Beginning in 2019, we spent quite a bit of time in central Mexico while building a past brand, with regular trips through CDMX, San Miguel de Allende, Guadalajara, and Guanajuato. Mexico City was often our starting point, and over the years we returned regularly for artisan partnerships, creative energy, and the depth of artistry found across the region. What we appreciated most was the range, from ceramics and silversmithing to millinery, perfumery, furniture, and textiles, and the many smaller details that gave each place its own identity.
We wanted to begin with CDMX because it felt like the natural place to start. This guide is a look back at where we stayed, what we kept noticing, and the places that continued to inspire us over the years.
CDMX by Neighborhood
Choosing where to stay in CDMX shapes how you experience the city. For us, Roma Norte, Condesa, and Polanco always stood out. Roma Norte offers one of the best balances of walkability, restaurants, galleries, and creative energy. Condesa feels a little quieter and more residential, with leafy streets and a relaxed pace that still feels central. Polanco is more refined and structured, with a luxury presence and easy access to some of the city’s more polished retail and dining.
Restaurants and cafés
Rosetta
Set in a historic Roma Norte townhouse, Rosetta remains one of the city’s most distinctive dining rooms, known for Elena Reygadas’s seasonal menu and a setting that feels as considered as the food itself. It is still one of our classics to return to, especially for the atmosphere, the bread and pastries, and the way it balances elegance with warmth.
Pujol
Pujol remains one of the defining restaurants in CDMX, with tasting menus served in its Tasting Room and Omakase Bar in Polanco. What keeps it memorable is not only its international reputation, but the way it continues to center corn, mole madre, and regional Mexican ingredients in a format that feels both refined and rooted.
Máximo Bistrot
Máximo Bistrot is one of our longtime favorites in Roma Norte for a meal that feels polished without losing its ease. The menu changes with the seasons and is built around high-quality national ingredients, with dishes that move between French technique, Mexican products, and a more relaxed bistrot rhythm.
Sartoria
Sartoria is a refined Roma Norte option for handmade pasta, seasonal ingredients, and a contemporary Italian point of view. Led by chef Marco Carboni, it brings together an intimate dining room, an artisanal approach, and a menu that feels both elegant and unfussy.
Art and visual inspiration
Remigio Mestas
A constant source of inspiration for its rich connection to textile heritage, craftsmanship, and material culture. It is one of those places that stays with you for the depth and beauty behind what is being made.
Vincent Pocsik
A visual reference we continue to come back to for the way his work approaches shape, material, and atmosphere. The work feels thoughtful, grounded, and quietly inspiring.
Albergue Transitorio
A creative space that offers a more conceptual side of the city’s art and design scene. It is the kind of place that feels less about shopping and more about perspective, process, and visual inspiration.
Hotels and stays
Casa Polanco
A quieter, more residential stay in Polanco with an intimate feel that still feels elevated. A good choice if you want something refined, calm, and design-led without the scale of a larger hotel.
Nima Local House - Roma Norte
A small boutique stay in Roma Norte that feels warm, personal, and well considered. It works especially well if you want to be in one of the city’s most walkable neighborhoods without losing that intimate hotel feel.
Casona Roma Norte
A stronger option if you want to stay in the middle of Roma Norte’s restaurant and gallery scene. It has a more social, city-facing energy while still keeping a design-led point of view.
Hotel Casa Cuenca - Condesa
A beautiful Condesa stay with a quieter rhythm and a more residential feel. It is a good fit if you want something elegant and understated in one of the city’s greener neighborhoods.
Colima 71 - Roma Norte
A polished boutique option in Roma that feels intimate and architecturally sharp. Good for anyone drawn to smaller stays with a cleaner, more contemporary edge.
Octavia Casa - Condesa
A stay that leans more residential and minimal, with a soft, pared-back design sensibility. It feels especially aligned for travelers drawn to interiors, calm spaces, and a slower pace.
Círculo Mexicano
A more design-forward stay in the historic center, with a strong architectural point of view and a rooftop that makes it worth considering if you want to experience a different side of the city. Best if you want something visually striking and more connected to Centro.
Shops, studios, and creative inspiration
Casa Palacio
A go-to for interiors, furniture, and home pieces, Casa Palacio offers a polished look at the city’s more elevated design world. It is an easy place to take in what feels current across furniture, objects, and decorative pieces.
Campos Polanco
A well-curated stop for fashion, lifestyle, and a more refined retail point of view. It feels aligned with Polanco’s polished atmosphere while still offering a strong sense of selection and taste.
Maison Lézard
A thoughtful stop for decorative objects and pieces with a softer, more layered point of view. It feels visually rich, collected, and quietly distinctive.
Casa Tenue
A refined addition to the list, especially for fashion or objects with a quieter, more understated sensibility. It fits naturally within a guide shaped by texture, detail, and a more considered approach to design.
A nice inclusion from the fashion side, adding another layer of independent design to the city. It helps round out the guide with something that feels more personal and directional.
Castai Studio
A strong reference point for a more studio-led perspective, especially if you are drawn to spaces that feel connected to process, research, and creative direction. It adds a more thoughtful layer to the guide beyond the usual retail stops.
