I had an amazing month long stay at Antonio’s place. This review is not just a praise for the place but will give you some insight if you’ve never been to Mexico city and the country before.
Let’s get the elephant out of the room i.e Wifi: my remote work life depends on it and the place took care of it. Its super fast, reliable and well suited for zoom and teams video calls.
House: Great for 2 people or small family. It goes beyond expectation for a remote worker. With its heritage building like architecture, the place from the inside is quite modern and quickly made me feel like home. Its well ventilated, secure and clean.
Location: Conveniently located in the heart of the city yet slides away from the buzz and noise of downtown Mexico. Its located in Anzures, Polonco and is one of the safest and greenest neighbourhood in the city. Tell a local you stay in Polonco and they raise their eyebrows as if you told them you live in the Hamptons. The safety comes at a little extra pesos for shopping and classy dinners (not noticeable to the wallet if you earn in dollars). Street parking is easy to find (metered, free in the night). It’s a 7 minute walk to the beautiful Chapultepec park and a few more minutes to the Anthropology museum. Movie theatres, malls are a short uber ride. 3 minutes walk and you should try the Tacos and tortas of Taqueria Selene, a nearby eatery open until 4 am. Its delicious, affordable and hygienic. There are a ton of convenience stores and cafes nearby.
Nightlife: 10 minute Uber ride (60-70pesos) will take you to Roma Norte, an expat rich area filled with bars and restaurants offering good food, beer, mezcals, whiskey, you name it!
Health: There’s gym a block away. The area is good for a walk even in the night. As mentioned, its very safe. There are a lot of parks like Chapultepec, Gandhi park and the streets are quite and well lit. You can also go for a nice walk and run to the Av. Paseo De la Reforma in the night to see the Angel of independence and other heritage sites. A lot of night joggers, cyclists flock to this area. The presence of police all night makes it quite safe.
El Otro cafe: This is Antonio’s own cafe which offers amazing coffee and breakfast. Victor in the cafe speaks English and will take due care. Some items in the breakfast were included in my rent, the best dish among them to try out was Molletes. Not included in the rent is a full menu. Try out Chilaquiles! This is a breakfast brunch kinda café, affordable, not swanky and has an artistic look. It can get busy in the late mornings but I always found a spot inside to hook up my laptop and work remotely when I got bored at home
Host: Antonio is a great host. Having lived in London and New York, he understands the intricacies of expat living. Born and raised in the city, he’s a treasure of knowledge to advise you on the ins and outs of Mexico city. I had some fun and insightful conversations with him and another guest on his terrace upstairs over some scotch and Tortas ! He respects your privacy and space by not proactively inviting you so make sure that you ask him instead. He was quick to reply and accommodated all my requests during the stay. A Mexico city veteran, it’s worth taking travel tips from him and how to navigate through the city.
Other tips for first time international travellers:
Avoid Liverpool mall: too pricey, not worth.
Don’t drink on the street or litter. Throw the western stereotypes out of the window that as an entitled gringo with dollars, you can get your way out. (People specially in this part of the city are well educated and friendly, value cleanliness and the authorities are strict) Respect them.
COVID:Wear a mask even if you’re vaccinated. Unlike Playa del Carmen and Cancun, Mexico city is not touristy and out of respect, you’re expected to wear it.
For Canadians and Americans: Buy your gadgets at home before coming here. Mexico has VAT and makes them expensive to purchase.
Bring winter clothes and a rain jacket. Check the weather. Although Mexico city is generally flat, it’s elevation is 7000 ft and can get pretty cold between September and February.
Avoid local taxis at all costs and opt for Uber. Its very safe and affordable.