Mexico City's hotel scene is as diverse as the city itself, blending centuries of history with modern creativity and vibrant street life. And the city certainly has no shortage of beautiful places to stay. Still, the ones that feel truly special balance thoughtful design with comfort, personality, and accessible pricing. These gems feel personal rather than predictable, often hidden behind historic facades, inside sun-washed courtyards, and along quiet streets where locals linger over coffee, pastries, and conversation.
The weather is warm, the nights are cool, the food is unbelievable, and the passion is palpable. This is what the beloved Mexico City festival Corona Capital brings to the table each November. This year's edition, which went down November 14th through 16th, served as the festival's grand 15th anniversary celebration, and they pulled out all the stops: Foo Fighters, Chappell Roan, and Linkin Park topped the bill, with fellow headlining performances from the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, Deftones, Vampire Weekend, Weezer
mainly because my father was very keen that I had a bachelor's degree. I think I'm quite a unique person because I love my family, but I also love having time to myself. And I like contrasts in my life, so it was important for me to do something apart from them. It made me appreciate Mexico, and I realised that the things I thought I hated were actually the things I missed the most. I was in upstate New York, and it was some of the best years of my life.
This 1000-square-foot apartment in Mexico City's Colonia Narvarte neighborhood has a storied history. It was built around the 1950s, so the apartment is over 75 years old, but incredibly it has been owned by Octavio Herrejón 's family for three generations. It was first owned by his grandmother's sister, then by his mother, and then two years ago Octavio moved in.
The mariachi band had just struck up its first ranchera when Axel grabbed his mother's hand. Come on, mama! the lanky 16-year-old shouted, spinning Daniela beneath a canopy of paper lanterns glowing in the warm night air. The courtyard pulsed with music and laughter as cousins joined in, skirts twirling and shoes scuffing the ground.
In Mexico City, markets are bursting with fruits and spices and everything is ridiculously fresh and oozes flavor. An excellent street taco can beat out a Michelin-starred restaurant almost any day. It's all part of the magic of this high-altitude urban valley. Can there be a better metropolis in the world to eat right now? I'm willing to be persuaded - but I lived in Mexico City five years longer than I intended to because of the food.
My stories, more than my novels, tend to start with a single thing from my life, some kind of puzzle or confusion, whether it be directly autobiographical or a distortion of an experience I've had. The way this story starts is almost entirely true; while travelling with my husband, I lost the same exact things as Daria. I spent a day frustrated by the many annoying chores such a loss brings.
In Mexico City, recent protests against U.S. expats and so-called "digital nomads," blamed for driving up rents and fueling gentrification, show not many people like them. Yet in other Mexican destinations, from Tijuana to Puerto Vallarta, Americans have been part of the social fabric for decades, often without the same public backlash.
Set behind an unassuming facade in the cobbled Roma Norte neighbourhood, Ignacia Guesthouse attracts discerning travellers with an eye for design. The five guest suites are designed in a monochromatic colour scheme, ranging from an all-gold suite with plush velvet furnishings to a sleek and modern all-black hideaway with a private French-door breakfast terrace. Each room comes with a private nook to enjoy the home's central courtyard and that's where you'll find most of the action.
It will, however, leave you mentally redecorating your own home into a slice of mid-century modern Mexico City. The king-size bed (which was firm but gloriously comfortable after an arduous journey characterised by multiple delayed flights) sits atop a beautiful red woven rug I'd have liked to have taken back to New York with me; the dome-shaped bedside lamps were both vintage; and mahogany sideboards and wide wooden floorboards popped against the crisp white walls, which were punctuated by tall potted palms.
Every city would be blessed to have an array of great locals' spots like Mexico City's cantinas. The venues run the gamut in style and clientele, attracting all kinds of customers. Some are century-old gems, giving visitors a peek into the city's long culinary history. And the food, ranging from free drinking snacks to house specialties worth seeking out, goes well beyond bar bites you might find elsewhere.
