Mexico City recommendations?
Hi everyone!
Going to Mexico City in the middle of the month and would love your recommendations—eating (especially), but otherwise, too! Museums, markets, stores. We're a little daunted by the size of the city and could use some direction. We're also headed to Oaxaca.
Thank you in advance!
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Walk away from Bellas Artes, the palace, and down Lopez street. Three blocks down, you'll find a long stall with a red awning/cover with a sign that says "Ricos Tlacoyos y Quesadillas Lights." What sets this place apart from the dozens of other stands are the guisados which they will fold into each quesadilla by request. These were the best quesadillas I've ever had. Just order a bunch of different kinds :)
El Hidalguense - This place was incredible. They do lamb barbacoa only on Fri-Sun (check the hours too). The lamb is raised in nearby countryside and roasted in the ground wrapped in banana leaves. It's really special. Be sure to also order the tacos de escamoles here (larvae) and some of their interesting queso preparations. Also, sopes. They make a delicious consomme of the lamb as well. Pretty much everything here was wonderful, hospitality included. Cash only though!!!
Fonda Margarita: In Coyoacan, this is a really old school breakfast joint. They serve different specialities depending on the day of the week. Just get whatever they are ordering plus the sensational quenelle of beans cooked in lard.
Contramar: this is the "it" place for people who come to town. It's kind of a who's who place, at least that's the vibe. But with that said they have great seafood. Like snook, which is not very common in the US. Famous for the tuna tostada which they were out of when I was there but we just had fun and ordered at random.
Pujol: I saw others have mentioned it. Its a very fancy but really interesting culinary experience. If you can get a table, do it!
Los Cocuyos Taqueria: Just a little nondescript stand, a bit hard to find but you'll know you're close if you are in an electronics district with lots of smoke machines and strobe lights. Try some of the ones you haven't heard of here. It's so good. They even grilled up a fresh spring onion to top one of my cow "love handle" tacos with.
Galeria Eugenio: This was a wonderland of a mask shop. I went there on a recommendation of my brother who lived in Mexico. It took 3 tries before we got there when they happened to be open but it was worth it to be able to take home such a cool memento of real Mexican culture.
Panaderia Rosetta: The best guava pastry ever.
I also really enjoyed walking around their parks (Parque Mexico and Parque Espana are really nice smaller ones) and watching the incredible dog training that happens there. Seriously, its wild.
Market-wise, I love the Tlacoyos at the entrance to the Jamaica market. And in Xochimilco market, there's a man selling tamalitos stuffed with beans and/or quelites that are divine.
Museum-wise, do not miss the Anthropologie museum. You could spend a month in there and not see it all.
The city is huge so it will definitely be difficult to cover everything, but a good way to navigate it is by taking the "Turibus" which is like the elevated tour bus that has a few routes and makes a bunch of stops and you basically get off at one point, explore the neighborhood and then you get back on the bus whenever you're ready: http://www.turibus.com.mx. It's a good way to explore the bigger neighborhoods in a day. I recommend the Downtown tour or the Southside tour, depending on how many days you have. It's very reasonably priced too.
For nightlife, make sure you hit the bars in the Colonia Roma or La Condesa.
As for Oaxaca, are you going to Oaxaca City or the beaches?