Mexico City has this magnetic pull—vibrant, chaotic in the best way, bursting with flavor and color. It had been on my list, so when the opportunity arose, we jumped at it.  We spent a long weekend exploring the city’s food, culture, and quirks. Four days wasn’t nearly enough, but it was a perfect taster into this amazing city and I hope to go back soon!

Friday: Pastries, Rosetta & a Well-Earned Nap

We landed in CDMX around midday, ready for adventure…and also a nap. We started our day with lunch at Rosetta in Roma. The space is romantic and sun-drenched, with pasta and fresh herbs that feel more like Tuscany than Mexico.

After lunch, we made a quick pit stop at Panadería Rosetta because not grabbing pastries from one of the city’s most famous bakeries would’ve been a crime.  And trust me, they were delicious!

Exhausted from travel (and a rough work week), we spent the rest of the day chilling at the hotel and recharging for the weekend.

Saturday: History, Museums & Rooftop Cocktails

We kicked off Saturday with a walking tour of Mexico City’s historic center—the Metropolitan Cathedral, Templo Mayor, the grand Zócalo—each place layered with centuries of history. The tour ended at Palacio de Bellas Artes (the opera house), so we made our way up to the 8th floor of the Sears Building to grab a coffee at Café Don Porfirio, and soak in the amazing view and recharge.  After, we grabbed tacos at a nearby taquería for lunch.

Then, we went straight to the National Museum of Anthropology—an essential stop. The Aztec Sun Stone and Mayan exhibits are as stunning as you’d imagine, and laid a foundation for us to better understand the history and culture of the area.

We spent the afternoon at the hotel’s rooftop pool before rallying for dinner. We started with sunset cocktails at Supra, a rooftop bar in Roma with epic city views. Then we strolled back toward Condesa and had dinner at Castizo, a cozy Spanish spot with excellent tapas. We called it an early night—we had a sunrise wake-up call.

Sunday: Up in the Air, Then Down to Earth in Coyoacán

We were up before dawn for a hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacán with Sky Balloon Mexico. Floating above the ancient pyramids with the sun rising behind them was magical. Following our hour-long flight, we enjoyed a champagne breakfast followed by a visit to the pyramids to see them from a different vantage point.

Later that afternoon, we recharged with poolside cocktails before heading to Coyoacán. Our timed entry at the Frida Kahlo Museum was worth the planning—it’s intimate, and rich with her life’s story and her house and gardens are tranquil and beautiful.

Then came the most unexpected event: as we wandered around Coyoacan, there was a street festival going on for blocks.  It was filled with food, shopping and most notably, a Star Wars MainStage, celebrating that it was May 4th! It was wonderfully bizarre and uniquely CDMX.

Dinner that night was at Los Danzantes, a stylish spot famous for their mole.

Monday: Floating Gardens, Fine Dining & Mezcal Vibes

For our last full day, we started the morning with a 90 minute boat ride through Xochimilco. Xochimilco is a network of ancient canals once used by the Aztecs, now filled with brightly painted trajineras (gondola-like boats), floating gardens, and mariachi bands—offering a vibrant glimpse into Mexico City’s living traditions. It can be a touristy place but we went early and it was tranquil. No question though, if you are a larger group, having a picnic or party on the boat in the afternoon would be fun too!

Following our canal tour, we shifted gears for headed back into CDMX to lunch at Quintonil. Quintonil is a a two Michelin star restaurant by Chef Jorge Vallejo, who trained at Noma and Pujol before opening Quintonil. It was delicious, and I always love how michelin star restaurants come up with such unique combinations of flavours.  The highlights included a tuna belly sope and one of the desserts – coconut ice cream, plankton, passion fruit and caviar – I would have never considered putting plankton or caviar in ice cream but it was delicious! 

Following lunch, we had a little time to chill back at the hotel, before walking around Roma and just taking in the cute neighborhood one last time. We had a mezcal tasting at El Palenquito, and grabbed a bite at Madonna Pizza (because casual pizza after fine dining is always a good idea). We ended the night with a drink at Butcher and Sons, a moody bar with craft cocktails and great vibes.

Tuesday: Spa + Swim Send-Off

We wrapped things up with massages at the Andaz Spa and one final rooftop swim before heading to the airport. Relaxed, full, and very ready to plan a return trip.