Travel journal: A taste of Mexico City
Two weeks ago, I went back to one of the most vibrant cities I have ever been to, Mexico City, a place that can be astonishing and chaotic at the same time. November was the perfect time to go, as a way to have a break from the rainiest month of the year in Vancouver.
Beyond the beautiful architecture and museums, the food will always be my most-loved part. There are so many good spots to try. Even if I lived there for 2 years, I always felt it was quite overwhelming, considering the amount of places I never tried.
Emilia
The first dinner was at Em by the chef Lucho Martínez. With a farm-to-table focused menu and organic spaces, Martínez turns the freshest of local ingredients into intensely flavourful and uniquely creative dishes in a refined atmosphere in the heart of la Roma.
Tetetlán
Another gem is Tetetlán, a restaurant next to Casa Pedregal, the largest private residence designed by the Mexican architect Luis Barragan and built in a lava field in the southern of Mexico City. The space has a balance between the essence of the architect but with a modern-set-up exposing the volcanic lava stones. If you are looking for a more traditional Mexican menu, this is a good choice. The restaurant has a variety of tacos, tlayudas and quesadillas to share. I recommend to try one of the detox waters, so refreshing and with such a unique flavours.
P.S. Appointment is required to visit the residence and for locals can be a bit pricy but highly recommended for whoever appreciates interior design.The guided visit provides context about Barragan’s particular ability to envision the outdoor spaces and their relation to their interior paradigms and the natural context characteristics.
Contramar
Contramar, a great choice for fresh seafood and the best Carajillo in the city. Reservations are highly recommended, otherwise I don’t think you would get a table. We grabbed lunch on Monday mid-day and was completely packed.
To try different dishes, the way to go is sharing and normally, the servers are good at recommending the best in proportions according to the commensals. The grilled octopus and the tuna tostada were my favourites, but the grilled fish in salsa roja and verde was delicious too. No matter what, make sure you save space for dessert. The server will bring you a tray with the most visually pleasant pastries and cakes to delight.
More places…
Every time I come back, there are more restaurants and bars to try. My go-to neighbourhood will always be La Roma since you can walk to everywhere and there’s always good findings on your way.
For good pastries to start the morning, there’s the well-know Rosetta panaderia but if you are not in the mood of being in a line, you should go to Saint in Condesa, a low key bakery with a nice patio which I personally think can be better than Rosetta. Botánico gave me the best night in the city. This jungly restaurant bar is a neat place to grab a drink and bob around before your next spot. The bar upstairs is such a vibe. And last one, Jarilla, is a small cafeteria with groceries included. The place made me think about moving back to the city. Next to the cafe, you can shop in pop-ups by local and Latin American designers. Such a good finding.
