The Complete Guide to La Condesa
Bohemian and gastronomic neighborhood, the Condesa neighborhood or simply “La Condesa”, is a neighborhood located west of the Historic Center of Mexico City
If you are hungry, want to have a coffee or just want to meet up with your friends, this magical neighborhood, with a youthful and relaxed atmosphere, will conquer you with its numerous attractions close to the center of CDMX.
Here’s a list of things you can do while you stay in this neighborhood:
Table of Contents
Restaurants
Lardo
Modern Mexican-European fusion place that offers brunch and creative pizzas.
$$$
Location: Agustín Melgar 6
Instagram: @lardomexico
Carbonvino
Cozy restaurant open to the street that serves grills with international flavor and Spanish cuisine.
$$$
Location: Av. Tamaulipas 61, Condesa.
Instagram: @carbonvino
El Caimancito
Small restaurant with outdoor seating, specializing in breakfast and seafood.
$$
Location: Cuernavaca 44 B
When: Tue-Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m. / Sun 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Instagram: @el_caimancito_condesa
Quentin
This cafe has become a classic. They always give their all in the service and in the cup.
$$
Location: Álvaro Obregón 64, Roma Norte
When: Mon-Fri 7:00 am to 10:00 pm / Sat-Sun 8:00 am to 10:00 pm
Instagram: @quentincafemx
Freims
Freims is the first restaurant in Mexico to specialize in squared sandwiches. Their concept is inspired by Marcus Frëims, a brave gourmet who dared to eat a Belgian waffle with his hand for the first time, folded in half, despite the honey and butter on his fingers. And with a little imagination and a lot of effort, Frëims Squared Sandwiches was born.
$$
Location: Ámsterdam 62B
Instagram: @freims.mex
Esquina del Chilaquil
Passed down through generations, this former tamale street vendor became famous once they started selling tecolotas (tortas de chilaquiles) based on their grandmother’s recipe.
Get your hands on one of their tecolatas – a bread roll spread with beans, a scoop of chilaquiles, crumbled cotja cheese, crema and your choice of flattened, breaded chicken milenasa, beef or pork. It’s absolutely messy, so don’t forget to grab some napkins!
This breakfast spot can have long lines. We walked past a couple times and the line varied significantly depending on the time and day of the week. Don’t forget to bring cash – it’s around 50 pesos (~$2.65 USD) for each torta, an outstanding value!
Location: Alfonso Reyes 139
Night Life
Bijou
Modern speakeasy drinkery room. We recommend you reserve to enjoy an incredible night.
Location: Sonora 189 B
When: Tue-Sat 7 p.m.–2 a.m.
Instagram: @bijou_drinkeryroom
Phoenix
This secret place is exquisite in its cocktails and its staff is highly helpful, which ensures an excellent atmosphere during the night.
Location: Cadereyta 16
When: Thu-Sat 11 p.m.–3:30 a.m.
Instagram: @phoenixcondesa_oficial
Baltra
This is an elegant and quiet bar inspired by Darwin’s travels to the Galapagos, offering original cocktails.
When: Sun-Wed 6 p.m.–12 a.m. / Thu-Sat 6 p.m.–2 a.m.
Instagram: @baltrabar
NIV
It is a place to enjoy wines and an internationally inspired menu. The place focuses a large part of its proposal on the search for small independent productions around the world – coming from countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany, and Mexico –, which are perfectly complemented by food.
Location: Atlixco 132
When: Wed-Sat 6 p.m.–1 a.m. / Sun 2-10 p.m.
Instagram: @nivbar.mx
Caiman Bar
Natural wines, classic cocktails and the food menu, in which canned food predominates (such as mussels, anchovies or sardines), and crunchy and salty food combination that always invites you to order another round of drinks.
Location: Nuevo León 120
When: Wed-Sun 5 p.m.–2 a.m.
Instagram: @caiman_bar
Parks, Streets, and Avenues
Amsterdam – The Art Deco Ring
This avenue is considered the endless street of Condesa. Designed by the architect José Luis Cuevas, Amsterdam resembles the shape of the track of the old Hipódromo de la Condesa, inaugurated in October 1910 by Don Porfirio Díaz. Amsterdam followed the example of the Roma neighborhood with its Orizaba street, by building a median in the center, and the avenue has a tree-lined central median and two very special models of benches covered with tiles.
Av. Nuevo León
In this street you will find coffee shops, restaurants, and endless beautiful houses and buildings. It is one of the main streets in La Condesa.
Mazatlán
Of the three avenues that cross Condesa/Roma from north to south (Mazatlán/Oaxaca, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas), Av. Mazatlán is, by far, the most beautiful. Unlike its sisters, which over the years were filled with bars and small businesses, Av. Mazatlán preserves its old mansions, buildings inhabited by families and new members of the neighborhood, schools and offices.
It is a pleasure to walk along its median, which is wide and suitable for your pet and family. Click here to see the map to this street
Alfonso Reyes
Alfonso Reyes is one of the most important avenues in the famous Condesa neighborhood in Mexico City, because this street houses different businesses, such as restaurants and bars that you can enjoy every day of the week.
Parque España
It was inaugurated in 1921 during the celebrations of the centenary of the consummation of independence. The park is a green area where there are spaces to walk with the family or walk your pet, there is an area with exercise equipment and a play area for children. Within the park is the monument to former president and general Lázaro Cárdenas and has a lake which is crossed by a rustic bridge. Sometimes free shows are presented here.
Parque México
Parque México is the most important park in the Condesa neighborhood in the city. It was designed, along with most of the neighborhood, by architect José Luis Cuevas in 1925 who had already designed the nearby Parque España in 1921. This park was inaugurated in 1927.
The most famous attribute of the park is the Lindbergh Forum. The enormous art deco plaza has an amphitheater in front of a sculpture of the same style and a fountain with a woman carrying two vessels of water.
This park has approximately 36,500 square meters and can be said to be one of the most visited parks in the city.
Coffee Shops
El Péndulo
Art, culture and good food. It is a combination between a cafeteria and a bookstore with bright architecture, open spaces, books and records that give an unmatched atmosphere to this place.
Location: Av Nuevo León 115
When: Mon-Sat 8:00 am to 11:00 pm / Sun 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
Instagram: @cafebreriaelpendulo
Cardinal Casa de Café
They offer delicious grain from the state of Nayarit and base their entire concept on an authentic specialty coffee shop. The dynamic consists of the baristas coming to your table and explaining in detail the method they will use to make a coffee to your liking and taste.
Location. Campeche 346
When: Mon-Sat 8 am to 9 pm / Sun 9 am to 8 pm
Instagram: @casacardinal
Hule
Enjoy a method coffee while sharing your favorite music and adding valuable vinyl to your collection.
Location: Michoacán 75
When: Mon 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m. / Tue 8:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. / Wed 8:30 a.m.–12 a.m. /Thu 8:30 a.m.–1 a.m./ Fri 8:30 a.m.–2 a.m. / Sat 10 a.m.–2 a.m. / Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Instagram: @hule.mx
Cultural
X Espacio
X Espacio de Arte is a very interesting Cultural Center in Mexico City that offers many options to those who like art and culture. There is theater, dance, yoga, an author store and an arts gallery.
Location: Avenida Mazatlan 5
Galería L
Gallery L is a contemporary art gallery focusing on emerging and established artists. Works by both Mexicans and foreign artists are selected. What sets the gallery apart is an inclination toward graphic work, and with a touch of design as well.
Location: Alfonso Reyes 216
When: Wed-Fri 11 a.m.–7 p.m. / Sat 11 a.m.–6 p.m. / Sun 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Concept Stores
Condesa is home to many unique concept stores, artisan boutiques, and showrooms. Don’t miss our favorite boutiques in Condesa:
As you can see, there are tons of beautiful spaces you can enjoy during your stay in La Condesa. Reach out to any of the staff to give you our best recommendations and remember to follow us on social media and tag us in you photos during your stay in La Condesa.
