Casually Eat Your Way Around Mexico City: 48 Hours

I could have eaten my way around Mexico City for weeks and still barely scratched the surface. I’m happy to recommend these fun spots, mostly for casual eats and small bites. I think they embody a good spirit of adventure and taste for the city. 

If you plan to stay longer, definitely do some additional research to enjoy a wide range of cuisines in Mexico City (or simply extend your stay elsewhere, like Oaxaca!). There’s oodles of food tours to consider as well (including the women-led taco one I’ll describe below) that support local guides and businesses.

Just scratch the surface at first!

Let me also preface this by saying Mexico City is HUMUNGOUS. Food covers a rainbow of flavors and colors from all over the country. You can experience everything from a taco swimming in hot sauce and a shot of tequila on the side of the street to an indulgent multi-course meal at one of the world’s most wonderful restaurants.

PS: I was based in the more professional/business area at the Westin Santa Fe, which was truly an oasis surrounded by greenery and attractive views. I also had some upscale dishes, like a duck confit taco and super zingy ceviche that was wonderful at thier restaurants. It is quite far from the action, so if you’d like to be more central there’s plenty of other chic options too. While I was in town for the Masters of the Craft competition, I managed to squeeze in as many bites as I could around town.

Day One: Women-led taco tour through Mexico City

The taxi ride to the hotel was such a tease. We passed so many mouth-watering taquerias, restaurants, street carts and cafes that I couldn’t wait to dig into them all. Luckily, I had a full-on tour booked to tuck into as many dishes as I could on a whirlwind trip.

Led by Nayeli Estrada and Raquel del Castillo, this was a very special taco experience. Not only do these local women know their food, they also have deep knowledge of Mexican wine. Each stop was paired with a delicious varietal that made the flavours of roasted meat, grilled onions, and all the fixings pop out even more. Here’s a few of the highlights from the tour: I don’t want to spoil all the stops!

Taquería El Gran Abanico

Ur first stop on the taco trek was my favorite. Although there was a line even at 3:30 in the afternoon it was well worth sampling what was inside. Slow roasted pork tacos and cracklings were served with fresh corn tortillas, nopales, and avocado salsa. The women offered two options for wine: a sparkling brut from Querétaro or a lovely red blend, also Mexican made.

La Tonina

This place has been around for 80 years, founded by a real luchador and boasting incredible homemade flour tortillas. Alongside tacos they have classic gordita de nata, which is like a pillowy sweet bread to finish.

Taquería El Califa de León

We stopped here on a whim with an interesting story. This little taco shop tucked into a busy shopping street has a Michelin star. A group of us all shoved into a literal clothing store, next door, pulled up some tables and dug into simple meat tacos. Where they worth a star? I’m not sure, but I think other tacos we had on the tour were much better. Maybe I needed to be braver about the spicy sauces.

I wish I could direct you to the taco truck we stopped at as well, It might be called “El Paisa”. I had my favorite taco there covered in fresh cilantro and onions. With a tiny tequila shot alongside the best taco I’ve ever had, it made the whole night a welcoming introduction to Mexico City’s street food and beyond.

Salon Tenampa

The tour went well into the evening, concluding at the famous Salon Tenampa. This is hailed the oldest bar in Mexico City and is known for Mariachi bands and music. It’s a colorful atmosphere of decor and music, with lots of taco dishes and drinks to boot. We started the meal with a traditional beverage that had pomegranate juice, walnuts and tequila in a clay mug. 

A medley of five songs is about 750 pesos, or $37. The bands sometimes play at the same time, but with them surrounding each table, the music is still clear and exceptional.

If you’re too full for a proper meal by the evening, just order the flan for dessert. It was one of the best I ever had.

There’s also bands and players in Plaza Garibaldi where Salon Tenampa is located. At night there weren’t many tourists. So it might be a a better spot during the day if you’d like to hear Mariachi music outside.

Day two: Xochimilo’s Agricultural Magic

After diving into downtown Mexico City, I visited one of the richest agricultural areas of the world. This is partly due to the volcanic soil that makes everything super lush and fertile. There’s also man-made canals for irrigation and transportation. In the past, farmers could take these canals from the city all the way to the gardens and growing produce, but now people who work the land live close to Xochimilco for access. It’s encouraged to not use any diesel motors and leave no trace to protect the land.

You take a raft-like boat down the canals to pass by various farms and pretty scenery. In the evening, these boats are packed with visitors and locals alike for libations and mariachi music, if that’s more your scene.

Arca works to preserve traditional farming

In Xochimilco, there is a farm that doubles as an off the grid restaurant called Arca Tierra. And as if it couldn’t get any more special, I was treated to a cooking class led by an incredible zero waste chef Mariana Orozco, who gave each table a dish to make in real time.

Our women-only team efficiently prepped pounds of beets to sauté with olive oil, vinegar, honey, and salt and pepper. Simple and absolutely perfect, it was all sourced directly from the farm. It’s made me want to check out local farmers markets, and other ways to source my produce so less does go to waste in my home in the future. 

You need to make arrangements ahead of time to visit Arca for special events they host at the property. I don’t think there are regular hours. I was able to enjoy the exclusive event with Chef Mariana through the Marriott Bonvoy Moments program, which allows guests to bid with points on incredible travel experiences all over the world.

You can work on gaining Marriott points good for free stays and moments through the Marriott Bonvoy Bold credit card.

With Mexico City being so big and offering so much by way of incredible food, it’s well worth hiring a guide or taking a tour, if only to get your barings. I hope to go back as soon as I can to dive deeper into the city’s tasty tacos and so much more.