MARY MONDANARO
A LONG WEEKEND IN CDMX
Where we ate, stayed, shopped, & spent time in CDMX & Puebla!
CDMX
Lodging
We stayed at The Ritz-Carlton! Loved the hotel, the location was meh. The Four Seasons is right across the street and it's also gorg and a little bit more traditional/historical. The Ritz is super modern and has an amazing Sky Lounge with a view of the city. It's right next to a park - go for a morning walk there and see the castle!
Transportation
Traffic in CDMX is a total buzz-kill. The city is massive, so unless you want to spend the whole time you're there traveling, I recommend zoning in on a specific neighborhood or two and exploring there. We stayed (near Roma Norte and loved it because it was close to cute shops, restaurants, and coffee shops. Next time, we will stay in the historic district! To get around, I 10/10 recommend public transportation. I am not kidding. It is way more pleasant and quicker than Uber. Trust me. This is also how we got from CDMX to Puebla and we loved it.
Coffee
We loved Eno's cappucinos! Honestly, they may have the best espresso I've ever had - it's smooth & chocolaty. the caps come with a butter cookie that you must dip in the foam. Divine! We also liked Raku Cafe in Roma Norte. I've heard amazing things about Farmacia Internacional
Breakfast & Lunch
Embrace the fruit from the street vendors! The mango and papaya could not be more fresh and juicy. Panaderia Rosetta was unreal. We went 4 times in the span of two days and I think it's my new fav restaurant. Menu standouts? Chocolate croissant (best I've ever had), veggie baguette (best baguette I've ever had), Turkey sandwich (simple but delicious), and Cemitas. Go to Contramar for lunch and get the Tuna Tostada. Call 1 month in advance to get a res! If you can't get a res at Contramar, go to Entramar. It's owned by the same people and has the same menu without the crowds.
Dinner
The first night we want to Maximo Bistrot. I'm not linking it because we did not think it was worth the hype at all. I don't recommend it - instead, go to Blanco Castelar in Polanco. A gorgeous restaurant with an amazing DJ, a phenomenal waitstaff, and fabulous food. So chic and underrated! We didn't get the chance to try Rosetta, Pujol, or La Unica, all of which we will go to next time.
Activities
Get a drink at the Four Seasons bar if you are in the neighborhood - great vibe. Ling Ling is also supposed to have great drinks and views. For a cool tequila bar, go to El Palenquito. Honestly, just pick a few neighborhoods (Roma Norte, Polanca, Historic District, to name a few) and walk around! Explore and observe the architecture and the markets. Next time, we will go to the Museo Nacional de Antropologia as it is supposed to be unreal. The open markets are the place to buy artisan goods. We went to La Ciudadela Market and found some great things! Other than that, shop around in Roma Norte. Our fav places? Esparanza Home has beautiful linens and ceramics (we found a tray & some linen placemats). Greko Home is such a great store - they source from artisans all over Mexico! We found some amazing bowls there. Casa Bruna is a cutie eco and coffee shop (I got the most gorg pepper grinder there).
PUEBLA
Lodging
We stayed in Cholula, Puebla. I really recommend it! It's about 20-30 minutes away from downtown Peubla and it's nice that it's a bit removed. We stayed at Hotel Tila and highly recommend it. Modern, clean, and minimal. If you stay in Downtown Puebla, stay at the Banyan Tree! We got a drink there and it was a gorgeous hotel in a great location. At the very least, get a cocktail at the bar.
Transportation
Take the bus from CDMX to Puebla and then take an Uber from the bus station to your lodging! Super easy and way more comfortable than hiring a car or an Uber (trust me...I'm not usually a bus person and I was content). I get super car sick, so being in a bigger vehicle really helped me.
Coffee & Breakfast
Cafe & Tocino had amazing coffee & breakfast. Get the iced cappuccino. It's foamy & creamy. For brekkie, get the eggs with brioche and bacon. Add avocado. Delish.
Dinner
The first night we did dinner in DT Puebla at Attico303. It was nasty and gave B food poisoning so I'd skip it if I were you! The second night we had a dreamy dinner in Cholula at a place called La Luna Sul Mare. It was a gorg Italian restaurant that I absolutely loved. Get the portabello carpaccio & the burrata to start! End with the tiramisu & tea.
Activities
If you stay in Cholula, there is a gorgeous church at the top of the town. Hike up to the church for an amazing view and make sure you go inside to admire the architecture. Below the church, there is sa massive pyramid with tunnels that you can walk through on a guided tour. Sadly, they were closed when we were there. If we go back, we will make that a priority because they are supposed to be really cool (think Catacombs in Mexico)!
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In downtown Puebla, hit up the artisan market and the Main Church - it's the most gorgeous church that I've been in to date!