Where I Stayed In Mexico City – Best Areas, Tips & Impressions

When I’m looking for a place to stay in a new city, I often just pull up a map, look for the main square, and try to stay as close to it as I can…. but with Mexico City, that ISN’T necessarily the best approach.

The best areas to stay in Mexico City are somewhat spread out, and whether you actually want to be near the Zocalo (the main square) depends a lot on your preferences.

As the biggest city in North America, it can feel overwhelming when trying to decide where to stay in Mexico City. Each area has its own vibe, so your location can have a huge impact on your trip and overall impressions. Luckily, I’m here to help!

Whether you’re here to visit all the incredible museums, have a crazy weekend partying, or simply to explore, I’ve got you covered.

Scroll along for my 6 favorite areas to stay in Mexico City and hotel tips for each…

CDMX neighborhood guide

1. Roma

✨Vibe: Beautiful parks, hipsters, cafes with outdoor seating, dog walkers, digital nomads, spacious residential streets

📍Location: Just a 15-minute drive or so from the sights in El Centro and Chapultepec Park

The leafy, spacious, and charming neighborhood of Roma makes for a great introduction to Mexico. Full of unique galleries and quirky cafes, it has a decidedly hipster vibe.

While I somewhat prefer other less-hyped areas of CDMX, such as Juarez, there is a reason I’m still listing Roma here first.

Being so welcoming and having an international feel, it’s become a bit of a default recommendation for first-time visitors. Roma is so popular with both tourists and foreign residents alike because it’s so leafy, low-traffic, and has plenty of cute markets and arty shops.

There are relatively fewer hotels in Roma and they tend to be higher-end. For example, there’s the beautiful Hotel San Fernando.

Roma became a popular area for middle-class citizens after the 1985 earthquake, but in the last ten years, it has become home to many foreigners and young Mexicans who have started gentrifying the area. It’s also known as a popular digital nomad area.

You’ll sometimes hear more English than Spanish in the trendy cafes here, but it’s undeniably a beautiful neighborhood and a perfect introduction for first-time visitors.

2. Juárez

✨Vibe: A bit of everything… leafy residential streets bounded by busy commercial avenues, beautifully restored gothic-style mansions next to (a few) derelict buildings… the definition of up-and-coming

📍Location: Ideally located between El Centro, Roma, and Chapultepec Forest; the Alameda Central park is within walking distance

Juárez is one of the most eclectic neighborhoods of CDMX. If you ask me, it’s also one of the most underrated. Compact, charming, and centrally located, it makes for a perfect base in Mexico City — especially if you’re looking for somewhere a bit less touristy.

I’ve stayed here at the Hotel Benedicta, which is an excellent mid-range option with a colorful and very Mexican-style interior. I highly recommend it!

Juárez is a trendy area but also maintains its local charms. Much like Roma, it has its share of specialty cafes with outdoor seating and cozy art and boutique shops, but you may feel more like you’re truly inside the Mexican capital with authentic street tacos just around any corner.

Juárez has started to become one of the most popular places for young locals in recent years. After La Condesa and Roma became mega popular and the cost of living in those neighborhoods rose, all the cool kids started making their way north, so to speak.

For how big Mexico City is, staying in Juárez makes you feel like you’re in a small town with its tight-knit community and local markets. It’s my personal favorite area to stay that is close to all the action.

💡Something you should not miss while here is to grab some colorful Mexican trinkets to take home at the Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela, a traditional market with handmade items from all over Mexico.

3. La Condesa

✨Vibe: Residential and spacious streets with trendy cafes and brunch places. Less hipstery than Roma and not as posh as Polanco

📍Location: Arguably somewhat far from El Centro, but right next door to Chapultepec park, home of the stunning anthropological museum

After going to Mexico City a handful of times, La Condesa continues to romance me with its streets lined with trees and the art deco design that seemed to captivate the whole city. You might even get a sense of a European vibe as you take in the architecture and the many outdoor cafes.

I’ve stayed here at Casa Pancha, a boutique hostel that certainly fits the style of La Condesa while also being budget-friendly. However, instead of hostels you’ll mainly find boutique apartments and B&Bs in this area, like this Mexican-style penthouse on Airbnb.

Thanks to some of the finer hotels and restaurants located here, La Condesa is perfect for a boutique stay in CDMX. The area is somewhat upscale, though not to the level of the super-exclusive district of Polanco. I love how it’s a little bit fancy but also very soulful.

Condesia is definitely one of the best neighborhoods to stay in if you’re working remotely. You’ll find cafes full of laptops where mostly internationals take Zoom meetings and get some work done before the sun goes down. Once it does, La Condesa becomes a chic bar scene with a ton of different options to choose from.

4. Centro Histórico

✨Vibe: The sense that you’re in the beating heart of the city with lots of tourist sights and monuments; a bit of a deserted feeling at night

📍Location: You can’t be more central!

For first-timers who want to spend their days exploring the history and culture of CDMX, the Centro Histórico is an appealing option. The neighborhood is literally the heart of the city as it surrounds the Zocalo (main square) and puts you right in the middle of the action.

It’s within walking distance of all the most popular museums and historical landmarks, such as the National Palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral.

However, when the shops close at night, the streets can also have a bit of an empty feeling. It’s a safe enough area, but you may notice more police presence because of the many government buildings around (don’t let that give you the wrong impression!).

El Centro is great especially during the day, and it wins handily in terms of practicality and sightseeing potential, as everything is just a walk away.

If you can, I recommend staying west of the Zocalo (main square), towards the charming Alameda Central Park. This is a much better area and will put you within perfect walking distance of the most sights. The Casa Lomah Hotel is an excellent option here, which is still within a 15-minute walk to the main square.

5. Polanco

✨ Vibe: Upscale residential area nestled between business districts; lots of luxury apartments and high-end hotels, and shopping

📍 Location: Somewhat far removed from the tourist sites, but close to Chapultepec Park, which is home to some of the city’s top museums.

If you love to spend your evenings dining at five-star restaurants, perusing galleries with a bubbly in hand, or purchasing some luxury items, then Polanco is where you’ll want to be.

The area is known for its high rises and luxury apartments, and can make just about any visitor feel like a million bucks.

Due to its high affluence, it’s perhaps a little less soulful than other areas. Among the Hyatt Regency, the foreign embassies, and the Leica and Hermes shop windows, you’ll find many walled-off modern homes with security fences and private parking garages.

I’m probably not the target audience for Polanco as the hotels are a bit out of my price range, but if you are a luxury-loving traveller, then look no further than one of Mexico City’s most affluent (and safest) neighborhoods.

There are hotels costing over $1000 per night here, but you can also find some mid-budget gems, such as the Casa Amari.

If you’re big on fine dining, you’ll immediately fall in love with Polanco. The neighborhood has multiple restaurants on the World’s 50 Best List, including Pujol and Quintonil.

6. Coyoacán

✨ Vibe: The feeling of being in a village inside a city. Tree-lined streets, cafes with outside seating, and a mostly ‘local’ atmosphere

📍 Location: The only downside is being 30 minutes driving south of the tourist center. However, you’re very close to the Frida Kahlo museum and the canals of Xochimilco

Coyoacán is a colorful little neighborhood in Mexico City. Once its own town before CDMX grew to envelop it, you can still feel the village-like vibes in Coyoacán.

The barrio is famous for being the birthplace of the artist Frida Kahlo, with her former home having become one of the most-visited museums in Mexico City.

But there is so much more charm than just the people who come from the neighborhood. The cobblestone streets are lined with colorful houses and green parks, perfect for a leisurely stroll or to sit and relax.

Best Airbnbs in Mexico City

1. Tlalpan Girasol Apartment – best authentic stay with view $

Tucked into Tlalpan, one of the city’s oldest and most local-feeling neighbourhoods, this 2-bedroom apartment offers a quiet & more grounded stay compared to what you can find in Roma/Condesa.

You’ll be surrounded by the city’s everyday street life and neighbourhood markets, with noticeably fewer tourists. You’re about 20 minutes from Coyoacán.

The apartment delivers in terms of amenities and features a shared rooftop barbecue with views over southern CDMX, which makes it ideal for couples, groups of friends, or small families (the property set up to accommodate up to 4 guests).

check details & price

2. Roma Norte Rooftop Condo – best for small groups, families $$

A restored Porfirian building brought to life with bold colours, vintage furniture, and a warm, sunlit deck. It’s hosted by Karina, who’s been doing this for over a decade – and it shows in every detail.

Inside, you’ll find two comfortable bedrooms and an Asian-inspired kitchen, all set in one of Roma Norte’s best locations.

check details & price

3. Maru’s Coyoacán garden cottage – best for couples $$

A private cottage tucked into the back of a colonial garden that feels less like borrowing a friend’s guesthouse. The place has skylights that bring in views of sky and treetops, and a garden that wraps gently around the space, keeping everything calm and unforced.

Well located for exploring Coyoacan, it also works as a calm retreat to come back to at the end of the day.

check details & price

4. Condesa Terrace Loft – best for solo travellers $$

A beautifully designed loft in the heart of Condesa that opens fully onto a large private terrace. There’s no kitchen, but a restaurant sits right across the street, and everything else Condesa has to offer is just a short walk away.

Best suited for solo travelers or couples who are drawn to thoughtful design, a prime location, and somewhere decent to watch the sunset.

check details & price

Tips for staying in Mexico City

To make the most of your visit to this dynamic metropolis, here are some essential travel tips that will help you navigate the city like a local, stay safe, and discover the authentic experiences that make CDMX truly special.

Are there areas to avoid in Mexico City?

I’m not gonna lie: there are definitely some bad areas in Mexico City!

The safer areas are generally west of the Zocalo (main square) or the southwest. This includes the areas mentioned in this article. If you head south or east from the Zocalo, you’re likely to end up in some bad areas.

Areas that are near tourist areas that have a bad reputation include Doctores (east of Roma) and Tepito (north of the Zocalo). However, most neighborhoods you are unlikely to end up in as a tourist, as they are distant suburbs.

Are there other areas to stay?

Yes! We’ve only highlighted 6 areas to stay in Mexico City that each have something different to offer, but there are many others.

Cuauhtémoc, San Rafael, and San Angel are some other examples of areas with a good reputation where you can look for accommodation.

You can often find great hotel deals in areas that are not the super-popular Roma or Condesa. On my most recent stay in CDMX, I found a great hotel in the mostly commercial district of Cuauhtémoc for an incredible price. However, this is less of a tourist area, so some visitors may feel like they’re missing out by staying in an alternative area.

What’s the best way to get around?

While your chosen location will matter a lot for the vibe around your hotel, for sightseeing it ultimately doesn’t matter too much. Wherever you may be located, you can still move around the city easily and see everything you want t osee.

The metro system is pretty decent, though it breaks down a lot and can get super crowded during rush hour. I only recommend taking the metro if you’re traveling on a budget.

Otherwise, your best bet is to use ride-hailing apps like Uber. While (rush hour) traffic can slow you down sometimes, it’s still a comfortable and generally speedy way to get around the neighborhoods that are of greatest interest to tourists.