My first visit to Mexico City was right after my wife got engaged. We had such a great time that it was permanently on our list of cities to visit in the future. I had no plans, no hotel, no reservations, but I was excited and thrilled to be back. Here are some of the best things I’ve done without planning or preparation.
where i stayed
Live Aqua Urban Resort Mexico
Heading to Mexico was a seriously last minute decision, so of course I hadn’t planned where we were going to stay. From there, I came across Live Aqua Urban Resort. It had great reviews and promised a budget-friendly, luxurious experience. After a bad experience at the hotel I visited last time, I didn’t pass up the chance.
And boy, did the hotel deliver. As I entered, the scent of peace and comfort wafted in the air. The hotel has its own scents, bubbling waterfalls, and beautiful decor. When I got to the front desk, I was immediately assisted and the concierge made a last minute dinner reservation for me at La Popular (more on that below). The hotel room was spacious and comfortable, the bed was so comfortable it was hard to get out. The huge bathroom had a deep soaking tub, a shower that could comfortably accommodate two he or three of him, and a dressing table where her two guests could comfortably get dressed side by side. .
Mexico City author and his wife (Carlos Ratti)Expert Tip: Mexico City has a lot of great food. in-house breakfast and a restaurant.
The hotel is great, but what stood out the most was the spa. I’ve been lucky enough to get massages at many places, ours at Live Aqua was in my top 5. An hour before his appointment, we had a glass of champagne While enjoying the water in his therapy pool. The massage itself was perfect. A scrub was added at the end of the massage, giving me a full body scrub before being ushered into the shower. We left with glowing skin and feeling so relaxed. Book in advance if you have a tight itinerary. The spa was packed.
Squish factor: The spa didn’t have a robe that fit me, but they did have a huge towel that wrapped all the way around me with a little extra room.
Marriott Reforma
We wanted to be closer to the center of the city so we left Live Aqua at the Marriott in Reforma, a solid 4 star hotel in the middle of everything. There’s a city park outside, and just a block away is Zona Rosa, a historic queer district. The hotel has a spacious lobby with a large and comfortable bar, as well as a rooftop bar and pool. If you’re hungry and don’t want to leave the hotel, there’s a steakhouse and a Mexican restaurant on site, but I didn’t try either. Restaurants, bars and quality service are certainly essential, but at the end of the day, it’s the bed that makes a hotel, and the bed in our room was perfect. I slept like a baby!
Outside the Hotel (Carlos Ratti)
where i ate
La Popular Taqueria
We arrived in Mexico City haphazardly. I barely managed to secure a hotel before boarding the plane. We were starving when we finally arrived at our hotel after nearly an hour and a half in heavy traffic jams in Mexico City. The concierge recommended Taqueria, La He Popular, which is just two blocks away from the hotel. You have to take the elevator downstairs before you step into the dimly lit restaurant, which is located in a small shopping center with loud music that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a club. The service was excellent, the drinks strong and tasty, and the food, well, really good.
La Popular starts with at least seven salsas that can be enjoyed with tortilla chips and all foods. We got quite a few items (we were hungry) and all were great, but our favorite bite was the Carnitas Costra de Queso, a popular taco style in Mexico City. Wheat flour tortillas are grilled with cheese to form the perfect crispy crunchy crust before being stuffed with perfect carnitas.
Lorea
After more than a decade working in the best Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, Chef Oswaldo Oliva returned to Mexico City to open L’Orea. From the kitchen, which is visible across the dining room, L’Orea offers a menu that celebrates local ingredients and prime ingredients. Choose from an 8-dish tasting menu available at the chef’s counter or in the dining room, or an a la carte menu available only in the dining room. Forever in love with the delicious menu, we sat at the chef’s counter and indulged. Our food was really nice. The standout course was the huitlacoche tacos, the most incredible flavor bomb corn fungus.
Nobu
If you’ve wanted to eat at Nobu all along, I suggest you consider Nobu in Mexico City. Not only was it easier to book, but the bill was half the price of Los Angeles Nobu. He has two locations, one in the same building as the Live Aqua Urban Resort and one at Polanco, both are great. In addition to sushi and sashimi, there are plenty of dishes that go well with Mexican cuisine, such as black cod marinated in mirin, and mini tacos stuffed with raw tuna. If you like a delicious menu, you can try a little bit of everything at Nobu’s Omakase. And save room for dessert. It’s so good!
What should I do
Cheese and Draft Beer Tasting at Lactography
I love cheese and wrote a love letter to it, so when I saw a cheesemonger in Mexico offering a tasting class, I all attended. She is on a mission to curate Mexican cheese, advocate for Mexican cheesemakers, and make cheese accessible to Mexico City residents and visitors. It contained farmer’s goat feta cheese which is very different from what you’ve come to expect. Then there was the Kato, a cow camembert with its own skin washed in Mexican sake. We also tried a washed-curd Alpine-style cheese made from Jersey cow’s milk and a spiced natural chevre. It was paired with bread and decorations.
squish factor: Tastings take place in a small shop, where you sit in tall bar-like chairs.
photo shoot
During my last visit to Mexico City, I found Carlos, a Mexico City based photographer. Carlos is an absolute professional and it was a pleasure to shoot with them as a fat couple. It was just as fun as last time and we got some great pictures. Taking pictures during your trip is a great way to commemorate your trip and take great pictures.
churros master class
If you love desserts, meet other travelers and learn about Mexican desserts, you’ll love this churros class. This class from the same team that hosts life-changing coffee tastings at CDMX is a lot of fun. Make a jalapeno and chocolate ganache to dip your churros. Take notes because it was incredible! i have to redo it.Then we made Cafe de Ora Garnish with cinnamon sticks, dark brown cane sugar and orange zest. While this is boiling, I will start making churros first. It turned out to be easier to make than expected. Our host, Christian, carefully assisted the entire process before showing us the hardest part: how to fry the churros. I learned how to make spirals, hearts and designs.
Forest Cooking Class
I love taking cooking classes when I travel and they are all memorable, but this one was something special. , is a full-day experience that begins with a visit to a local market. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, spending time in nature without a mobile phone is a relief. There, you’ll learn how to cook many Mexican dishes in a family-run restaurant with no running water or electricity. You can also make two salsas and tortillas and catch your own trout from the on-site fish farm. The end result is a sumptuous meal with hosts, memories, and skills that last a lifetime.
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Squish factor: Bathrooms are a short walk from the restaurant. There are stairs to enter the restaurant and market. The chairs are a little rickety, but you don’t spend much time sitting on them and some are a little better.
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