Nobody really warns you about Mexico City. The thing is, more people should be.
Aztec foundations under colonial cathedrals under mid-century modernism under whatever’s happening on the street below your balcony. The layers don’t fight each other. They coexist, matter-of-factly, the way only a place with real roots and history can pull off. The Mexican people haven’t archived their culture. They’re living inside it. You instantly feel that the moment you land.
We went in with a loose itinerary and came out obsessed.
What got us wasn’t the obvious stuff… though the obvious stuff is genuinely great. It was the texture. The way a neighborhood park fills on a Saturday like a proper event. The way the coffee scene is serious without getting pretentious about it. The way a city this size (were talking 22 milli individuals) somehow still feels like something a human built for other humans.
People call it the New York of Latin America. We’d flip that. New York wishes it had this weather. New York doesn’t have parks like Bosque de Chapultepec. And the people here — warmer, more generous, more interested in you — it’s not even close.
Its important to note that we felt safe the whole time. We walked everywhere. We rode. We ate everything. We walked the streets late after a few drinks.
About the eating: Mexican cuisine is some of the best in the world. Not in a ‘great travel food’ way. In a this-is-a-serious-culinary-tradition-that-deserves-real-respect kind of way. From a taco al pastor at a street counter at midnight to a five-hour lunch in Condesa, the food holds at every level. Don’t skip the mezcal/tequila either.
The cycling infrastructure is honestly great. It has caught up fast. Dedicated lanes, a functional bike-share, and enough topography to keep things honest. The city rewards people who move through it slowly. We moved through it slowly.
//THE MAP
We’ve put together an interactive map below — restaurants and bars worth your time, coffee shops worth a detour, and a couple of rides that show you the city properly and test your ability.
This map stays alive. We’ll add places, pull others, keep it current. If you know a spot that belongs on here, tell us (put it in the comments or send us an email!). These maps are built by the GRAVITYHILL community, for the GRAVITYHILL community. That’s the whole point.
Find the map here (or click the image): CDMX
//EAT
Rosetta
Our favourite meal in the city. Chef Elena Reyes does something that sounds simple and isn’t — Mexican ingredients, European precision, a room that feels considered without feeling stiff. The service matches the food. Both are exceptional. Book ahead.
Sarde
Small, dark, and fish-forward. You need a reservation and you should make one. The kind of place that seats maybe thirty people and somehow feels like a secret anyway. Everything that came out of that kitchen held our attention.
El Tigre Silencioso
The opposite of quiet, despite the name. Loud, full of energy, great vibe. The food earns the room. Go with people.
Tres Tonala
Doesn’t need a hook. Just a genuinely good meal in a city full of them. Sometimes that’s enough.
Mendl’s
Beautiful space, delicatessen sensibility, great brunch. The kind of room you stay in longer than planned.
Taco Orinoco
A few locations around the city. Go to whichever is closest. Very good. Thats all there is to it.
Taco del Valle
Draws lines. Long ones. It’s as good as Orinoco but Del Valle is way more popular. Go early or go patient.
Churro El Muro
The most famous churro spot in the city. Everyone points you toward it. They’re right. Don’t skip it.
Maximo
The splurge. Budget for it, plan for it, don’t apologize for it. Worth every peso.
//DRINK
Handshake
Ranked the second best bar in the world and it earns it. Reserve ahead — walk-ins don’t happen. You get ninety minutes. Use all of them. The best cocktails we’ve ever had (try the Caprese).
Bar Mauro
Italian bones, 1970s bar energy, the kind of negroni that makes you question every negroni you’ve had before it. Draws locals and the people who know to look for it. Both groups are right.
Limantour
For the long night. Full bar, no rush, good for losing track of time in the best way. A different gear entirely from Handshake — which isn’t a knock.
//CAFE
Buna
Our go-to. A few locations across the city, always full of people with laptops and nowhere to be. The best coffee we had in Mexico City. Sit down, order again, stay too long.
Tormenta
Looks like a food truck with a rocket espresso machine bolted to it. Which is exactly what it is. The coffee is a 10. Grab it, start walking. This one’s built for the ride.
Rosetta Panadería
The bakery sibling of the restaurant. Come for the coffee, stay for whatever’s coming out of the kitchen. It’s busy. Go anyway.
Quentin
Full third wave. Small room, serious about what it’s doing. If that’s your register, this is your spot. It works.
All four earn a stop before a ride. All four earn a stop after one too.
//RIDE
We haven’t rolled these ourselves to be honest. Unfortunately, this wasn’t that kind of trip. They’re on the list. We did do our research tho, and these two are worth your time.
Download the routes here via GOOGLE DRIVE(all these routes are a .gpx file). Drop it in Komoot, Strava, or whatever you’re riding with:
NOTES:
Mexico City sits at 2,200 meters above sea level. Your legs will feel it. Your lungs will feel it more. Give yourself a day to adjust before you go hard.
The dedicated bike lane infrastructure is genuinely good. The traffic is insane. Both things are true at the same time. Stay alert, ride like the city is alive around you…because it is.
Need a bike? The Service Course CDMX rents and knows their stuff. Several spots around the city also run organized group rides in the early morning — the best way to learn the roads fast and meet people who actually know them.
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