Mexico City is one of the world’s great cities, along with New York, London, and Tokyo, and one of its most sophisticated and trendiest neighborhoods is La Roma. In this guest post, author Lydia Carey will give you a tour of the best places in Mexico’s coolest district.
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In case you didn’t know, Mexico City is a modern metropolis where you can find the best of the world’s art, cuisine, and fashion. And one of the city’s most sophisticated neighborhoods is La Roma.
In this post, I’m proud to present My Heart of Mexico’s first ever guest author, Lydia Carey. She is a fulltime freelance writer, and author of “Mexico City Streets: La Roma,” a guide book to one of Mexico City’s most eclectic neighborhoods. You can read more about Mexico City and La Roma at her blog, Mexico City Streets.
So are you ready for a tour of La Roma? Take it away, Lydia!
How to Tour Mexico City’s Most Sophisticated Neighborhood
No one comes to Mexico City to relax. It’s a chaotic, crazy, blindingly colorful mess that will have your rapt attention for a handful of breathless days and then it will be over. Just like that.
In this, the most urban of urban jungles, it’s impossible to narrow down a list of must-sees, must-eats, and must-dos, but one of my favorite places to be in the city is right at home, in my neighborhood, Colonia Roma.
Roma feels like a small town inside a city. Neighbors greet one another, families sit outside for Sunday dinner and dog walkers lazily round the park on weekday afternoons. It’s a great place to settle into when the hustle-and-bustle becomes overwhelming.
Two charming plazas connected by Orizaba street anchor both ends of the neighborhood: Plaza Luis Cabrera and Parque Rio de Janeiro. Each of these leafy spots has a scattering of small cafes and restaurants around their parameters.
A coffee lover’s paradise, Buna cafe sits just off of Rio de Janeiro plaza and is right around the corner from the classically contemporary Galería OMR at Rio de Janeiro #54.
Plaza Luis Cabrera is home to Cabrera 7, that has a long list of regional Mexican cuisine specialties and just steps away is the Macellería for an excellent steak and a bottle of wine.
Radiating out from either of these plazas the tree-lined streets hold untold delights. I always like to stop by Tenderete on Jalapa street to see what new Mexican designer they are featuring and peek into the Taller Tlamaxcalli on Chihuahua street to see the master toy makers at work.
The Roma has been blessed with the import of some incredible chefs and restaurateurs. Maximo Bistrot, Cocina Conchita, Aguamiel, La Docena, and Antolia are all great for locally-inspired dishes, while Sesame, Mog and Galanga Thai Kitchen hit the spot when you are looking for something from more distant lands.
The neighborhood’s streetscape is one of its most enchanting qualities. Street murals, Art Deco architecture, and colorfully painted homes make wandering a must, with a dog in hand you’ll practically be a local.
You’re just as likely to run into a lively outdoor market like the Friday “tianguis” on Merida street or Sundays’ Mercado 100 in the Centro Medico park, as you are an old friend, or the neighborhood’s local mascot, La Chata the pig.
A few days in the Roma will give you enough big city vibe and hometown hospitality that you won’t think twice about planning your next trip to Mexico City – next time, even longer.
When a writer expresses themselves as Lydia Carey does in this post, you can feel the love for the region. This just makes the reader that much more likely to think about taking some time and visiting the area. I always enjoy the tours!
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I agree, Lydia’s a wonderful writer! 🙂
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Amazing… It reminds me of the tours my primos give me when I’m down in Mexico!!! Love it.
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You should come and visit Mexico City 🙂
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Thank you for bringing to life in such exuberant detail the wonders of La Roma. I’m adding it to my list of places to visit.
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Mexico City is definitely a must-see. And not just la Roma! There’s plenty of awesome places to see.
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I love La Roma, specially the Corredor Cultural Roma Condesa, where you can enjoy a walk thru the art and design scene while enjoying great food.
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Yes, that’s a must-visit whenever you are in Mexico City 🙂
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Loved your post! I just moved to Mexico City two weeks ago and am thinking of moving to Roma Norte!
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You should do that! 🙂
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Awesome post! Damn, looking forward to Mexico City. Have 8 days Mexico city(April 2017) Was thinking 5 days Mexico city and 3 days Puebla… worth? Or just stay 8 days in Mexico city?
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I would say 8 days in Mexico City would be great, but you really shouldn’t miss Puebla. 🙂
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When people talk of Mexico usually large farms and ranches in the desert come to mind. Thanks for showing me a historic and artsy side.
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lol 😀 I know there’s a lot of misconceptions going around. In regard to what you mention, 80% of Mexico’s population lives in cities and there are also forests, jungles, and even glaciers. I actually wrote a post about these sort of myths.
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I guess part of that idea comes from the fact that my uncle lived in Puebla and spoke of when he and his wife (native to Mexico) would travel through the desert and see wild animals.
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