Mexico City is the New York City of Mexico with its bustling nightlife and vibrant restaurant scene. Merida is filled with hip shops and colorful distressed buildings. It’s also just a few hours from Chichen Itza, a wonder of the world. Check out our adventures in food, luxury and natural wonders.
Mexico City
Let’s begin with Mexico City, the nation’s capital with a population of 20 million people. One of the busiest and largest cities in the world is home to the country’s urban elite and the Aztec’s rich history and culture.
An exclusive hotel with only 17 rooms located in the heart of Mexico City offers their guests a combination of Venetian regal and colonial style with local’s indigenous culture in their décor. Once guests enter the premises, they will feel a rich culture that is embedded at the once oldest residential property in Mexico City. The spacious rooftop bar overlooks the city’s rich destinations such as Torre Latino Americana and Casino Espanol. With a very ancient type décor comes an ultra-modern guest rooms that is one of a kind on all their 17 units, so every room offers a unique interior complete with all the high-end trimmings.
Floating Gardens of Xochimilco
Xochimilco which means “Place of the Flowers” in Nahuatl (Aztec’s indigenous language). This canal is filled with color gondolas that each are named after a women. Today, the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco is still used by the locals to grow their flowers and crops while being one of the nation’s most treasured tourist spots. As you cruise through the water, vendors will come up to you on other boats and offer food, drinks and entertainment. We enjoyed the traditional Mariachis as they played traditional Mexican songs.
Known for his extraordinary creations and rich flavors, chef Jorge Vallejo transforms modern Mexican cuisine into a gastronomic experience. Located in Mexico City’s high-end Polanco district, the restaurant only uses the best ingredients sourced from the nation’s small-scale producers that will ensure an elevated home-cooked feel for their patrons. The interior is chic, modern, and sophisticated that is in line with their food philosophy. We tried a Mexican delicacy, Escamoles which are ant larvae. They had a soft chewy sensation.
The museum opened their door to public in 1994 and is home to the largest collection by Auguste Rodin inspired pieces outside France. The museum’s core mission is to collect, research, and exhibit Mexico and Europe’s artistic heritage. With its futuristic exterior and spacious interior, the structure is massive. Works by Picasso, Dali, Tamayo, and Siqueros, and Rivera hang comfortably along with fifteenth century pieces from the Spanish empire.
A 24/7 churreria since 1934, this is a place for people of all ages to come and enjoy on the nation’s most favorite delicacy. Enjoy eight different types of hot chocolate and Consuelo- an ice cream sandwich with coiled churros on each end. The best way to enjoy your churros is by dipping it in the hot chocolate ( their best sellers are the Chocolate Especial and Chocolate Mexicano).
Also known as “La Casa Azui” or the Blue House, the Frida Kahlo House is both a museum showcasing the artist’s pieces and her childhood home and the home she shared with Diego Rivera. The museum showcased creations by Kahlo, Rivera, and other artists along with the couple’s Mexican folk art. Located in Colonial del Carmen area of Mexico city, the place is heavily guarded and surrounded by a number of borough’s museums. The museum offers a peek into the life of wealthy Mexican bohemian artists and intellectuals during the first half of the 20th century.
Enter a world of passion, where a robust ambiance is combined with a rich feminine mystique. The pink fantastic facade is adorned with flower stencils set against stark concrete. You are greeted by a massive flower arrangement of red gladiolas and a minimalist white spiral staircase. Dulce Patria is part of the 50 Best Restaurants in the World Latin America and reminds us of the movies Beetlejuice and Alice in Wonderland for its whimsical flare. It’s a place where the imagination has no boundaries and enchantment never dies.
Merida
Named the cultural capitals of the entire Yucatan Peninsula and “muy cosmopolitan”, the beautiful city is very popular among European travelers looking for a time to unwind and indulge in the city’s rich historical background.
This 15 room boutique hotel is located next to the Anthropology museum. It’s a popular destination for weddings and family reunions. Our stay was intimate as we relaxed on hammocks and went for a leisurely swim in the pool. Gastronomical chef Carlos Pacheco teaches cooking classes that start with a local tour of the farmer’s market. Guests come back to the kitchen to prepare and cook traditional Mexican cuisine.
Ku’uk which means sprouts or shoots in Mayan rings true to the restaurant’s philosophy of creating dishes with sprouts and shoots as their base. The concept is molecular gastronomy with local ingredients. There is a market where customers can purchase local delicacies and culinary workshops for food enthusiasts. For the ultimate foodie, you can have 14 courses which takes about 3.5 hours to complete.
Cenote Ik Kil
A cenote is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. Arguably the most beautiful cenote in Mexico is Cenote Ik Kil. These waters were considered sacred by the Mayans who used to perform human sacrifices to the rain god. Visitors must climb down 26 meters through caves. Once they are in the cenote, they can dive 40 meters below to the bottom.
As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Chichen Itza was once the center of ancient Mayan civilization. Admire the pyramid where human sacrifices were once performed and shop with the plethora of vendors that sell Mexican artifacts and souvenirs.
Using avant-garde cooking techniques and modern technology creates what critics now named “the new Yucatecan cuisine”. Executive chef Roberto Solis transformed the local cuisine into a modern fine dining incorporating flowers and herbs to feast both the eyes and palette. One of the restaurant’s best dishes that one must not miss is their fish topped with oregano and pureed yuca and banana. Chef Solis has perfected his craft in world-class restaurants such as Britain’s Fat Duck and Thomas Keller’s Per Se before opening Nectar in Merida.
For more information on these cities and others in Mexico, click here.