I went to Mexico City with my mom, dad, and brother in March of 2025. This had been a bucket list location for my brother and I, so when I realized I could cover four nights’ accommodations with the points bonus I got from my Hilton Surpass card, I thought we might as well make a trip out of it! Read ahead to see what we got up to and of course, what I most recommend.
Day 1: Arrive in Mexico City
Upon arrival in Mexico City, we checked into our hotel, the Hilton Reforma. I booked our stay for 40,000 Hilton points per night, but the hotel usually runs about $300 per night. We found the hotel to be well-located, and we enjoyed the rooftop pool and patio area.
After freshening up at the hotel, we went for dinner at Lismosneros. This is a Michelin-recommended spot with delicious food and an elevated vibe – I would highly recommend this spot to anyone! We walked around the park near our hotel after dinner and stopped to grab a beer before turning in for the evening.
Day 2: Castles, Museums, and City Views
This morning we paid a visit to the gorgeous Chapultapec Castle. At the top of a hill in Chapultapec Park stands this 18th century palace that now houses the National Museum of History. The castle itself and the grounds are jaw-dropping, but you can also score some incredible views of Mexico City from the gardens.
We had coffee and lunch at Libreria Porrua. This bookstore/cafe combo is the perfect place to stop in before you visit the National Anthropology Museum, which is right across the street. The anthropology museum is an absolute marvel – there is SO much to explore and I think anyone would find something that interests them here. There’s a reason why this museum is on everyone’s must-visit list.
Before the sun had set, we made a beeline to the Ritz Carlton hotel to have a drink at Carlotta Reforma. This bar is very high up in the hotel and offers 360 degree views of Mexico City. There’s even an indoor-outdoor patio that makes you feel like you’re floating above the city. I felt like the drink prices were pretty reasonable despite this being a five-star hotel.
For dinner this night we wanted a more authentic experience, so we went to Cantina Salon Rios. The chicken tortilla soup here was unbelievably good! I got this recommendation from a friend and loved it, so I’m happy to pass it on here.
Day 3: Architecture and Upscale Dining
We started day three with a visit to perhaps the most unique library you’ll ever see. This is Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico City’s public library. This massive library is so large, the books appear to be suspended in midair amongst several floors of bookshelves. It’s free to visit, so I highly recommend stopping in just to marvel at the architecture in this place.
Next we visited Mexico City’s most recognizable building, the Palacio de Bellas Artes. It only costs about $5 to enter, but I don’t think it’s necessarily worth going inside. The real marvel of the building is the outside of it (and on day four you’ll find my tip to get the very best view).
We had a delicious churro lunch at Churreria El Moro Centro before stopping by the House of Tiles, a former palace covered in gorgeous tiles that now has a restaurant inside. We followed this up with a visit to Palacio Postal, a truly magnificent building that used to be the main post office. It’s free to visit, so this is another spot I highly recommend stopping in to see the incredible architecture.
For dinner this night we were celebrating my mom’s birthday, so we went for the four-course menu at Balcon del Zocalo. This upscale restaurant is right next to a gorgeous cathedral and has a beautiful patio overlooking the main square. Although it is on the pricier side, we thought this was an excellent celebratory dinner and the portion sizes were very generous.
Day 4: Sears and a soccer game
The best place to see Palacio de Bellas Artes in all her glory is also the last place you’d expect. Inside the Sears (yes, the department store) across the street, there is a small cafe with a rooftop patio that perfectly overlooks Bellas Artes. There is usually a line to get in, and you will have to purchase a coffee or other beverage, but it’s totally worth the effort for the view you get.
It’s worth a quick stop inside the Gran Hotel Cuidad de Mexico for a view of the hotel lobby and the incredible ceiling. The hotel was featured in a couple of James Bond films and is very famous for its interior design. We weren’t able to get drinks at the hotel, so we stopped at Bar Pata Negra instead. This was a classic-style bar with books as decor which I always love.
We didn’t have enough time to go out to eat, so we ordered Shake Shack to the hotel while we got ready for the night’s activity. My brother had purchased tickets for us to go to the Club America soccer match! We had bought jerseys at a market in the city, so we put those on and took an Uber to the game. It was SO much fun – if you are ever in Mexico City and have the opportunity to attend a game, I would highly, highly recommend it!
Day 5: Fly Home
We had one final breakfast at the hotel before saying goodbye to this beautiful place. I had a feeling I would love Mexico City, but didn’t expect to love it *this* much! The city is absolutely beautiful, the people are so friendly, and there is a never-ending list of things you can do here. I will 10000% be back…who wants to go with me next time?!
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