If you’re heading to Mexico City (CDMX) for the very first time, as I did recently, you will likely have several questions, but one of the first will be finding the ideal spot to rest your head. What you probably know is that Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world and you will absolutely want to situate yourself someplace both interesting and convenient.

Let me just cut to the chase and let you know the area of Mexico City I recommend most: La Condesa and Roma Norte. You will hear others plug Polanco, but after experiencing it, I would exclude it for someone’s very first trip due to all the modern office buildings and exclusive gated properties. La Condesa and Roma Norte feel more central, historic, and much more beautiful.

Why La Condesa / Roma Norte?

Walkability

Situated at the center of most popular destinations, you’ll be able to walk (or very quick cab ride) everywhere. We walked to the museums, to the sites in the downtown, and of course, were in the right spot for great food and nightlife.

Coffee Scene

Coffee is important to me. I love having my first stop of the day be a small, neighborhood cafe where I can order a nice cup-o-joe and a local pastry, and just sit down and figure out my day. The coffee in and around La Condesa was excellent and I didn’t run out of local cafes to try.

Bars

The nightlife of La Condesa and Roma Norte ranges from classic sidewalk cafes, to unbelievably cool cocktail bars, to old-school mezcal spots. Why not stay a few blocks away from all that so you can walk home after drinking one too many strong pours?

Food

Food is the reason many people travel to CDMX to begin with. So much excellent food at reasonable prices! Whether you make dinner reservations at the famous Contramar or Huset or want to experience the pastry heaven of Panaderia Rosetta Havre, save yourself the Uber rides and stay nearby.

Parks

I can not put enough emphasis on how gorgeous parks are in Mexico City. Parque Mexico, Parque Espana, Plaza Rio de Janeiro, and of course the ginormous Bosque de Chapultepec all are a quick walk when you stay in La Condesa or Roma Norte. Make yourself at home on a park bench and marvel at the number of adorable, well-trained dogs being walked. You’ll start wondering why people don’t talk about the parks of Mexico City more often.

Beauty

This final point may or may not be an obvious one. Some people might assume staying in downtown Centro will put them in the middle of it all. It may do that in some cities, but downtown in most cities is also dirty, touristy, loud, and decidedly lacking in charm during the evening hours.

Instead, when I first stay in a city, I try to locate an area a local person would choose as their favorite urban area to hang out, both day and night. In NYC that area would be the West Village and in Mexico City, it is La Condesa and Roma Norte. You will find green leafy streets, adorable, brightly-colored homes, and stylish locals. You’ll marvel at what plants and trees will actually thrive in this urban area: from bright red poinsettias to giant philodendrons and cactus gardens, your jaw will drop as you turn every corner in these adorable, yet convenient, Mexico City neighborhoods.

Airbnb or Hotel:

This of course is a personal choice, but I found the Airbnb options to be so plentiful and of such high quality, not to mention affordable, that I chose to stay at an Airbnb on the Condesa/Roma Norte line. For me, this was the perfect choice, but know there are also dozens of beautiful hotel choices in this area, from basic ($50+) to luxury boutique ($300+). My Airbnb was $90/night and incredibly chic.

Do you have a favorite neighborhood in Mexico City? Leave a comment below!