Ciudad de Mexico
September 2019
2 Days
I had a work trip to Mexico City, so we went early to spend the weekend. We were lucky to snag a last minute reservation at Pujol, which ended up being one of our most memorable dining experiences and our day trip to Teotihuacán was definitely worth it. At only a 4 hour flight from Chicago, Mexico City is definitely a place we would return to for a long weekend trip.
Daily Itinerary
Tacos for lunch at El Progreso
Walk through Chapultepec Park
Omakase tacos at Pujol
Churros for dessert at Churrería El Moro
Explore the ancient city of Teotihuacán
Late lunch at Plaza del Zócalo
Catch the sunset from the top of Torre Latinoamericana
Browse the stalls and food in Alameda Central
Grasshoppers for dinner
Flights
United Airlines Economy ORD-MEX: 47,500 United miles roundtrip + $107 taxes & fees
Hotels
Le Méridien Mexico City: 50,000 Marriott points for 2 nights
▸ A bit more run down than I would expect from the Le Méridien brand. Located just about 1 mile from the US Embassy and the surrounding restaurants and upscale hotels.
Food (With Beli Ranking)
Pujol (10.0) - Regularly ranked as a top 10 restaurant in the world, including best in North America in 2019. The countertop omakase was one of the best dining experiences we've ever had.
El Progreso - Taco stand recommended to us by the hotel. Cheap and delicious, we went here a few times.
Churrería El Moro - Several locations serving fresh, delicious churros
Full Itinerary
Day 1
El Progreso
Naturally, after arriving at our hotel (Le Meridien Mexico City) our first order of business was to find tacos immediately. The concierge pointed us to a small restaurant around the corner from the hotel called El Progreso. We walked right up to grill to order and then loaded them up with peppers, onions, beans, and guac. Total cost for 4 tacos was about $5.
Tacos at El Progreso - Mexico City, Mexico 2019
Bosque de Chapultepec
We decided to walk around Chapultepec Park before our dinner reservation at Pujol. Unfortunately, the line to the castle was too long so we weren't able to go inside. But we enjoyed walking around the gardens, checking out the vendors in the park, and posing for some selfies by the lake. Chapultepec Park reminded us a lot of Central Park, but much bigger – Chapultepec is almost double its size!
Bosque de Chapultepec - Mexico City, Mexico 2019
Pujol is considered by some to be the best restaurant in Mexico City and frequently in the Top 10 restaurants in the world. Our trip was a last minute decision based on my work travels, and when I first checked for reservations initially I could barely find any times available for the next 3 months. I happened to check again the day before we arrived and a spot for Omakase tacos opened up at 4pm. We decided we could accept the early-bird special for a chance to get in! Pujol is located in the Polanco neighborhood near the upscale shopping district of Mexico City, but the restaurant is on a residential street so we accidentally walked right past it at first.
The price of the omakase tacos includes a beer, wine, or tequila pairing. The cost is the same whether you have drinks or not, so we decided to imbibe. We thought the tequila pairing (which turned out to be mezcal, one of my favorites) might include some cocktails, but it ended up being just shots. After a couple courses Gwen decided to change to wine and so did the couple next to us. Another important note is that the experience lasts about 2.5 hours. The first 2 hours were spent enjoying the amazing 8 courses of different tacos, gorditas, flautas, and more. After, we were taken outside to the garden for coffee and dessert.
The Famous 1,000-Day Aged Mole at Pujol - Mexico City, Mexico 2019
We walked off our day of tacos by making our way to El Palacio de Hierro, a large upscale shopping mall. Churrería El Moro is often said to have the best churros in Mexico City. There are a number of locations including the one in the mall that we went to.
Churrería El Moro - Mexico City, Mexico 2019
Day 2
Teotihuacán
Because we only had 2 days in Mexico City, we debated about going to Teotihuacán and if it would be worth the time, as we figured it would take about ½ a day. From most of what I read, the best way to get here from Mexico City is by bus. However, since our time was limited we decided to take an Uber which was only about $30. We did have an issue finding the right drop-off location with our driver, but for those on a tight schedule an Uber is probably the best option. The best entrance is near Restaurante las Piramides. From here, you can walk down Calle de los Muertos, with the Pyramid of the Moon small in the distance.
Calle de los Muertos at Teotihuacán - Mexico City, Mexico 2019
Our Uber driver actually dropped us off at the West Entrance, so we sort of did it backwards, walking the Calle de los Muertos on our way out.
Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacán - Mexico City, Mexico 2019
Zócalo
We took an Uber back to Mexico City and had them drop us off at Plaza del Zócalo, the main square in central Mexico City where we found a restaurant to have lunch.
Zócalo - Mexico City, Mexico 2019
Torre Latinoamericana
After a quick rest and change at our hotel, we went to Torre Latinoamericana to catch the sunset over Mexico City. There was a small entry fee for the observation deck, and we got there just in time to take in some amazing views of the city as the sun went down.
View from Torre Latinoamericana - Mexico City, 2019
If you don’t feel like purchasing a ticket for the observation deck, there is a bar on the 41st floor with pretty great views to catch the sunset as well. While the views and drinks are great, the bar is pretty small and with only a few tables near the windows, the prime real estate goes quickly.
El Mexicano
Near the US Embassy are a number of restaurants (probably mostly catered toward Americans), so we decided to check that area out for dinner. We chose one called El Mexicano which had some nice outdoor seating. While more expensive than most of our other meals in Mexico City, it was still reasonable and quite delicious. By far my favorite dish we had here was the Chapulines, or grasshoppers.
Chapulines at El Mexicano - Mexico City, 2019
Overall
While it was a short trip, we had a phenomenal time in Mexico City. The highlight was certainly Pujol as it's consistently rated one of the best restaurants in the world - we just happened to get lucky and found a last minute opening for the Omakase tacos.
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