For my birthday, Kai took me on a bougie three-day getaway to Mexico City! Having visited CDMX a few times before, he wanted to curate an itinerary focused on a few unforgettable experiences and had a mission to make Mexican cuisine one of my top 5 favorites. We set out to soar over the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacan in a hot air balloon, immerse ourselves in art at Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul, and indulge in a once-in-a-lifetime dinner at Quintonil, the top rated restaurant in the country. We stayed at the luxurious Four Seasons and flew direct from Salt Lake City on Delta Airlines (I connected through Spokane). Here’s the itinerary Kai curated with links.
3 Days in Mexico City
Day 1: Arrival and Exploration
- 2:45 PM: Arrive in Mexico City. Arrange an Uber.
- 3:00 PM: Check into Four Seasons Hotel.
- Evening:
- Explore the city and grab a bite to eat.
- Walk down Paseo de la Reforma towards El Ángel.
- 5:45 PM: Dinner reservation at Balcón del Zócalo.
- After dinner, enjoy churros at Churrería El Moro.
- Sunset at 6:21 PM: Capture cool photos.
Day 2: Cultural Immersion
- Breakfast: Panadería Rosetta for a light breakfast.
- Morning:
- Visit Chapultepec Park & Castle (opens at 9 AM). Purchase tickets ahead of time.
- Lunch: Molino El Pujol for a unique dining experience.
- 1:00 PM: Join an exclusive Frida Kahlo tour (4-4.5 hours).
- Dinner: Enjoy Argentinian cuisine
Day 3: Adventure and Fine Dining
- 5:00 AM: Pick up from hotel for hot air balloon flight.
- Explore: Pyramids of Teotihuacan (9-hour round trip).
- Evening:
- 5:30 PM: Dinner reservation at Quintonil.
Day 4: Final Explorations and Departure
- Breakfast: Enjoy chilaquiles at the hotel.
- Morning:
- Visit Palacio de Bellas Artes.
- Check out the Basilica of Our Lady Guadalupe.
- Go shopping for souvenirs.
- Optional: Private tour of Zócalo.
- Check-out by noon.
- 4:15 PM: Depart Mexico City.
Additional Activities (if time allows):
- Hiking in Desierto de los Leones National Park or Iztaccihuatl volcano.
- Food tour at Mercado de San Juan.
- Attend opera/ballet at Palacio de Bellas Artes.
- Morning yoga at Chapultepec Park.
- Explore Museo Soumaya for famous European art.
- Sample tacos at Taquería El Califa de León or Casa de Toño.
How the Trip went
We were able to stay aligned pretty closely with our meticulously planned itinerary—yet some spontaneity made for even better memories! Here’s what we added and what we’d change next time, including an awesome lead that made our trip pretty next level!
Day 1: We arrived on time & grabbing an Uber to the hotel was easy and inexpensive. I can’t imagine driving in a city like this!
Arriving at the Four Seasons – we loved the area of the City we were in, felt very safe, of course the hotel was clean and the staff was above and beyond. I didn’t pack very smartly, and forgot my hairbrush! They provided me with one. I forgot my workout clothes – they provide clothes for you! Such little luxuries that make a huge difference. The staff turns down our room – she came in and chatted while I was in the bath tub! My one and only complaint!
We didn’t get time to explore the city but headed straight for the Balcon Del Zocolo. We had better ideas in mind for food – but the views of the city, especially at sunset are the best, and so we gambled in hopes of being able to sit by the balcony. We lucked out! Our views of __________________ were incredible, and there was a Fito Paez concert playing below us. The food was actually really amazing too, and Kai had written on the reservation ahead of time that it was my birthday, so they gave me a dessert with a fun fiery sparkler.
Day 2 of the itinerary, we decided spontaneously to eat breakfast the Four Seasons hotel, and their Chilaquiles is one of the best breakfasts I have ever eaten in my life. I would eat this every day quite contentedly.
Chapultepec was insane like a marathon was taking place! I learned that the city just loves to go running on a Sunday morning, and I was sad I didn’t pack my running shoes to join in! Especially with all this eating.
Chapultlapec Park – made us a little uneasy to walk through because of the crime. One local tour guide yelled to: “get your camera in front of you!” But there are Police every.where in this city. Of my travels, I have never seen so many police patrolling in one city. I felt safe enough, but my guard was up. We walked to the castle–the only Royal Palace in the Americas and definitely a must see. Being British some of the royal things on display are underwhelming, but I loved the gardens and general vibe there.
We lost track of time here, and had to skip lunch. We grabbed an Uber to join our tour and made it by ONE. MINUTE. This was one of the main reasons why I wanted to visit Mexico City. I teach Art alongside photography, and have spent my life studying the life and works of Frida Kahlo. She is an inspiration. I am SO GLAD we did not miss this!!
There is no information posted at the museum and so if you didn’t have a guide or expert knowledge you are going to overlook SO many important things. For example, this unassuming, but cool looking urn – is where Frida’s ashes are stored, and where she is laid to rest.
After the Frida Kahlo tour our guide let us hop in his car, and he took us to Diego Rivera’s museum. It used to be his house. His was obsessed with _____________ and had a massive collection. His home/museum is an incredible piece of architecture. I learned _________________ but really, I was kinda getting bored and hungry.
Our tour guide told him that his boss wouldn’t allow him to create the food tour that he wanted to. My teacher mode kicked into gear – and I was like: “then create it by yourself anyway! Don’t let anyone clip your wings!” I volunteered us to be his gineua pigs.
The Spontaneous “No Tiene Madre Taco Tour”
First, we stopped by a street vendor for some helotes and churros. Oh my gosh, yes.
Stop 1. Michellin Star Street Tacos @
Stop 2. Tik Tok famous Tacos @
Stop 3. Tacos @
Stop 4: His neighborhood street tacos:
Verdict:
The next day: Teotihuacan. It was very well organized. We don’t go on group tours- and will always take private when we can, but if you go on a group tour, you are flying out with hundreds of other people and balloons expanding the sky, which makes for much better photography! I can’t believe we got to float around in a hot air balloon over _______________ and the 3rd largest pyramid in the world.
They dropped us off to walk around after for 3 HOURS! I was like, what are we going to do? We walked the site for 3 hours, and honestly were just happy to be in the sun!
We had lunch with the tour company – mariachi were singing, and I tried cactus for the first time. Kai’s mission of Mexican food being in my top 5…. Cactus went up to the top 5 most disliked foods- the slime. I just can’t!
It was a pretty full 9 hour day in the sun! What a better way to end than at Quintonil. We got the reservation the minute it went live. I have never eaten at a fancier place in my life. I loved everything about it – the ambience, the attention to detail, the care from the staff, the creative modern takes on the most traditional foods. The highlights: creamy enchiladas, rich mole con chocolate, smoky mussels cooked over coals, house made chocolates and the cutest pastry in the world at the end with pretty flowers all over! It was an experience (they had you swirl things, mix things, etc).
The next morning we had an itinerary to explore more of the city – but decided we couldn’t leave without visiting the bakery – our guide had told us his fave. pastry and to fold it up and eat it like a sandwich. My first Mexican hot chocolate.
And then…. as if we hadn’t eaten enough tacos, we stopped by El Califa and had an absolute FEAST! For like $40. I love this city. Took an uber back to CDMX, everything was smooth.
It was such an incredible bougie trip! I loved every minute of it and can’t wait to go back. The canals, the butterflies, running with the city, Argentine food…
Sarah Lous Life 
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