Where To Stay In Mexico City In 2024: 7 Best Neighbourhoods – By Local Expats

We’ve been living part time in CDMX for a few years now, having happily settled in the leafy colonia of La Condesa. Before that, however, we spent several months deep diving into the different neighbourhoods to find our perfect match, trying to figure out where to stay in Mexico City longer term.

What surprised us initially was that the historic centre was not the nicest part of CDMX to stay. For first-time tourists, it may appear convenient, sure, but it’s also incredibly hectic and a bit dodgy after dark. With the wisdom of experience, we now often tell our friends to consider a wider range of factors before picking a place to stay.

In this post, we’ll explain which area to stay in Mexico City, depending on whether you’re looking for historic sights, buzzy bars, luxury living, or more of a boho vibe.

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Where To Stay In Mexico City: At A Glance

Neighbourhood	Why Stay Here	Best For	Top Hotel
#1 Roma Norte	TOP CHOICE	Nightlife lovers, foodies	Jardín Roma By The Local Way
#2 La Condesa	Residential, quiet, green	Digital nomads, families	Casa Malí by Dominion Boutique Hotel
#3 Zona Rosa	Nightlife, LGBT friendly	Partygoers	Galeria Plaza Reforma
#4 Reforma	Luxury chain hotels, central location	Lux travellers	Le Meridien
#5 Downtown	Authentic, hectic	History buffs	City Centro by Marriott
#6 Polanco	Business-y feel, luxury, museums	Lux & mature travellers	City Express Suites by Marriott
#7 Coyoacan	Traditional, authentic, small town vibe	Families	H21 Hospedaje Boutique

#1 Roma: TOP PICK, Especially Good For Nightlife & Foodies. 

LOCATION: Roma is close to the Centro Historico, Condesa, Paseo de la Reforma – pretty much all the areas we would recommend exploring. One of the safest neighborhoods to stay in Mexico City, it’s got good transportation links and a ton of places to eat out.

WHY STAY HERE: Roma Norte is, first off, a pretty part of town. Porfirio Diaz developed the area with a view to making it the Paris of Latin America, which is why so many of the buildings borrow from French-driven styles like Art Nouveau and Art Deco. 

We enjoy walking about just goggling at the property porn, which is interspersed with lovely parks like Rio De Janeiro and grand squares like Fuente de Cibeles. 

What really makes Roma one of the best neighborhoods in Mexico City to stay, however, is its restaurants and cafes. Gobble down tacos from affordable taquerias like Orinoco or more elevated Mexican cuisine at special-occasion spots like Rosetta and Blanco Colima.

Our favourite eatery of all is Madre Café, which pairs high-quality Mex dishes with expertly mixed cocktails that you can enjoy on a leafy patio.

Speaking of cocktails, Roma is also the best place to stay in Mexico City for nightlife. The most fantastic drinks we had in town were at Licorería Limantour, which lives up to its number 7 spot on the World’s 50 Best Bar list. 

After a couple of beverages at Limantour, head a couple of doors down to Supra Roma, which pairs top-notch views with top-notch tunes. Also close by is Departamento, a club designed to give off apartment party vibes. For more dancing, cross the colonia to Mama Rumba, which pumps out the Latin beats for locals to salsa to.

BEST THINGS TO DO:

BEST RESTAURANTS:

🍴 Broka – A restaurant that focuses on quality ingredients, Broka serves up our favourite ceviche and birria in town. It’s also a solid bet for veggie options. Adding to the smart experience, the tables are arranged around the central courtyard of a beautiful mansion.

🍴 Mercado Roma – The city’s premier food court, Mercado Roma’s stalls serve up a mixture of Mexican and international cuisine, from tamales to sushi. The venue has a chill vibe and a couple of bars, so it’s a great place to hang out with friends who each want a different type of dish.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN ROMA NORTE:

#2 La Condesa: Where To Stay In Mexico City For Digital Nomads & Families.

LOCATION: Just to the west of Roma, Condesa is sitting pretty on the edge of Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Forest). 

WHY STAY HERE: La Condesa is where we’ve chosen to live when we’re in CDMX because it’s got everything a digital nomad could want. More residential than Roma Norte, there are several coworking spaces as well as a ton of relaxed cafes where you can crack out the laptop and get typing. 

Our go-to hangout is Camino a Camala, which has comfy seats and some interesting speciality coffees. It’s usually not too busy, so you can just park up and work.

In our leisure time, we hit the tree-lined streets to explore the numerous contemporary art galleries and bijou independent boutiques.

One of the best areas to stay in Mexico City for convenience, Condesa has a large grocery store, a few gym options (we’re at Smart Fit for 600 MXN (28 USD) a month), and plenty of eating options on the doorstep.

Condesa is also where to stay in Mexico City for families. The neighbourhood is home to a couple of large parks and several good-sized (though admittedly often pricey) apartments and boutique hotels. 

There’s not much traffic either, making it one of the safest areas to stay in Mexico City if you have young kids who are prone to wander.

Choose a hotel near one of the parks, which come alive at weekends with group salsa classes, dog walkers, and other morsels of local life.

BEST THINGS TO DO:

BEST RESTAURANTS:

🍴 Cafe Toscano – This spot on the corner of The Parque Mexico, is one of our favourite restaurants in Condesa because it’s a great place for people-watching. We often come here for lunchtime pizzas, but they also have other popular Italian eats as well as Mexican breakfast classics.

🍴 El Pescadito – The place to go for seafood tacos, El Pescadito is a no-frills neighbourhood joint that comes with some of the tastiest prices in Condesa. Nab a spot at one of the outdoor tables if you can. There’s a self-serve salsa and salad station, so you can stuff your taco to your own tastes.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN CONDESA:

#3 Zona Rosa/ Juarez: One Of The Best Places To Stay In Mexico City For Nightlife & LGBT Community.

LOCATION: Squeezed between Roma Norte and Reforma, Zona Rosa is another central location that’s very near the downtown attractions.

WHY STAY HERE: Zona Rosa has more of a raw charm than Roma Norte or Condesa. 

Once upon a time, it was THE place to go for nightlife, and you’ll still find some evidence of that in super-trendy, hidden speakeasies like Handshake and Hanky Panky, where we’ve had some of the best cocktails in the city.

Mostly, though, the nightlife here these days is more earthy and even a little lurid. This is definitely one of the best neighbourhoods to stay in Mexico City if you want an edgier vibe.

To get a feel for the essence of Zona Rosa, we suggest heading to the pedestrianised Calle Genova. Lively and unvarnished, its lined by bars, fast-food chains, and stores selling all kinds of trinkets and gewgaws.

From here, head east along Hamburgo to where it meets Calle de Niza. Around this junction is one of our fav spots to head for no-frills street food. You’ll also find another good spot just one block over at the junction of Hamburgo and Calle Havre.

Part of what drives the party scene here is the bubbly LGBT crowds, who have colonised the Zona Rosa (aka the Pink Zone) for decades. There are gay-friendly institutions like Kinky and Tom’s Leather Bar scattered throughout the streets, as well as sex shops catering to various peccadilloes.

Zona Rosa is also where to stay in Mexico City if you have an ongoing love affair with Korean culture. Little Seoul is where we go when we have a craving for Korean barbecue, soju, or some gochujang to spice up a home-cooked meal.

BEST THINGS TO DO:

BEST RESTAURANTS:

🍴 Cafe Nin – Run by the amazing Elena Reygadas, this is the place to come for brunch. Set up inside a historic mansion, there’s a gorgeous patio where you enjoy the house’s incredible pan dulce alongside quality coffee, fresh juices, and a couple of classic cocktails.

🍴 Rouge Bohème – Giving off that casual French bistro vibe, Rouge Boheme dishes up a pan-European menu of goodies. Some of the best dishes are French classics like the onion soup and beef bourguignon, but they also do a tasty line in pastas. The octopus salad is our current fav.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN ZONA ROSA:

#4 Reforma: Best For Luxury Hotels & Convenient Location.

LOCATION: CDMX’s main thoroughfare, Reforma claims some of the city’s swankiest addresses. There are numerous iconic statues and structures along its length, from the Angel de la Independencia and the Monument a la Revolucion to the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

To get to the Historic Centre, you can hop on the ‘fancy’ (for Mexico City) double-decker tourist-oriented bus that connects Reforma to the Zocalo. 

WHY STAY HERE: Four Seasons, St. Regis, Sofitel, Ritz-Carlton – all these swish 5-star brands have their CDMX branches along Reforma. It’s easily one of the best places to stay Mexico City has to offer for travellers who like their luxury hotel chains as well as their modern creature comforts.

Reforma has the luxury vibe of Polanco while being closer to the Historic Centre and the main tourist sights. Thanks to the glass skyscrapers standing tall along the road, it’s one of the best neighbourhoods to stay in Mexico City if you like rooftop bars with unbeatable views.

The flipside to this modernity is that we find Reforma can come across as a bit generic. It’s similar to many glitzy city avenues the world over and lacks the local charm that you’ll find in Condesa, Roma Norte, or Zona Rosa.  

One of our favourite things about Reforma is that on Sundays, the hotel avenue shuts down for cyclists and runners. It’s a great way to experience the city from a local’s point of view and visit the famous places unmolested by traffic.

A lot of day trips from CDMX have meeting points around here. For example, our tour to Tolantongo had a pickup from the Angel de la Independencia monument, near the Alamo outlet, where we usually get our rental cars for day trips out of town.

BEST THINGS TO DO:

BEST RESTAURANTS:

🍴 Terraza Cha Cha Chá – On the eastern end of the Plaza de la Republica, Terraza Cha Cha Chá is one of our top recommendations for views of the Monument a la Revolucion. The menu has a strong showing for tacos and tostadas, alongside bigger plates that feature meat and seafood with plentiful Mexican spices.

🍴 Amaya – The décor here provides a lovely backdrop to an intriguing modern take on Mex cuisine, complemented by an even more fascinating wine list. The menu often undergoes tweaks, but on our most recent visit, we fell in love with the arroz con chorizo – just be aware that it takes a while to cook!

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN REFORMA:

#5 Centro Historico: The Best Area To Stay In Mexico City For History Buffs.

LOCATION: This is the old centre of town, where the ruins of Tenochtitlan are still visible amidst the later residences built during the colonial period. 

WHY STAY HERE: The Centro Historico is where to stay in Mexico City first time, since all the famous historic sites are here.

At its heart is the Plaza de la Constitución, more commonly known as the Zocalo. This town square is bordered on one side by the baroque Palacio Nacional and on the other by the Catedral Metropolitana, Latin America’s oldest and largest cathedral.

Behind the cathedral are the ruins of Tenochtitlan’s Templo Mayor (Main Temple), which is mostly ruins today, though you can learn about the site’s Mesoamerican past at the museum.

The Centro Historico is super crowded all year round with a combination of tourists and locals. If you’ve spent much time on our site, you’ll know we’re big Uber users in CDMX, but hailing a ride around here can be a nightmare because the traffic is so bad.

As a silver lining, the fact that the district thrums with chilangos means it’s one of the best areas to stay in Mexico City for an authentic vibe. We often come down here for the cultural fairs and free concerts that are regularly staged.

We also like to hang out in Alameda Central, near the beautiful Palacio de Bellas Artes building. It’s the city’s oldest public park, and every weekend it comes alive with street food, handmade accessories, and groups of families and young people just enjoying their day off.

Another reason the Centro Historico is the best area to stay in Mexico City for tourists is the markets. Mercado de San Juan is a good place to go for gourmands, and people who want to try insects dipped in chocolate, while La Ciudadela promotes the work of local artisans.

Evenings can be a little dodgy around the Zocalo, so it’s probably not the best location to stay in Mexico City with kids. Having said that, we do like coming here for the cantina-style bars serving pulque.

BEST THINGS TO DO:

BEST RESTAURANTS:

🍴 Taqueria Los Cocuyos – A bit of a celebrity on Mexico City’s taco scene thanks to Anthony Bourdain and Netflix, this taqueria serves up a mixture of classic pastor and suadero options alongside more adventurous variations like tongue, ear, snout, and gizzard. We can’t speak for all the body parts, but the tongue was excellent!

🍴 Balcon del Zocalo – Perfect for a special occasion, this stylish spot is a great place to come for dressed-up Mexican dishes. Located just off the Zocalo, the restaurant boasts amazing views of the Metropolitan Cathedral. Try and book a table as close to the edge of the balcony as possible for the best panorama.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN CENTRO HISTORICO:

#6 Polanco: Best For Luxury Travellers, Shopping & Museums.

LOCATION: A little further away from the other neighbourhoods, Polanco is on the northern side of Chapultepec Park, in its own little pocket of luxury CDMX.

WHY STAY HERE: Sometimes known as the ‘Beverly Hills of Mexico City,’ Polanco is where to stay in Mexico City if you want a taste of the lavish side of life. 

Home to embassy employees and high-flying businesspeople, it’s filled with glitzy shopping centres, modern apartment blocks, elegant mansions and boutique hotels.

We’ve noticed that more mature travellers like to stay here. That’s probably partly because most visitors that can afford the room rates are 50+, but also because it’s one of the best neighborhoods to stay in in Mexico City in terms of safety.

Shopaholics and gastronomes with cash to burn can have a field day in Polanco. Antara and Palacio de Hierro fly the flag for upmarket shopping centres, while fine-dining hotspots Quintonil and Pujol have made their mark on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. 

Aside from being the safest place to stay in Mexico City, Polanco is also home to some excellent museums. The Museum of Anthropology has an incredible collection of Mesoamerican artefacts, while the Soumaya is as famous for its stunning architecture as its era-hopping mishmash of artwork.

Although it’s not on many tourists’ itinerary, we have a soft spot for the Museo Jumex, which we last visited for a Damien Hirst exhibition. It’s free and not too big, with a smattering of modern art from around the world.

BEST THINGS TO DO:

BEST RESTAURANTS:

🍴 Taquería El Turix – You can’t say you’ve visited the capital if you haven’t tried the cochinita pibil taco at El Turix, one of the most famous taquerias in CDMX. Given the location, it’s surprisingly affordable and chill.

🍴 El Bajio Polanco – We’d recommend this spot just for the mole, which comes in several variations and is served either as the main event of as part of numerous other dishes. The restaurant has a nice, casual vibe and is right on the edge of Chapultepec Park. 

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN POLANCO:

#7 Coyoacan: Most Traditional Neighborhood To Stay In Mexico City.

LOCATION: Much further south than the other best neighborhoods to stay in Mexico City, Coyoacan can be quite a trek. If you don’t mind the journey into downtown, however, it’s a lovely location to have as a base.

WHY STAY HERE: We almost feel like we’re in Queretaro, Merida, or Valladolid every time we make the trip down to Coyoacan. This area has the same vibe as those pretty colonial towns, with picturesque, leafy streets lined by beautiful colonial architecture.

One of the safest places to stay in Mexico City, Coyoacan is dotted with green parks, fascinating museums, and some historic markets. Arguably its main claim to fame though is its association with Mexico’s most famous artist. 

This borough is where to stay in Mexico City if you’re a die-hard Frida Kahlo fan like Mal is, as it’s the area she was born, lived, and died.

Begin at Kahlo’s namesake museum, housed insider her former home. Known colloquially as the Casa Azul, it’s a bright-blue building that preserves fragments of her life and work.

Just a short walk from here is the Mercado de Coyoacan, which Kahlo often frequented. These days, it’s a great place to enjoy some street food and pick up a souvenir or two. The seafood tostadas in particular are legendary.

If you want somewhere to sit a spell, we can vouch for the Cafe Avellaneda, which has excellent coffees made from single-origin beans harvested from different regions around Mexico. We also have to tip out hats to the historic Cafe El Jarocho, which has been in business since 1953.

BEST THINGS TO DO:

BEST RESTAURANTS:

🍴 Loz Danzantes – With flavours so vivid they’ll dance on your palate, this Mexican eatery is guaranteed to give your taste buds a twirl. It’s in a great location overlooking the Jardín Centenario, with a spacious patio where you can dine al fresco.

🍴 Meson Antigua – This super colourful restaurant is in a charming part of Coyoacan. The menu covers a lot of Mex comfort food, including a more-ish queso fundido and chicken breast doused in mole. Don’t forget to order a cafe de olla here – they make it very traditional, served in pretty pottery.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN COYOACAN:

Where To Stay In Mexico City With Family

While we’d say the overall best area to stay in Mexico City with family is Condesa, being based in the Centro Historico means you won’t have to chivvy the kids across the city to see the sights. If you do decide to stay downtown, here are the place where parents and their little ones can feel at home.

Where NOT To Stay In Mexico City

It’s just as important to know where to avoid it as where to stay in Mexico City. Even if we found a huge place at a really cheap price, you wouldn’t catch us renting an Airbnb in these 4 neighbourhoods.

🚫Tepito 

Arguably the most dangerous place overall in CDMX, Tepito is like something out of a gangster movie, complete with shootings, shady dealings, and a thriving drug trade. We visited Tepito on a tour with a local that lives there and it is an interesting part of town to see, but certainly not somewhere to stay.

Tepito neighbours downtown, which makes it easy to wander into accidentally if you are exploring the northern end of the Centro Historico. We actually did this ourselves on our first visit and the change is pretty striking – and scary – so be careful where your steps lead you.

🚫Doctores

You will probably find yourself visiting the Doctores neighbourhood for one particular reason: lucha libre, the nation’s hugely popular and colourful wrestling sport. The so-called ‘Cathedral of Lucha Libre,’ Arena Mexico, is found in Doctores, just abutting Roma Norte.

We actually love the vibe in this area, which has several authentic taquerias, cantinas, and pulquerias scattered through its streets. It’s a fun region for nightlife, but the big caveat is it’s not overly safe, which is why it makes our list of places not to stay. 

🚫La Merced

Very close to downtown, La Merced is hectic, lively, and super, super busy. Prostitutes prowl the streets, which are crammed with stores. This is where locals come to do their shopping, snapping up very cheap goods from the bustling markets.

Although it’s definitely not the best district to stay in Mexico City, it is somewhere that is worth exploring if you want to see a slice of the real CDMX. We visited on a tour with an experienced local guide, and it was absolutely fascinating.

🚫Iztapalapa

A huge area that sprawls across the southeast of the capital, Iztapalapa is synonymous with deprivation and violent crime. The city authorities have invested in public programmes to try and combat the borough’s issues over the last few years, but it’s still not somewhere we would recommend staying.

We came out to Iztapalapa mainly for the cable car, aka the Cablebus, which has some cool views of Mexico City’s urban sprawl.

Where To Stay In Mexico City: FAQ

What is the best area in Mexico City to stay in?

The best neighborhood to stay in in Mexico City is probably Roma Norte. It’s well connected for all the capital’s major sights and has a buzzy food and drink scene. With its gorgeous architecture, cool boutiques, and quirky museums, there’s nothing not to love!

Where to stay away from in Mexico City?

Tepito and Iztapalapa are among the not very safe areas to stay in Mexico City. Both have a reputation for crime and a sketchy police presence. If you do want to visit these areas, we recommend only coming as part of a tour guided by a local who is very familiar with the boroughs.

How many days should I stay in Mexico City?

If you want to limit yourself to just the must-see destinations, we reckon you can probably squeeze out a whistlestop tour in about 3 days, including a trip out to Teotihuacan. If you want to really get to know the flavour of the different neighbourhoods, however, aim for a week.

What are the cheapest months to visit Mexico City?

We’ve paid the least for CDMX flights and accommodation during June and September. These are the wettest months of the year, which is why you tend to see fewer tourists filling the streets.

Is Mexico City a walkable city?

Many of the best areas to stay in Mexico City are very walkable, including Roma Norte, Condesa, and Zona Rosa, which all abut one another, making it easy to get from place to place. To reach the downtown area or Coyoacan, you’ll need to hail an Uber or use public transportation.

Is Mexico City safe?

There are lots of safe places to stay in Mexico City for tourists, but equally there are places to avoid. While we wouldn’t advise walking around alone in Tepito or Iztapalpa, districts like Polanco and Coyoacan are very secure. 

Where To Stay In Mexico City: The Wrap-Up

Deciding where to stay in Mexico City is an important decision, as it can affect the whole tenor of your trip. We’ve tried to be as transparent as possible about the pros and cons for each area; the rest is up to you!