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Mexico City: In Context

Traveling to Mexico City "in Context" means immersing yourself in its rich layers of history, culture, and everyday life beyond the typical tourist trail. It’s about wandering vibrant neighborhoods where Aztec heritage meets colonial charm, savoring flavors that tell centuries-old stories, and feeling the city’s vibrance in its art, music, and markets.

At Context Travel, we take you to the heart of Mexico City—unveiling hidden narratives, introducing you to local traditions, and curating experiences that stay with you long after your trip. Our expert guides help you connect with the city’s authentic spirit, celebrating its treasures both well-known and tucked away.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Bites of Mexico City

Mexico City Neighborhoods

Local Shops

Family Activities

Read, Watch & Listen 

Get the Google Map

Mexico City Experiences

Meet Your Context Guides

Raquel

Raquel Del Castillo

FOOD WRITER

Raquel Del Castillo has been a food writer since 2007. She was editor in chief of Menú, and her work has been featured on Eater, OpenTable, 7 Caníbales, Gourmet de México, Forbes online, Munchies (Vice Mexico), chilango.com, and the national newspaper Milenio. She studied culinary arts and communication at university, and now she mixes her knowledge of cooking and writing in her everyday work. She loves teaching recipes and leading tours to the local markets of Mexico City. 

Jens

Jens Tillmanns

HISTORIAN

Jens has worked and studied in Mexico, Germany, Italy, Ghana, and the United States. In 1997, he moved from Berlin to Mexico after graduating from Freie Universität Berlin with a degree in Latin American Studies and Political Science. Jens loves to show you the vitality of his adopted home city. His particular interest lies in the amazing cultural fusion and the historic roots of this vibrant metropolis. Since his first visit as a backpacker in 1987, Jens has been in love with Mexico, its culture, traditions, and history.

Natalia

Natalia Zerbato

ART HISTORIAN

Natalia is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but chose Mexico as her home and her field of research. During her 'Production and Patterns' degree at SENAI/Cetiqt in Rio, much of her studies focused on Mexican arts and costume to complement her research on Frida Kahlo's clothes. In 2014 she officially moved to CDMX after finishing her final project on the Tehuantepec dress. While in Mexico, Natalia has worked with fashion designers and has studied Mexican arts, history and literature.

Bites of Mexico City

Discover Mexico City's mouthwatering cuisine and the best places to savor it.

Limosneros

 

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Adventurous takes on classic Mexican fare

"If you are in for a sensory experiences in each dish, at Limosneros you will find what you are looking for. Artisanal Mexican ingredients preserve the gastronomic traditions of Mexico with the fusion of contemporary techniques. My favorites are their Huitlacoche dishes. Here you will have to reserve a table."

 

Jens, Historian

El Cuatro 20

 

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An authentic culinary gem celebrated for its vibrant atmosphere and delicious fare

"El Cuatro 20 is one of the best cantinas in the Historic Center of Mexico City. A nice cool draught beer with some of the best tacos in town. My favorites are the Tacos de Romeritos and the Tacos de Bistec con Salsa Verde."

 

Jens, Historian

Mercado de Comida de Coyoacán

 

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Energetic marketplace featuring vendors selling informal Mexican grub such as quesadillas & pozole

"The Mercado is a gourmet paradise. If you want to get to know typical Mexican street food, this is a great option. My favorites are the Tostadas de Tinga and the Quesadillas de Flor con Queso."

 

Jens, Historian

Masala y Maíz

 

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A fusion restaurant in Mexico City known for blending Mexican, African and Indian cuisines

"Masala y Maíz is Indian Mexican and recently there have been a lot of spotlights about the chefs. It's very impressive how they mix all the spices they have available between Mexico, India, and some other African countries.
 I would recommend you secure a reservation in advance." 

 

Natalia, Art Historian

Canton Mexicali

 

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Blends Chinese cooking with local influences

"They have the best Chinese-Mexican food. The restaurant is also very beautiful because it's in a very old Spanish house now surrounded with local shops." 

 

Natalia, Art Historian

Azul Historico

 

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Savor authentic Mexican cuisine crafted with traditional flavors and expert care

"The food here is more classic, more traditional. There are three restaurants, but the one in the historic district is my favorite. They are all very beautiful; Azul Historico is in the historic center, so it's easy to get to." 

 

Natalia, Art Historian

Siembra Taquería

 

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Siembra Taquería was the beginning of chefs Karina Mejía and Israel Montero's personal culinary project

"For me it's very cozy. You don't have to make a reservation, it's just a taco area. They make tortillas from scratch. They're very careful in selecting the corn that they are going to use on the tortillas and on the menu. They go to the fields and talk with farmers; they respect the value of corn." 

 

Raquel, Food Writer

Balcón del Zócalo

 

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Stylish eatery offering creative cocktails & regional dishes, plus a terrace that has city views

"You have to make a reservation so you can enjoy the view of the city of downtown. The chef Pep Lina, he's very creative. He studied art as well, so it's very interesting how he works. He has to draw the dish first, and then he start imagining what is going on after that dish. How does that dish that connect to another dish? It's interesting how he's playing with the menus." 

 

Raquel, Food Writer

El Convite

 

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Elevated Mediterranean food, plus breakfast & cocktails, at a stylish venue offering live jazz.

"You will see the neighbors from La Portales neighborhood eating here. The owners are focused on culture and they love jazz, so you'll often see concerts with jazz musicians – musicians from the new generations as well as famous jazz musicians living in the city. From Thursday to Sunday, you can have this nice music while you eat or while you have a beer or a wine glass." 

 

Raquel, Food Writer

Favorite Mexico City Neighborhoods

Explore these neighborhoods for a true taste of CDMX life

Centro Historico

Home to historic landmarks dating from as far back as the Aztec era, Centro Historico is the city's beating heart.

"I love the historic center of Mexico City. In the historic heart and soul of Mexico City, ancient history, colonial architecture, and the vibrant modern-day Metropolis come together. Aztec temples, colonial churches, revolutionary murals and vibrant street markets make this my favorite part of Mexico City."

Jens, Historian

Coyoacán

Known for its cobblestone streets and colonial architecture

"Five centuries of architecture and Mexican culture are embedded in this neighborhood’s plazas and cobbled streets. The lively Jardin Centenario park which is surrounded by beautiful cafes and restaurants, the Frida Kahlo Museum and Leon Trotsky’s fortress make this part of the city a nice escape from the busy city center."

Jens, Historian

Tlalpan

A popular spot for all-terrain vehicles and horseback riding

"The Center of Tlalpan is the ancient city, or Villa of Tlalpan. Centered around the former church and monastery of San Agustín de las Cuevas, today it is one of the oldest parts Mexico City and a charming historic neighborhood. It is a bit like Coyoacan, but without tourism."

Jens, Historian

San Rafael

One of the most iconic neighborhoods in Mexico City

"I have lived here for 4 years. The charm of this neighborhood is the architecture of the old houses, which were established in 1845. During the 40`s and 50`s this was the place to be. People enjoyed attending theaters and cinemas in this area of the city. You can walk by Cine Ópera to see the spirit of the art decó times. You can't miss Sullivan Street, there is a building from Luis Barragán, and el Eco, a museum designed by Mathias Goeritz."

Raquel, Food Writer

Juárez

 A cultural, commercial and administrative powerhouse, La Juárez is one of the most important neighborhoods in Mexico City

"This neighborhood, it´s close to the La Roma neighborhood. Is an extension of the San Rafael neighborhood established in 1906. Four years the Revolution started. Now we have galleries, restaurants, and bars and also, shops focused on textiles and Mexican design like Takamura 17 and Carla Fernández. I like having a cup of chocolate at La Rifa and lunch in Masala y Maíz."

Raquel, Food Writer

Doctores

Colorful Doctores is marked by vibrant street art, with work by local and international muralists

"In this area, you can find one of the best cantinas to have a cold beer and a Chamorro. There is an interesting place called Laguna, which used to be a textile factory and now functions as a gallery, restaurant, wine bar, design shop, coffee shop, and a nice showroom for Mazzocco coffee makers."

Raquel, Food Writer

Unique Local Shops 

Explore distinctive local shops that offer authentic crafts, products, and histories

La Lagunilla Market

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It is the most famous flea market in Mexico City

"This quirky market has something for everyone. On Sundays you can stroll through the isles and find pop art furniture, retro postcards and Mexican wood prints. The place is great for souvenirs and all kind of Mexican curiosities."

Jens, Historian

FONART 

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Fonart presents a curated selection of original works that embody the spirit of Mexican craftsmanship

"All the pieces in the FONART store are authentic works of traditional art made in Mexico by artists who safeguard and materialize through craftsmanship the spirit of the culture, traditions and biodiversity of their communities."

Jens, Historian

Guayaberas Yucatecas Mayabki

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A Mexican micro-enterprise dedicated to marketing Guayaberas made in the State of Yucatán

"If you look for some fresh typical guayaberas or Yucatecan hammocks this is a great option."

Jens, Historian

Carla Fernandez

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A fashion house based in Mexico City dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the textile legacy of indigenous and mestizo communities

"Carla is a fashion designer that actually I used to work with. I worked with her for almost three years and she does a lot of collaborations with artisans all over Mexico. Her clothing is more contemporary, so it can suit many different types of styles."

Natalia, Art Historian

Incendiarias

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 Offers a range of products and services that emphasize workshops, gatherings, and art focused on women's empowerment

"Incendiarias sells product made by women. So they have a lot of different things: pottery, clothing, beer, mezcal, coffee, a lot of very small objects... All different brands that are from women around the area."

Natalia, Art Historian

Utilitario Mexicano

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Unique handcrafted products for the home, made with traditional techniques

"They sell very common Mexican objects that you usually can find in the markets. I think it's easier also to navigate through a shop like this than to go to a market if you're not used to that environment, and you can find the most iconic objects for someone's house."

Natalia, Art Historian

Dulcería Celaya

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Sweets with a taste of traditional Mexican flavor

"Founded in 1874, it's very famous. They've kept the original recipes of all the sweets that they have. You can find treats that are from the non-Hispanic times that the nuns start doing at the cloisters. So you can see marzipan in many versions. You can have almonds, pistachios, pan seeds, or you can have these nice cookies covered with pumpkin seed icing."

Raquel, Food Writer

Mumedi

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A multidisciplinary space dedicated to the exhibition, experimentation, tasting, and marketing of design and creativity

"It's a kind of coffee place, but also if you enter to this cafeteria you will see the store. That's interesting, focused on supporting Mexican designers. So if you need a wallet or if you are thinking about jewelry, that's the place to go"

Raquel, Food Writer

Family Friendly Activities

The parks, museums, and kid-friendly places our experts recommend to keep young travelers engaged

A boat tour on the canals of Xochimilco

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Colorful gondola-like boats take visitors on cruises while food vendors, artisans and mariachi bands float past

"A boat tour on the canals of Xochimilco; its canals stretch more than 100 square miles. Xochimilco is an area of stunning natural and cultural beauty. The gardens, or chinampas, were constructed by the Aztecs from juniper branches, allowing them to grow crops on the little man-made islands. Today, you can book a colorful trajinera boat and float down the Xochimilco canals formed by these islands. Trajineras can be booked per hour at the Embarcadero Nuevo Nativitas."
 
Jens, Historian

The Papalote Children’s Museum

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Focused in learning, communication and working together through interactive expositions of science, technology and art for children

"A one-of-a-kind museum, it’s a safe space for kids with the slogan “touch, play and learn.” The museum is laid out in five sections. Kids are led through diverse topics such as nature, biology, civics, and creativity workshops. There are also temporary exhibitions and special events. Parents needing a break should check out the the Jardin Maya, an archaeology-themed garden with a pyramid to explore."
 
Jens, Historian

Frida Kahlo Museum

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The birthplace and lifelong home of Frida Kahlo

"I usually see children very curious about looking at everything here. There's a lot to see, from art works, to the kitchen and bedrooms, to the gallery of dresses. It's visually very interesting for a child of slightly older age."
 
Natalia, Art Historian

Picnic at Chapultepec Park

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One of the largest Nature Value Area´s in Mexico, measuring in total just over 866 hectares

"I love Chapultepec Park for a picnic, it's very close to Polanco. You can also rent a boat for an hour and go around the small lake. You have potato chips and chicharone, find some bubbles to play with, and visit the zoo to see the more than 2,000 animals."
 
Raquel, Food Writer

Ride a bike on Sunday morning at Reforma Avenue

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 A wide avenue that runs diagonally across the heart of Mexico City

 "Ride a bike on Sunday morning at Avenida Paseo de la Reforma, a central avenue in CDMX. Every Sunday, the road closes to cars, and families gather to ride bikes, skate, and walk with the dogs. You can rent a bike at Ecobici or Poray. Don't forget to ask your hotel if they have bike rentals."
 
Raquel, Food Writer

Walk around Coyoacán neighborhood

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 Known for its cobblestone streets and colonial architecture

 "Weekends are more crowded and it has more ambiance. We love walking around this neighborhood and grabbing an ice cream or a churro and just seeing what's going on on the markets. They have a big plaza with many things to buy, cotton candies, bubble, and guys that do standup comedy in the street."
 
Raquel, Food Writer

Read, Watch, Listen

Book, show, movie, and music recommendations from our experts to enrich your travel experience

READ

Mexican Postcards

Author: Carlos Monsiváis

"With a dazzling mixture of reportage, narrative and biting social criticism, Mexican Postcards is a great way to understand this complex and contradictory country."

Jens, Historian

Buy Online at Bookshop ⟶

 

The Underdogs

Author: Mariano Azuela

"It is one of the first novels after the revolution. It's a classic, and it's a good way to learn a little bit about the implications of the revolution."

Natalia, Art Historian

Buy Online at Bookshop ⟶

 

Las Batallas en el Desierto

Author: José Emilio Pacheco

"It's about society and politics at the end of WWII. It's also a coming-of-age story, and explores how society, technology and pop culture changed. "

Raquel, Food Writer

Buy Online at Bookshop ⟶

WATCH

Amores Perros

"An amateur dog fighter, a supermodel, and a derelict assassin, all separately struggling to find love, find their lives transformed by a devastating car wreck in Mexico City."

Jens, Historian

Watch on Apple TV⟶

 

LISTEN

Maldita Vecindad y los Hijos del 5° Patio

"Maldita Vecindad y los Hijos del 5° Patio (whose name pays tribute to the radio soap operas and tragicomedy of Mexican cinema of the 1950s) is a band that emerged in 1985 in Mexico City, with a musical concept that mixes rhythms such as rock, ska, reggae, punk and traditional influences of Mexican music such as danzón and bolero, resulting in the so-called alternative genre or mestizo rock."

Jens, Historian

Listen on Spotify ⟶     

 

Natalia Lafourcade

"She's a Mexican singer that started her career as a pop singer and then she start playing all these very classic Mexican songs in her last years."

Natalia, Art Historian

Listen on Spotify ⟶  

  

100 Años de Soledad (Audiobook)

"If you want to listen Spanish, I recommend 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. It's an easy way to increase your Spanish vocabulary. It's a novel about the Buendía family, the founders of a town, called Macondo. It was turned into a series on Netflix, so you can watch it as well."

Raquel, Food Writer

Listen on Spotify ⟶     

 

Get the map

Download our curated map featuring all these recommendations to guide your journey through the city

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What People Are Saying

"Our food tour of Roma with Raquel was fantastic! Raquel created the perfect itinerary that allowed us to get to know the neighborhood and eat the perfect amount of delicious food."

David
Mexico City Food Tour: Roma Neighborhood

"Natalia was very knowledgeable not just about the history of the art and the lives of Kahlo, Rivera and Trotsky but about the political and social forces shaping the era in which they lived in Mexico and how they fit into that context. Having Natalia as a guide made our experience in the museums so much more meaningful."

Ellen
Frida Kahlo Museum Tour: Casa Azul and the Coyoacán Neighborhood

"Jens was an amazing tour guide - so knowledgeable and he presented information so effortlessly. He geared the tour to our special interests. Very helpful in every way."

Jane
Introduction to Mexico City: Historic Center with Bellas Artes