Mexico City is one of the world’s great cities and is a mecca for foodies with some of the best restaurants in the world and absolutely delectable street food, and plentiful mezcalerias abound to wash it all down.  Given that Mexico City has the 2nd largest number of museums in the world, you will have plenty of time to work off the calories while touring the Anthropology museum, Frida Kahlo, to the University Museum of Contemporary Art. A run through Chapultepec Park, double the size of NY’s Central park, on a dawn hot air balloon ride over the Aztec pyramids at Chapultepec, the options for a fabulous long weekend are endless. 

Mexico City is your next long weekend dilemma solved!! Or if you have a bit more time, combining Mexico City with a beach holiday in Puerto Vallarta, or a historic city such as Puebla, San Miguel de Allende, Oaxaca, or Merida makes for a culturally immersive journey for which you do not need to travel across the globe to enjoy!  

Four Seasons Preferred Partner Top Producers Event

I was lucky enough to be invited back to this city I so love for the Four Seasons Preferred Partner Top Producers eventwhere we discussed among colleagues and Four Seasons leadership the state of the industry and all of the innovations happening at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts worldwide.

The weekend was spent networking and carrying on with old friends, Directors of Sales and Marketing, and General Managers from Four Seasons properties around the globe. This is a group of friends who like to work hard, and play hard.

Exploring Mexico City

It goes without staying that a few of us started off the day with a run around Mexico City.

Mexico’s climate is classified as subtropical highland due to its tropical location and high elevation and many of the cities best hotels are within easy proximity to the massive Chapultepec Park, one of the oldest urban parks in the world.

Chapultepec Castle is home to the National History Museum and the National Museum of Anthropology, which has the country’s largest collection of Pre-hispanic pieces. The park houses 9 of the city’s musuems. The Niños Héroes monument honors the “chile heroes”, who reportedly died by at the castle in 1847 to avoid surrendering to US troops.

It may have been no coincidence that our gathering in Mexico City fell over the festive and famous holiday of Día de Muertos. What are Day of the Dead traditions?
Many people honor Day of the Dead by visiting the graves of dead relatives and loved ones. But they don’t necessarily go to mourn; instead, they clean the graves and headstones or decorate them with flowers.

The environment in the city resembles a party, with music, food and drinks. People come together to share stories of their loved ones — helping keep their memory alive. Many will paint their face to resemble a bare skull and wear costumes. Women especially will dress up as La Catrina, a tall female skeleton commonly depicted wearing a fancy gown and a lavish hat flaring over her head.

Though characters like La Catrina have become a symbol of Día de los Muertos, the imagery originates from Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada, who sketched it in 1910 as a mockery of Mexico’s upper classes.Many cities including Mexico City also celebrate the day with parades and festivals.

Gastronomy –

One of the best things to do in Mexico City however is to eat and drink.

As of May 2024, Mexico City boats 16 Michelin-starred restaurants, including two with two stars and 14 with one star: Both Quintonil and Pujol have earned two stars.
One-star restaurants: Em, Esquina Común, Rosetta, Sud 777, Taquería El Califa de León, Animalón, Cocina de Autor Los Cabos, Cocina de Autor Riviera Maya, Conchas de Piedra, Damiana, HA’, KOLI Cocina de Origen, Le Chique, Levadura de Olla Restaurante, Los Danzantes Oaxaca, and Pangea.

But in my opinion, the real show-stopper is the delicious street food found throughout the city. El Califa de León is the very first Michelin-starred taqueria in the world, receiving one star when the guide announced its inaugural Mexico rankings this year. Can you believe I got to taste these delicacies before the rest of the world found out?!And now the taco stand is experiencing the effects of the honor, with hours-long lines for its tacos.

Don’t worry there are literally hundreds of taco stands worth every morsel!

Some of the MUST TRY street foods in Mexico are: here: (Spoiler alert, you are going to get hungry!)

• Tacos al pastor is one of the most popular street foods in Mexico City, and for good reason. The tender pork combination, the pineapple’s sweetness, and the tortilla’s warmth make for an unbeatable flavor experience.
• Pozole is a comforting and satisfying dish perfect for a cold day or when you’re under the weather. The combination of the tender meat, the chewy hominy, and the rich broth make for a delicious meal.
• Tamales are a staple of Mexican cuisine and are often served as a breakfast or lunch dish. The steaming process gives the masa a slightly sweet and savory flavor, while the fillings add a depth of flavor and texture.
• Esquites are a delicious street food that consists of cooked corn kernels mixed with various ingredients such as lime juice, chili powder, mayonnaise, and cotija cheese.
• Elote is grilled corn on the cob, often served with mayonnaise, chili powder, and cotija cheese.
• Churros are a deep-fried dough pastry is often served with a chocolate dipping sauce.
• Tostadas are a fried or toasted tortilla topped with beans, cheese, meat, and various salsa.
• Mole is a rich, flavorful sauce made from a blend of spices, chili peppers, and chocolate, typically served over chicken or pork. Often served over chicken or pork, the sauce is made by blending various spices, chili peppers, and chocolate and is known for its depth of flavor and complexity.
• Quesadillas are a simple but tasty Mexican dish made of a tortilla filled with cheese, and sometimes meat and vegetables, then folded in half and cooked on a griddle or comal.
• Tortas are a Mexican sandwich made with a telera roll filled with meat, cheese, avocado, beans, and other toppings.
• Conchas are a popular Mexican sweet bread shaped like a seashell with a crunchy, sweet topping that resembles a shell. The bread is soft, fluffy, and slightly sweet, with a hint of vanilla.
• Enchiladas are corn tortillas topped with meat or cheese with chili sauce and then baked.
• Pambazo is a sandwich made with a roll dipped in a chili sauce and filled with potatoes, chorizo, and cheese, known for its bold and spicy flavor.
• Huevos Rancheros is a traditional Mexican dish of fried eggs served on a corn tortilla and topped with a tomato-chili sauce and cheese. (my kind of breakfast!)
• Carnitas is a traditional Mexican dish consisting of slow-cooked pork that is shredded and served as a filling for tacos.
• Ceviche is a light and refreshing option of tender raw fish marinated in lime juice, giving it a tangy and flavorful taste, while the diced tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers add a touch of freshness and heat to the dish.

And there is no shortage of Mezcalerias to wash it all down….

HOTELS:

Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City

While Four Seasons Mexico City with its elegant gargantuan oasis of a courtyard still bestows my heart, the city now has additional gorgeous hotels including the  sky high new Ritz-Carlton joining the St. Regis. There are many gracious boutique hotels housed in wonderful mansions in leafy trendy neighborhoods, notably Casa Polanco.

I write my articles and give my recommendations always with 100% integrity and I can say without doubt that while there are newer hotels in the city, there is no place that matches the heart, soul and character that lives at Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City. The staff is truly the most genuine, the sharpest, and most professional. Clients who stay at Four Seasons Hotel Mexico relax and truly feel at home among friends. The truth of the matter as this property has been near and dear to my heart as I had many opportunities to travel to the city on business and pleasure over the past 30 years and coming back only solidified my conviction that Four Seasons Hotel Mexico does offer something that no one else in the city does including a true sense of place in the Mexican capital and a green oasis to which most of the rooms overlook.

I, like all of their guests, was welcomed like family and was completely pampered..

Four Seasons Hotel Mexico’s hallmark besides its staff, is the stunning courtyard which is the heartbeat of the hotel. Most rooms overlook the courtyard which provides peace and solitude while staying in one of the world’s busiest cities.

Dining al fresco off of the courtyard is a gorgeous experience into itself….

Casa Polanco

Casa Polanco is one of my favorite boutique hotels, an intimate and exclusive retreat that feels like you are staying in a private home. Located in the heart of the sophisticated Polanco neighborhood, on Parque Lincoln and just minutes from the city’s main avenues: Paseo de la Reforma, Paseo de las Palmas, Periferico, Mariano Escobedo, and Circuito Interior.

Guests can walk countless restaurants but also to the Siqueiros Art Workshop, Mexican design stores such as Pirwi, Raquel Orozco or Ikal, the Rufino Tamayo Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the National Museum of Anthropology, one of the most impressive museums in the world.

Homey public spaces with hand selected art and furnishings…

19 bedrooms, each its own design, several with terraces…

And lovely outdoor spaces to enjoy Mexico’s world class climate….

..and hopefully a glass of Clase Azul Reposado!

St. Regis Mexico City

One of the newest luxury hotels to open in Mexico’s capital, St. Regis surely has the best views of the city. A soaring sky scraper with contemporary rooms with all of the expected bells & whistles of a brand new build.

All of the rooms have views and a few have private terraces.

The hotel has an exquisite selection of seven restaurants and bars; be sure to start or end the evening at King Cole Bar, with artistic views of the city’s skyline and then make your way to a myriad of fantastic vibey venues incuding trendy sushi, a killer Greek restaurant, and below a masterclass of French fine dining at La Table Krug serving an extraordinary eight-course dining experience.

Once this was not the case, but visitors to Mexico City are spoiled for choice as far as hotels, one to suit each mood. Dining is off the charts, museums, culture, shopping and activities are all part of a vibrant visit to one of the world’s busiest cities!

Salúd, Mexico!! Hasta la Vista, Baby!!

DISCLAIMER: Image below was STAGED for a photo contest

Ok, so we did have a great last night, but the most fun part was trying to be as creative as possible show-casing the Grand Staircase at Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City. We did not win the photo contest, alas, on a technicality I was told, but I think we should have! 🙂

El Fin!