Máximo Bistrot: Máximo Bistrot is kind of French, kind of Mexican, and a can't-miss restaurant for brunch, dinner, or lunch. The buzzing, atrium-like space is a dreamy backdrop for either meal—the tables toward the back are especially pleasant during the day, when sunshine pours in through the skylight and filters through the leaves a big, indoor tree—and even when it’s not full, it still feels like the place to be.

Marmota: Located in the heart of Roma, Marmota is known for its hearty food with farm-to-table local produce and meat. The food is largely wood-oven cooked and charred, and pairs well with their large selection of ciders.

Taverna: Taverna may just be the most beautiful restaurant in all of CDMX. It’s housed in a historical hacienda from 1905 that’s recently been restored and most of the restaurant is lit by candlelight. Most of the Mediterranean-inspired dishes are roasted in a wood-burning oven and pair perfectly with signature cocktails. Our wedding planner raves about Taverna and it's located right next to Publico Prim.

Tamales Madre: A new experimental kitchen dedicated to exploring traditional preparations of tamales and other masa-based dishes using ancient corn varieties.

Contramar: You will see Contramar at the top of every list of best restaurants in CDMX. It's become legendary for its seafood-focused menu, most notably the tuna tostadas and whole fish covered in red and green sauce.

Rosetta: Has become one of the most popular restaurants in Mexico City due to the incredible design and greenery of the old hacienda that the restaurant is housed in and the restaurant's homemade breads and high-quality Mexican ingredients with a menu that changes frequently.

Le Tachinomi Desu: Japanese speakeasy standing-only restaurant and natural wine bar. Only 2-3 dishes are offered nightly, menu changes daily.

Meroma: Cuisine can be described as contemporary, wide-ranging in the technique, and above all focused, naturally, on the products of the Mexican land and sea

San Ángel Inn: Next door to Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo. The Inn originally opened in June 1963 and the owners have since preserved the beauty of the original gardens, as well as the hacienda’s physical structure. Try their famous margarita that's been around since the 1960s.

Nicos: A neighborhood restaurant serving traditional Mexican food with a communal atmosphere.

Plantasia: Great vegan restaurant with vegan sushi options and other plant-based food in a bright space filled with greenery.

Galanga Thai House: Another great option for vegans and vegetarians that's highly recommended by our photographer!

El Parnita: Slightly more upscale but still casual taco spot with lots of seating in a light-filled space. They will often have live music and are also known for their cocktails/homemade sauces.

Tacqueria Orinoco: You can't leave Mexico City without experiencing Orinoco's chicharrón tacos. Their chicharrón tacos feature Monterrey-style fried pork rinds topped off with thin slices of avocado and served with baby-roasted potatoes and an array of homemade salsas. There are multiple Orinoco locations but our favorites are the Roma Norte and Zona Rosa locations.

El Turix: Our other favorite tacos in CDMX. The menu is small (there are four things total) and served Yucatan-style, meaning everything will be filled with sweet, citrus marinades and salsas. We recommend ordering both their cochinita pibil tacos and the panucho, an open-face tortilla with thicker corn dough.

Jenni's Quesadillas: Arguably the best quesadillas in CDMX. This is a stall that's set up in the middle of Roma Norte that churns out incredible quesadillas in a variety of flavors with homemade blue-corn tortillas. They have unique vegan/vegetarian options like mole verde, zucchini flowers, potatoes, and garden greens, and you can easily request your quesadilla without cheese.

El Pescadito: Specializes in a quesotote taco: a corn tortilla filled with an entire chile relleno and fried shrimp. This is a casual, cafeteria-style spot with a short menu of fried shrimp tacos, fried fish tacos, and plenty of beer.

Tlacoyos Medellin: You can't leave CDMX without trying a tlacoyo: A football-shaped pocket of blue-corn masa stuffed with ricotta-like cheese, pureed black beans, mashed favas, or crispy chicharron. After it's cooked, it's sliced open and topped with nopales, shredded cheese, onion, cilantro, and salsa. This food stall makes some of the best in the city.

Tacos Don Juan: Don Juan is known for their tacos de suadero filled with thinly sliced beef meat, but they also do an incredible quesabirria loaded with savory goat birria meat and sauce.

La Reyna de la Roma and Taqueria El Gran Abanico: Both great sit down spots for amazing carnitas tacos

El Califa Roma: Casual, sit-down spot that's a great place to grab a beer and some incredible pastor tacos.

Taqueria "Los Amigos": One in a line-up of taco stalls -- great for a late-night snack.

Cicatriz: Happening local spot for espresso drinks, light fare, and natural wines, located on a peaceful corner of Colonia Juarez, right near Publico Prim.

Almanegra Café: Known to be the best coffee in Mexico City. For the coffee nerds: They use a La Marzocco GS3 for espresso drinks and also have manual brewers including the Eva Solo, Chemex, Japanese syphon, and Hario V60.

Panaderia Rosetta: This tiny cafe/bakery across the street from the main Rosetta restaurant serves fantastic coffee and pastries (including a famous guava pastry). It can get very crowded on the weekends but there are two other locations in Roma and Juarez. If you are getting pastries to go, the line moves pretty quickly. Amazing mocha coffee as well.

Tierra Seca: Very small mezcaleria located right near Contramar. The owner is a great storyteller and will regale you with how mezcal is made while you sample a flight of their house mezcal or sip on an incredible coffee-infused mezcal negroni.

Tokyo Music Bar: A beautiful speakeasy with a hardcore vinyl collection (reservations required).

Pulquería “Las Duelistas:" Go here to experience the roots of Mexico City drinking culture. Dozens of varieties of pulque (a slightly alcoholic fermented drink) that's unique to CDMX.

La Botica: Casual spot to people watch while you sip on some cheap mezcal and beers.

La Nacional Roma: Mezcaleria with an incredible selection and a laid-back vibe. It’s a great place to get a mezcal education—the menu is an intersecting web that connects agave varieties to over 100 mezcals.

La Clandestina: Great bar to try a variety of mezcal in a moody and candle-lit interior. Be prepared to get to know your neighbors and make some friends :)

Hugo El Wine Bar: A very popular new natural wine bar in Roma. Many of their wines are from Mexico’s wine region in Valle de Guadalupe that's known to have some of the best varieties of orange wines in the city. They also serve small plates. Can be hard to get a reservation so you can also try arriving on the very early side.

CANOPIA: Another great natural wine bar with vibey music and a really cool interior. They also have small plates for dinner or appetizers.

Teclan: A mezcal bar that's known for its sleek interior and inventive cocktails. Go here to try some creative drinks like their Negroni Coco.

Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul): Kahlo's birthplace and childhood home, where she and Diego Rivera lived for a number of years. Contains artwork by Kahlo and Rivera, as well as the couple's collection of Mexican folk art, pre-Hispanic artifacts, photographs, memorabilia, personal items, and more. The house itself is beautiful with colorful gardens and unique architecture.

Architecture Tour: Mexico City is a great city to explore for design and architecture lovers. One of the most well-known to visit is Casa Luis Barragán, which is the former residence of architect Luis Barragán in Miguel Hidalgo district. While you are in the area, visit Casa Gilardi, which is just a few blocks away and another Barragán home. Both homes exemplify Barragán's unique style: contrasting, brilliant yellows, pinks, and blues, clean lines, an innate understanding of natural light, and seamless integration of the interior and exterior patio. They are also a great setting for photos and photography in general! Book tickets in advance if you would like to visit.

National Museum of Anthropology: Contains the world's largest collection of ancient Mexican art and also has ethnographic exhibits about Mexico's present-day indigenous groups.

Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo: The famous twin- house compound connected by an elevated bridge, formerly shared by the two artists. Designed by famed painter and architect Juan O'Gorman in the 1930s, the stunning and airy spaces are filled with works by Rivera and Kahlo. Be sure to have a leisurely meal at San Angel Inn across the street.

Vintage Shopping: Roma Norte has an incredible selection of vintage shops if you want to spend a couple hours looking for your new favorite vintage piece. Melissa's favorites are: Goodbye Folk, ERRE Vintage (great men's selection), Back to Life Vintage Clothing, and Roma Vintage.

Visit Biblioteca Vasconcelos: A jaw-dropping "megalibrary" that turns book-browsing into a geometric adventure. Situated among lush gardens and covering an area of over 38,000 square meters, this floating matrix of books is known both for its size and the undeniable sense of import conveyed by the structure itself.

Watch the Famous Lucha Libre: Catch a famous masked Mexican wrestling match at either the Arena Mexico or the Arena Coliseo. Tickets can either be purchased online or at the door -- try to get into the bottom tier of seats closest to the ring if possible.

Explore Plaza Río de Janeiro: Stroll the beautiful turn-of-the-century and Art Deco mansions of Roma, either before or after a leisurely lunch at Rosetta. At the center of this lovely park is a bronze replica of Michelangelo's David in the center of a fountain. Grab some sweets from the neighboring Dulceria de Celaya just down the street, gaze at David’s glutes, and people-watch on a park bench.

Take a Day Trip to Teotihuacan: Teotihuacan, City of the Gods, is an obvious first choice for a day trip from Mexico City. The most well-known Meso-American site nearby to the capital, the Aztecs inhabited Teotihuacan from around the 13th century, though it’s a subject of debate who actually built it. The Pyramid of the Sun is the third largest in the world, and can be climbed for some pretty epic views of the pyramid complex and surrounding scenery. We recommend taking an Uber to get there: the ~$20 USD ride is about 45 minutes one-way, and it's easy to get a return Uber from the entrance.

Spend a Day on the Water in Xochimilco: 45 minutes south of the city by car, these "floating gardens“ are a UNESCO World Heritage site where you will find the last remnants of a vast water transport system built by the Aztecs. Colorful gondola- like boats take visitors on cruises while food vendors, artisans, and mariachi bands float past.

Enjoy a Mezcal & Taco Tour: Mexico City has incredible street food and one of the best ways to experience it is by booking a street food or mezcal & taco tour with a local. There many options to book through Airbnb Experiences like this one and this one.