet for three hours. After a while we reached that particular museum state where everything starts to blur into one long parade of impressive things that you’re no longer quite taking in. It happens to the best of us.
The honest truth is that this is a museum you really need to visit more than once to do it anything like justice. We did our best, which is all anyone can say.
Planning Your Visit
📍 Location
Museo Nacional de Antropología (National Museum of Anthropology) Avenida Paseo de la Reforma y Calzada Gandhi s/n Colonia Chapultepec Polanco Delegación Miguel Hidalgo C.P. 11560, Mexico City, Mexico
🚇 How to Get There
By Metro: The nearest stations are Metro Auditorio (Line 7) and Metro Chapultepec (Line 1). The museum is approximately 1.3 km from both stations.
By Metrobús: The Antropología stop on Metrobús Line 7 serves the museum directly.
By Bicycle: Mexico City’s ECOBICI public bicycle-hire scheme can be used to plan a route to the museum. Bicycle parking is available beneath the main concourse.
By Taxi or Rideshare: The museum is easily accessible by taxi or app-based rideshare services such as Uber, with a straightforward drop-off point on Paseo de la Reforma.
🌐 Website
📞 Contact Telephone
+52 (55) 4040 5300
Visitor Information Extension: 412309 Box Office Extension: 412322
✉️ Email
General enquiries: mna.inah@gob.mx
🎟️ Entry Fees
General admission (international visitors): $210 MXN
National visitors and foreign residents in Mexico: $105 MXN
Free admission applies to:
- Mexican citizens on Sundays
- Children under 13 years of age (Mexican nationals)
- Mexican students, teachers, and senior citizens with valid identification
- People with disabilities
Tickets may be purchased in advance online at ventadeboletosenlinea.inah.gob.mx
🕘 Opening Times
Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm (Last entry approximately 6:30 pm)
Closed: Mondays, 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December
Free guided tours are available Tuesday to Saturday at 10:30, 12:30, 13:30, and 15:00. Tours are conducted in Spanish, English, and French, and are subject to guide availability. To book, enquire at the visitor information desk on arrival, or contact the museum in advance by telephone.
Getting Around Mexico City
Mexico City (CDMX) is one of the world’s great megacities — sprawling, vibrant, and surprisingly easy to navigate once you know what you’re doing. With over 21 million people in the greater metropolitan area, transport options are plentiful, ranging from one of the world’s busiest metro systems to app-based taxis and even cable cars. Here’s everything you need to know about getting in and getting around.
✈️ Arriving: Know Your Airport
Mexico City is served by two international airports, and confusing them is a surprisingly common — and costly — mistake.
Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX/AICM) is the main hub, located just 13 km east of the historic centre. The vast majority of international flights land here. It has two terminals — Terminal 1 (older, busier) and Terminal 2 (more modern) — connected by a free shuttle and the Metro.
Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU/AIFA) is the newer, secondary airport, situated around 45 km north of the city centre in the State of Mexico. It primarily handles budget domestic carriers such as Volaris and VivaAerobus, along with some regional international routes. Always double-check your airport code before travelling — MEX and NLU are on opposite sides of the city and a transfer between them takes upwards of 90 minutes.
🚇 From MEX Airport into the City
By Metro: The cheapest option by far. Terminal 1 is directly connected to the Metro system (Line 5, Hangares station). A single ride costs around 5 pesos (roughly 20p). However, it’s not recommended if you’re travelling with large luggage or during rush hour — the carriages get extremely crowded.
By Metrobús: Line 4 connects both terminals to the city centre. It’s more comfortable than the Metro with luggage and costs 6 pesos per journey using a travel card.
By Uber or DiDi: The most practical option for most visitors. Download the app before you travel, and request your ride once you’re in the arrivals hall. Fares into central neighbourhoods such as Roma, Condesa, or Polanco typically range from 150–300 pesos (£6–£12), depending on traffic. Avoid accepting offers from drivers who approach you inside the terminal.
By Official Airport Taxi: Pre-paid taxi desks are located in the arrivals area of both terminals. Purchase your ticket at the booth before proceeding to the taxi rank. Fares are fixed by zone. This is safe and straightforward, though slightly pricier than app-based rides. Do not accept a ride from anyone who approaches you without a pre-paid ticket.
🚌 From AIFA Airport into the City
AIFA’s location makes it a longer journey into the city centre, so plan your time accordingly.
By Train (Tren Felipe Ángeles): Launched in April 2026, this new commuter rail service connects AIFA directly to Buenavista station in the north of Mexico City. The journey takes around 40–50 minutes, and from Buenavista you can connect to the Metro and Metrobús network. A promotional fare of 45 pesos applies for the airport leg. This is now the quickest and most reliable public transport option from AIFA.
By Bus (Aerofaro Shuttle): A shuttle service runs from AIFA arrivals to Buenavista station, from where you can connect to the wider Metro network. Budget approximately 90–120 minutes total travel time to central areas.
By Uber or DiDi: Available from AIFA, but journey times into the city centre can be 60–90 minutes or more depending on traffic. Expect fares of 400–600 pesos (£16–£24).
🚇 The Metro (Sistema de Transporte Colectivo)
The Metro is the backbone of public transport in Mexico City — one of the largest metro systems in the Americas with 12 lines and 195 stations spanning over 200 kilometres. It’s fast, efficient, and extraordinarily affordable at just 5 pesos (roughly 20p) per journey, regardless of distance.
Most major tourist attractions — the Zócalo, Chapultepec Park, Coyoacán, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes — are easily reachable by Metro. The system uses a combination of numbers and colour-coded lines, and each station has its own distinctive icon (helpful if you’re still finding your feet with Spanish).
Tips for visitors:
- Avoid rush hour (7:00–9:00 and 17:00–19:00) — carriages become extremely crowded and pickpocketing risk increases
- Keep valuables secure and avoid using your phone openly
- Look out for carriages reserved for women and children, marked with pink signs — these are particularly in force during peak hours
- Purchase a Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada (MI Card) for 15 pesos; this rechargeable card works across the Metro, Metrobús, Cablebús, light rail, and trolleybus networks
🚌 Metrobús
The Metrobús is a network of articulated buses that run in dedicated lanes, making them faster than standard city buses. There are several lines covering key corridors, including the famous Avenida Insurgentes (Line 1 — one of the longest bus rapid transit routes in the world) and Avenida Reforma. A journey costs 6 pesos and requires a travel card to board.
The Metrobús is particularly useful for travelling along the main north–south and east–west axes of the city, and connects conveniently with the Metro at many interchange points. Line 4 also serves both terminals at Benito Juárez Airport.
🚡 Cablebús (Cable Car)
One of Mexico City’s most distinctive and photogenic forms of transport, the Cablebús is a network of cable car lines operating in the hillier outskirts of the city. There are currently three lines, primarily serving working-class neighbourhoods in the east and south that have limited Metro access.
While not a practical daily commuter option for most visitors staying in central neighbourhoods, taking a ride on the Cablebús — particularly Line 1 in Iztapalapa — offers spectacular panoramic views across the city and a glimpse of everyday life beyond the tourist trail. Fares are 7 pesos with a travel card.
📱 Ride-Hailing Apps: Uber, DiDi & Cabify
For many visitors, app-based rides represent the sweet spot between safety, convenience, and value. Uber is the most widely used and reliable, with a large fleet and consistent pricing. DiDi (a Chinese-owned competitor) often undercuts Uber on price and is widely available. Cabify is another reputable option, particularly favoured for longer journeys.
All three apps show you the route, the fare, and the driver’s details before you confirm — a significant safety advantage over hailing a taxi on the street. You’ll need mobile data, so consider purchasing a local SIM card or setting up an eSIM before or upon arrival.
App-based rides are especially recommended for: journeys after dark, trips to and from bus terminals or the airport with luggage, and any destination not conveniently served by the Metro.
🌐 uber.com | didiglobal.com | cabify.com
🚕 Taxis
Mexico City has one of the largest taxi fleets in the world, and the iconic pink-and-white cabs are a familiar sight on every street. However, visitors should exercise caution.
Do not hail taxis from the street. Unofficial taxis — known colloquially as “piratas” — can pose safety risks and overcharge passengers.
Sitio taxis (taxis from authorised stands) are the recommended on-street option. They are registered, carry fixed fares, and can be found at airports, hotels, shopping centres, and major tourist sites. You can also ask your hotel or restaurant to call a registered taxi for you.
For most practical purposes, using Uber or DiDi is safer and simpler than locating a trustworthy sitio taxi.
🚲 Ecobici (Bike Share)
For visitors staying in central neighbourhoods — Roma, Condesa, Polanco, Juárez, or Centro Histórico — Ecobici is a genuinely excellent way to cover short distances without sitting in traffic. The network has over 689 stations and nearly 10,000 bikes, making it one of the most extensive bike-share systems in the Americas.
Rides of up to 45 minutes are included in the subscription fee, and you can return the bike to any station. Day passes start at around $5 USD (approximately £4), with three-day and weekly options also available. Registration is done via the app or website — no passport or lengthy paperwork required at modern stations, just a credit card. The MI Card also links to your Ecobici account.
Sundays are a particularly good day to cycle — Avenida Reforma is closed to traffic and given over entirely to cyclists and pedestrians.
🚌 Long-Distance Buses (for Day Trips & Onward Travel)
If you’re planning to visit nearby cities — Puebla, Oaxaca, Guadalajara, or Teotihuacán — Mexico City’s long-distance bus network is excellent. The main terminals are:
- TAPO (Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente) — east of the city, served by Metro Line 1 (San Lázaro station). Good for Puebla, Oaxaca, and the Gulf Coast.
- Terminal Central del Norte — north of the city, reached via Metro Line 5. Good for Guadalajara, Querétaro, and the northern states.
- Terminal Poniente — west of the city (Metro Line 1, Observatorio station). Good for Toluca and western destinations.
ADO is the premier intercity bus operator, offering comfortable, air-conditioned coaches with allocated seating. Booking online in advance is recommended for popular routes.
🚶 Walking
Do not overlook the simplest option. Several of Mexico City’s best neighbourhoods reward leisurely exploration on foot. Roma Norte and Roma Sur, Condesa, Centro Histórico, Coyoacán, Polanco, and San Ángel are all walkable districts with plenty to see at street level. The altitude (2,240 metres above sea level) may leave you slightly breathless at first — take it steadily on your first day or two.
🗺️ Useful Apps for Getting Around
- Google Maps — reliable for Metro, Metrobús, and walking directions
- Moovit — excellent for real-time public transport updates and route planning
- Metro CDMX — detailed Metro map, station information, and journey times
- Uber / DiDi / Cabify — essential for ride-hailing
- Ecobici — for bike-share planning and unlocking bikes
💳 The MI Card (Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada)
If you plan to use public transport more than once or twice, the MI Card is well worth picking up. It costs just 15 pesos and can be topped up with credit to use across the Metro, Metrobús, Cablebús, light rail, and trolleybus networks. It also links to the Ecobici bike-share system. Cards are available at Metro stations and Metrobús stops throughout the city. There is a maximum balance of 500 pesos on the card at any one time.
Mexico City’s transport network is, in truth, one of its great assets — vast, affordable, and remarkably well-connected for a city of its size. With a little planning and the right apps on your phone, getting around is far less daunting than the map might initially suggest.
The best time to visit Mexico City
🌸 Spring – Dry Season (March to May)
Spring is widely regarded as the finest time to visit Mexico City. The rainy season has not yet arrived, temperatures are pleasantly warm, and the city buzzes with cultural energy. Daytime highs hover between 22°C and 26°C, with cool evenings that rarely dip below 10°C. Skies are predominantly clear, making it ideal for exploring open-air sites such as Teotihuacán, the Zócalo, and Chapultepec Park.
March and April bring Semana Santa (Holy Week), one of Mexico’s most important religious observances, when the city fills with processions and festivities. Crowds are noticeable but not overwhelming outside of the Easter weekend peak. May sees temperatures climbing and the humidity building ahead of the summer rains — visit early in the month for the best of the season.
What to pack: Lightweight layers, a light jacket for evenings, breathable walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a reusable water bottle. A compact umbrella is useful from late April.
⛈️ Summer – Wet Season (June to August)
Summer brings the rainy season, though this need not be a deterrent. Rain typically falls in concentrated afternoon and evening downpours lasting one to two hours, leaving mornings largely clear and pleasant. Temperatures remain mild — generally 18°C to 24°C — and the city’s parks and surrounding valleys turn a vivid green. Hotel rates are often lower, and the city’s cultural calendar remains full, with exhibitions, concerts, and street festivals running throughout the season.
The main inconvenience is the afternoon rain, which can cause traffic disruption and occasional flooding in low-lying areas. Planning outdoor activities for the morning is the sensible approach. July and August also coincide with school holidays in Mexico, so family-orientated attractions tend to be busier.
What to pack: A compact waterproof jacket or poncho, quick-dry clothing, waterproof footwear or sandals, light layers, insect repellent, and a small daypack with a dry bag for electronics.
🍂 Autumn – Transition Season (September to November)
Autumn is one of the most atmospheric and culturally rewarding times to visit. September marks the beginning of the end of the rainy season, with rainfall gradually tapering through October and drying considerably by November. Temperatures settle between 15°C and 22°C — cooler than summer but still comfortable during the day.
November is the undoubted highlight of the autumn season. Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), celebrated on 1 and 2 November, transforms Mexico City into a spectacle of marigold-draped altars, candlelit processions, and vibrant public gatherings. The Zócalo and Mixquic are especially dramatic. Tourist numbers are rising but the city retains a more relaxed atmosphere compared with peak winter months.
What to pack: A warm layer or light wool jumper, a waterproof jacket for early September, comfortable walking shoes, festival-appropriate clothing for Día de Muertos, and a camera or smartphone with ample storage.
❄️ Winter – Dry Season (December to February)
Winter is the driest period in Mexico City and brings some of the clearest skies of the year, making it excellent for photography and open-air excursions. Daytime temperatures range from around 18°C to 20°C, though cold fronts known as nortes can push overnight temperatures close to or below 5°C, particularly in January and February.
December is the busiest and most festive month, centred on Las Posadas (16–24 December), Christmas, and New Year. The city is richly decorated, markets are in full swing, and the atmosphere is convivial. January and February are considerably quieter, representing something of a hidden gem — dry, clear, and calm, without the holiday crowds.
What to pack: A medium-weight coat or insulated jacket, warm layers for evenings and early mornings, a scarf, comfortable smart-casual clothing for festive events, and good walking shoes or boots.
📊 Season at a Glance
✅ Overall Best Time to Visit
The optimum time to visit Mexico City is from late October through to early May, taking in the tail end of autumn and the full dry season. Within that window, November stands out for its extraordinary cultural richness — Día de Muertos is a once-in-a-lifetime experience — whilst March and April offer the finest combination of weather, manageable crowds, and vibrant street life. Travellers seeking quieter streets and crisp clear skies will find January and February particularly rewarding. Mexico City rewards visits at almost any time of year given its altitude, which moderates temperatures year-round, but avoiding the peak of the wet season in June and July will make outdoor exploration considerably more enjoyable.
Vegan Dining in Mexico City
Mexico City has transformed into one of Latin America’s most exciting destinations for plant-based eating. From buzzing street-food carts in Roma Norte to cosy neighbourhood cafés, the city offers an extraordinary range of fully vegan options that rival — and often surpass — their meat-based counterparts.
🌮 Por Siempre Vegana Taquería — Food Cart & Restaurant
One of the most famous names in Mexico City’s vegan scene, Por Siempre Vegana has built a devoted following for its authentic Mexican street tacos made entirely from plants. The menu is extensive, featuring classics such as al pastor, barbacoa, chicharrón, suadero, and bistek — all crafted from soya, seitan, or wheat protein. Sweet treats like cupcakes and doughnuts round off the offering. The original food cart operates on a pavement in Roma Norte and gets very busy at peak times, with queues sometimes stretching to 30 minutes. A sit-down taquería location on Coahuila opened subsequently.
- Location: Food cart: Calle Manzanillo 18, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 CDMX. Taquería: Coahuila 169, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 CDMX
- Website: porsiempreveganataqueria.com (best reached via Instagram: @porsiempreveganataqueria)
- Phone: +52 55 6116 6266
- Opening hours:
- Food cart: Mon–Sat 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- Taquería: Mon–Sat 2:00 pm – midnight; Sun closed
🌸 La Pitahaya Vegana — Restaurant
La Pitahaya Vegana is instantly recognisable for its iconic pink tortillas, tinted with beetroot and chard, which have made it something of a social media sensation. The menu goes far beyond aesthetics, however — dishes such as Baja tacos, mole mixteco, enfrijoladas, enchiladas, and a pink tofu burger are all prepared with fresh organic ingredients and a genuine commitment to sustainability (the kitchen composts organic waste and recycles inorganics). The bilingual menu and friendly, English-speaking staff make it welcoming to international visitors, and delivery across Mexico City is available. The restaurant is small, so arrive early to secure a seat.
- Location: Calle Querétaro 90, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 CDMX (second location: Miguel A. de Quevedo 353, Mercado Roma Coyoacán)
- Website: lapitahayavegana.mx
- Phone: +52 55 3902 7792
- Opening hours (Roma Norte):
- Mon, Wed–Fri: 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Sat–Sun: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Closed Tuesday
🍔 Forever Vegano — Restaurant
Forever Vegano (also known simply as “Forever”) is a well-established all-vegan restaurant in Roma Norte with a boho, psychedelic-chic aesthetic that makes it popular for brunch, dates, and casual dinners alike. The menu takes a creative, plant-based approach to Mexican and fusion cooking — standout dishes include the Forever burger made from beans, raw coastal ceviche with coconut, mushroom aguachile, tacos al pastor with marinated mushrooms, and vegan pizza. Cocktails and craft beverages complement the food nicely. A second branch is located in the Polanco neighbourhood. The restaurant is dog-friendly and offers outdoor dining.
- Location: Calle Guanajuato 54, esquina Mérida, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 CDMX
- Website: forevervegano.com
- Phone: +52 55 6726 0975
- Opening hours:
- Mon–Sat: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Sun: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
☕ Café Vegetal — Café
Café Vegetal is a much-loved, fully vegan café with a warm, cosy atmosphere perfect for a slow breakfast or a working lunch. Its menu spans sweet and savoury ground — expect pancakes, chilaquiles, scrambled tofu, molletes, cinnamon rolls, a wide selection of cakes, and a thoughtfully curated drinks list featuring organic coffee, matcha, almond smoothies, and kombucha. The interiors — wooden furniture, lush greenery — create an inviting neighbourhood feel. Two locations serve the city: one in Narvarte Poniente and one in Coyoacán, not far from the Frida Kahlo Museum. The café is pet-friendly and offers outdoor seating.
- Location:
- Narvarte: Enrique Rébsamen 364, Narvarte Poniente, Benito Juárez, 03020 CDMX
- Coyoacán: Av. Río Churubusco 310, local C, Del Carmen, Coyoacán, 04100 CDMX
- Website: cafevegetal.com
- Phone: Not publicly listed — contact via Instagram @cafevegetalmx
- Opening hours:
- Tue–Sun: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Closed Monday
🐟 Paxil – Plant Based Seafood — Food Cart
Paxil is one of the most talked-about and original vegan food stalls in Mexico City, drawing visitors from around the world for its entirely plant-based take on Mexican coastal seafood cuisine. The owner has developed remarkable techniques to recreate the flavours and textures of the sea — tomato becomes raw tuna, various mushrooms stand in for fish, and the results are genuinely astonishing. The menu includes fish tacos, tostadas with “vegatún,” the signature Paxil taco, the Takeshi (a sushi-inspired dish with nori, rice and tamarind sauce), zarandeado, ceviche, and vegan fish and chips. The bright blue and white stall is hard to miss, and queues form quickly at weekends.
- Location: Orizaba 83 (4th stall), Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 CDMX
- Website: Instagram: @paxil.plantbasedseafood (no standalone website)
- Phone: +52 55 3035 5144
- Opening hours:
- Mon, Wed–Sun: 1:30 pm – 7:00 pm
- Closed Tuesday
🌯 María Bonita Veganos — Food Cart
María Bonita Veganos is a beloved vegan street-food stall in Roma Norte, celebrated for its hearty, affordable, and deeply flavourful food. The menu is a highlight reel of Mexican street classics — massive burritos, tortas (particularly the crispy milanesa torta, a firm favourite), gringas, tacos, hamburgers, and hot dogs, all made with alt-meat substitutes. Daily rotating lunch specials offer a soup, main, salad, and drink at very reasonable prices. The portions are generous, the staff are friendly, and there is a small counter where you can eat on the spot, or you can take your food to nearby Plaza Río de Janeiro.
- Location: Calle Durango 65, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 CDMX
- Website: Instagram: @mariabonita.veganos (no standalone website)
- Phone: +52 55 8863 5880
- Opening hours:
- Daily: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm (hours may vary — check Instagram for upd
Where to stay in Mexico City
1. City Centro Cuidad de Mexico
City Centro by Marriott Ciudad de México sits in the historic heart of Mexico City, on Republica de Uruguay in the Centro district. The building has real heritage credentials — it was designed by the Mariscal brothers, the same architects behind the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the original ceilings, floors and one of the city’s oldest lifts are still in place. The hotel has 44 rooms, an outdoor rooftop pool, a gym, a restaurant and a bar. Madero Street and the Torre Latinoamericana are a short walk away, and Benito Juárez International Airport is around ten minutes by car. It is a solid, characterful mid-range option for travellers who want to be close to the main sights without staying in a bland business hotel.
2. Hotel Villa Condesa
Hotel Villa Condesa is a small boutique hotel with 15 rooms, set in a converted mansion in Roma Norte, one of Mexico City’s most liveable neighbourhoods. The area is walkable, lined with tree-shaded streets, independent restaurants and cafés, and is well connected by metro. Rooms are individually decorated with classic touches — wooden floors, sash windows — and the better ones include balconies overlooking the interior courtyard. Breakfast is included and well regarded by guests. There is an on-site restaurant serving Mexican and international dishes, a rooftop terrace, a garden, and bike rental for those who want to explore the city under their own steam. Staff consistently receive strong reviews for being attentive and helpful. Chapultepec Park and Paseo de la Reforma are both within easy reach on foot.
3. Hotel MX Roma
Hotel MX Roma sits on Calle Mérida 81 in Roma Norte, one of Mexico City’s most appealing neighbourhoods for eating, drinking, and general wandering. Part of the Wyndham Trademark Collection, it is a four-star, smoke-free property with 46 air-conditioned rooms, a rooftop terrace, a gym, and a squash court. Free breakfast and Wi-Fi are included, and there is paid parking on site. The location earns consistently high marks from guests — Insurgentes metro station is a short walk away, and the restaurant Rosetta is practically on the doorstep. It is not a large or lavish hotel, but as a well-priced, well-placed base for exploring the city, it does the job reliably well..
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