Now that we've made our way through some of my Mexico City favorites and come to a mutual understanding of how outstanding this city is, I would be remiss if I didn't dedicate a post to the gorgeous neighborhoods we "lived in" and loved. Our hotel was located in La Condesa and we spent an equal amount of time eating and drinking in Roma.
La Condesa is actually made up of three colonias: Hipódromo Condesa is the funky art deco area, while Roma + Roma Norte are considered the Soho of Mexico City with lofty tree lined avenues and luxurious residences. These colonias lend pretty parks, bohemian cafes, cozy bistros, hip cocktail dens and fascinating architecture. Hipódromo or Roma Norte are posh home bases for exploring the continents largest city.
I found our accommodations through my favorite boutique hotel booking site: Tablet. They have poetic write ups and dreamy photos for each hotel and AR 218's spoke to me. A stylish all-suite hotel offers a glimpse of what it might be like to live here, right in the middle of the action. Swanning through your apartment, sipping a café con leche, you live here now! Step outside into the cool and colorful streets of Condesa - where there’s more to see, hear, and taste than you can squeeze into a single visit."
That is exactly what we loved about this hotel, and how we treated our time here.
AR 218's modern suites are sleek and industrial-inspired with soothing pale concrete walls and hardwood floors. Our standard studio with a terrace was remarkably spacious including a fully equipped kitchenette, comfy Ralph Lauren bedding and a big marble shower. Additionally, I loved the floor to ceiling, wall to wall mirror in the kitchen and the circular mirrors that dotted the space over the headboard.
Alfoso Reyes 218
Cuauhtemoc, Hipódromo Condesa,
06100 Ciudad de Mexico, D.F., Mexico
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Felina Bar | Hipódromo Condesa
Felina's proximity to our hotel made it an easy choice for our first venture upon arrival to DF; although this is not a bar you are going to stumble upon just wandering the neighborhood. We had it on a recommendation list and felt like in-the-know travelers when we strolled by the corner space with no signage, peered in, turned around and entered what felt like someone's mid-century modern apartment. The space is dark and intimate with comfortable banquet seating backed by funky scalloped wallpaper. A tiny wet bar is situated the corner. They shake up cocktails specializing in mezcal and rum and offer a small but impressive menu of snacks and tostadas. The bruschetta we had were delicious!
// T.W. Julep ($115) mezcal tantito, tequiliana weber, limon amarillo, rude macerada y agua de azucar // Manhattan ($115) whiskey jack daniel's, vermut rojo y bitters de naranja // Bruschetta de Tomate ($45) albahaca, aceite de oilva // Bruschetta de Kale ($45) pimiento confitado y bilbania.
Prices are in PESOS. Essentially those are $5 cocktails and $2 Tostadas. How do you not instantly fall in love with city where your first cocktail is $5!?
Calle Ometusco 87
Cuauhtemoc, Hipódromo
06100 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
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Fonda Fina | Roma Norte
We had an impressive dinner featuring regional Mexican cuisine at Fonda Fina. The staff was warm, welcoming and took great care of us. This place is consistently receiving rave reviews from the community and I would concur with them!
A favorite dish here was the peneques rellenos de requesón which are crispy fried tortillas stuffed with requesón cheese (similar to ricotta cheese) sitting in a warm bath of green pipián - a type of mole made with pumpkin seeds, garnished with Chiapas cheese, avocado cubes, pumpkin seeds, a drizzle of Mexican table cream and nasturtium leaves.
Fonda Fina
Medellín 79
Cuauhtemoc, Roma Nte
06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
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La Capital | Hipódromo
Another delicious meal with polished service and superb cocktails was had at La Capital. Located a five minute walk from AR 218 it was an ideal spot to relax after a long Dia de los Muertos spent gallivanting the city. In that adorable clay cauldron I had a mezcal concoction with coconut, lime, lemon, and grapefruit and it was one of the best cocktails I drank on this trip! I also enjoyed a tangy ceviche, a comforting bowl of tortilla soup poured table-side, and a classic Conchinita Pibil (Pulled Pork) entrée.
Nuevo León 137
Cuauhtémoc, Hipódromo Condesa
06140 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
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Alekzander | Roma Norte
On Sunday evening we tried to get into Limantour, a cocktail bar recommended time and again as being one of the best - a must visit in Rome Norte. To our disappointment the bar was three people deep and they had no available tables. We wandered a few doors down into a global inspired restaurant with an amazing ambiance and were so happy we did! Alekzander features a "cocina de mundo" (world cuisine) menu offering Italian bruschettas, Spanish tortillas, Argentinian empanadas, and terrific salads, so it was a like-able change of pace. The restaurant was softly lit and fairly busy, I borrowed the good looking interior photos from AFAR. I seem to have also neglected to take any food shots this time around! Regardless, this is another solid spot to check out in Roma Norte if you're feeling like it's okay venture away from Mexican food!
Alekzander
Av. Álvaro Obregón 130
Cuauhtémoc, Roma Nte.
06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
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Bósforo | Centro
photo above is the view from the tiny mezzanine space, borrowed from Eater.
I'm taking us out of Hipódromo and Roma into Centro for a shoutout to Bosforo. This is perhaps the hippest Mezcal Bar, tucked away on a dark side street. The bartender did not speak English but I somehow asked in Spanish for a mezcal tasting; she happily complied, and I ordered the one I liked best. I pretty much drank mezcal or a mezcal cocktail every where we went, but this intimate bar playing funky music was the best place to do it! You'll come for one drink and want to linger for five. Much like Mexico City itself - you'll come for four days and want to stay a lifetime!
Luis Moya 31
Cuauhtémoc, Centro
Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Townsman. Chef Matt Jennings chic New England brassiere where food and cocktails are devoured with utter delight. (If you are a regular reader, you know it is one of my go-to spots!)
