CDMX, like a local

• Frëims, Ámsterdam 62B: 10 min walk · 9am–10pm · $$. Specialty coffee, all-day brunch, free Wi-Fi and big tables among the plants.

• Buna 42, Orizaba 42, Roma Norte: 14 min walk · $$. A roastery serving single-origin filter coffee and Cucurucho pastries. Quiet and laptop-friendly.

• Kupu Munch & Coffee, Av. Ejército Nacional 207, Polanco: 12 min by Uber · $$. Laptop-friendly, and your first coffee is free with this guide.

• Lardo, Agustín Melgar 6: 11 min walk · 7:30am–11pm · $$. Elena Reygadas’ wood-fired Mediterranean kitchen. Order the focaccia and the green eggs.

• Ojo de Agua, Citlaltépetl 23C: 9 min walk · 7am–10pm · $$. Cold-pressed juices and açaí bowls.

• Panadería Rosetta, Colima 166, Roma: 8 min by Uber · $. Get the guava roll and a filled concha, and arrive before 10am.

• Máximo, Av. Álvaro Obregón 65 Bis, Roma Norte: 8 min by Uber · $$$. Chef Eduardo García cooks farm-to-table with ingredients from Xochimilco’s chinampas. Reserve on OpenTable.

• Tacos Don Juan, C. Atlixco 42: 3 min walk · $$ · cash only. A family taquería with handmade tortillas: bistec, suadero and longaniza. Closes early.

• Tacos Hola El Güero, Amsterdam 135: 8 min walk · 9am–5pm · $ · cash only. Twelve guisados to choose from.

• El Califa de León, Ribera de San Cosme 56: 15 min by Uber · $. The first taco stand to earn a Michelin star (2024). Order four gaonera tacos.

• Contramar, Durango 200, Roma: 16 min walk · lunch only · $$$. Gabriela Cámara’s seafood spot. Get the tuna tostadas and the pescado a la talla.

• Pujol, Tennyson 133, Polanco: 12 min by Uber · $$$$. Enrique Olvera’s flagship and a World’s 50 Best regular. Book 2–3 months ahead on the restaurant's website.

• Quintonil, Newton 55, Polanco · $$$$. Jorge Vallejo’s farm-to-table cooking, and easier to book than Pujol. Book a table.

• Wallace Whisky Bar, Av. Tamaulipas 45: 2 min walk · 5pm–2am · $$. Over 200 whiskies, right around the corner.

• La Clandestina, Av. Álvaro Obregón 298: 11 min walk · 6:30pm–1am · $$. 50+ mezcals and blind tastings.

• Limantour, Av. Álvaro Obregón 106, Roma: 14 min walk · $$$. A World’s 50 Best Bars regular. Reserve, and ask for something off the menu.

• Hanky Panky, Centro: 15 min by Uber · $$$. A speakeasy behind a fake storefront. The password comes with your reservation, and your concierge can book it.

• Museo Nacional de Antropología, Polanco: Tue–Sun 9am–6pm · MXN 210 (MXN 105 for Mexican nationals and residents). The Aztec calendar stone, Maya jade masks and Olmec heads. Allow 3+ hours. Buy tickets.

• Castillo de Chapultepec: 25 min walk · Tue–Sun 9am–5pm · MXN 85. A hilltop castle with skyline views from the terrace. Buy tickets.

• Museo Frida Kahlo (Casa Azul), Coyoacán: 10am–6pm · MXN 250. Tickets are sold online only and sell out about 2 weeks ahead. Buy tickets.

• Casa Luis Barragán, Tacubaya: 12 min by Uber. The architect’s home and studio, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Online tickets only, so book 2 weeks ahead. Book a visit.

Parks

• Parque México, Hipódromo: 8 min walk. Art Deco fountains, a dog park, a running loop and a weekend tianguis (street market).

• Bosque de Chapultepec: 25 min walk. Twice the size of Central Park, with the castle, museums, a pedal-boat lake and a zoo. Best on Sundays.

Markets

• Mercado Roma, Querétaro 225, Roma: 12 min walk · 11am–11pm. 30+ food stalls and a rooftop beer garden.

• Mercado Medellín, Roma Sur: 14 min walk · daily 8am–7pm. Stalls with flavors from across Latin America.

• Mercado de San Juan, Pugibet 21, Centro: 15 min by Uber · 8am–5pm. The gourmet market for escamoles, exotic cheeses and wild boar tacos.

Groceries

• 7-Eleven, Av. Vicente Suárez: 4 min away · open 24 hours

• Mercado Michoacán, Vicente Suárez at Tamaulipas: 4 min away · 8am–7pm

• Walmart Express, Av. Michoacán 38: 5 min away · 7am–10pm

• Mercado Colima, Colima 397: 8 min away · 9am–7:30pm

Pharmacies

• Farmacia Capuchinas, Av. Vicente Suárez 123: 4 min away · 9am–10pm

• Medicor, Av. Sonora 210: 7 min away · 10am–8pm

💵 Cash vs Card

Most restaurants accept cards. Bring cash for street tacos, markets, taxis. ATM tip: CitiBanamex has the best exchange rate. Avoid Sky/Euronet (worst rates).

🌍 Tipping (propina)

Restaurants: 10–15% (not auto-included). Bars: 10%. Taxi: round up + $20–50 MXN. Valet: $20 MXN. Bellhop: $20–50 MXN per bag.

💧 Water

Don't drink tap water. Your Nomadier home has filtered water and bottled refills. Restaurants serve safe water. Ice in good restaurants is filtered (safe).

📞 Emergency

911 works (police/fire/ambulance). Closest hospital: ABC Observatorio (15 min Uber, English-speaking, Anglo-American). Tourist police: 078.

🌐 SIM / eSIM

Telcel has best coverage. eSIM via Airalo or Holafly works without ID. Physical SIM at any OXXO ($150 MXN, needs passport). Your home has WiFi.

🔒 Safety & Scams

Condesa, Roma, Polanco are safe day and night. Avoid Tepito, Doctores, Iztapalapa. Don't flash phones or jewelry on metro. Common scam: broken meter taxis (use Uber). Phone clone risk: don't hand your phone to strangers.

💊 Pharmacy & Health

Farmacia San Pablo (24h, 3 blocks away): most meds OTC including antibiotics. Farmacia del Ahorro: cheaper. Doctor Simi, consultation $80 MXN walk-in. Bring your prescription names; brand names differ.

🌋 Earthquakes

CDMX is seismic. Install SkyAlert app (gives 30–60s warning). If alarm/shaking: stay inside, away from windows, under a solid doorframe. Building has an emergency meeting point, so check with the concierge on arrival.

⏰ Time & Meal Hours

CDMX is UTC-6 (CST), no daylight savings since 2023. Locals eat late: lunch 2–4pm, dinner 8–10pm. Most restaurants open 1–1:30pm for lunch. Going at 7pm? Many places still empty.

🔌 Power & WiFi

120V/60Hz, US plugs (Type A/B), no adapter needed for US travelers. EU/UK travelers bring adapter. Your home WiFi: ~100 Mbps fiber. Most cafes have free WiFi. Power outages rare (1–2x/year max).