Where Should You Stay in Mexico City?

Maybe you’re planning a trip to Mexico City. Maybe you’re a seasoned traveler.

Or not.

Mexico City is enormous. 2024 census data for the city of Los Angeles quotes a population of 3.7 million. 2024 census data for Mexico City? An overwhelming 22.5 million residents! How are you supposed to even make sense of that? Where to go? Where to stay? Fuck it, should I just stay home?

Definitely do NOT stay home. 

The key to a place the size of Mexico City is small bites. Mexico City has something for everyone. Architecture? Check. Food? Check. Nightlife? Check. Museums, culture, history? Check, check, check. What type of travel experience are you looking for? 

Maybe it’s your first time in Mexico. Or you’ve been to Cabo or Cancun and stayed at an all-inclusive, but this is your first time in the heart of Mexico and you are overwhelmed. If you are popping your Mexico City cherry, I highly recommend you check out the Roma Norte neighborhood.

Roma Norte makes the barrier to entry super low. Take North Park in San Diego; or parts of Seattle, Washington or Portland, Oregon; maybe parts of Austin, Texas; and drop them into Mexico and you have Roma Norte.

It’s a hipsters paradise.

Beards and curly mustaches, hard-parts in slick haircuts, and plenty of flannel. You will see tons of people who look similar to people you recognize even if you aren’t a hipster yourself. There will be plenty of international food options but rest assured, if you eat pizza you will never go hungry, and although it’s always courteous to learn at least a few words of thanks in the local language, your English will get you by just fine. 

Walking Roma Norte

All this while getting the best of the Mexican experience. You’ll get the old buildings, walkable tree lined streets, shopping, nightlife, and inexpensive dining options. When I say inexpensive, keep this in mind: Inexpensive by U.S. standards. Roma Norte is prohibitively expensive to most Mexicans, but you can easily have a full dinner including drinks, appetizers, entree, and dessert for $25 - $30 USD per person. You won’t find even lunch at that price in San Diego anymore.

First time in Mexico? Don’t speak Spanish? Have a nervous stomach? Roma Norte is your jam.

Are you looking for an “authentic” experience? You’re a seasoned traveler or you just ain’t scared, bring it on. Throw me in with the locals. Then may I suggest Centro Historico or the historic center. 

Fast paced, touristy, and culturally diverse, once you get several blocks outside the Zocalo (city square) district you’ll be in the heart of Mexico. It is raw, it can be unclean, the streets will be crowded with blue collar entrepreneurs just trying to make a peso to feed their families. You will be seated shoulder to shoulder with locals at the taco stand or torta cart. You won’t see refrigeration beyond an ice cooler, the vendors won’t be cooking with gloves, and the meat won’t be covered in plastic but the food will definitely be authentic, inexpensive, and tasty. 

You will see police on nearly every corner and homeless sleeping in doorways of buildings hundreds and hundreds of years old that are still in use today. None of these people will bother you. They don’t have time for you, they are trying to survive.

Prices drop considerably in this area, but it behooves you to be able to ask a question, determine a price beforehand and be able to count your pesos in Spanish although in general, everyone I’ve run into is very honest and any mistakes or misunderstandings have invariably been my own fault. And in my opinion when I can buy a street dinner for $5 USD, if I get overcharged a few pennies I really don’t give a shit. 

Want a true Mexican experience? Centro Historico for the win.

Maybe you’re a lover of local art, residential architecture, quiet spaces, and all things Bohemian. Then the Coyoacan neighborhood is my favorite. Well known artist Frida Kahlo had a house there which is now a museum. There is a small central area of the neighborhood where the tourists hang, but my recommendation is to walk off the beaten path and through the neighborhoods.

This is a highly residential area of single family homes, small tree lined streets, and an abundance of parks and green spaces. The area is rife with small intimate restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Coyoacan is for lovers, so take your significant other and enjoy some quiet time together.

If I were going to live full time in Mexico City, Coyoacan would be on the shortlist.

Don’t let your fears or preconceived notions prevent you from exploring this wonderful Mexican city. You won’t regret coming here and you will certainly never forget it.