Mexico City/Zona Rosa
Zona Rosa is a business and entertainment district located in a portion of Colonia Juárez, near the center of Mexico City. It is one of the city's most touristy areas, filled with hotels, dance clubs, restaurants, bars and live bands. Demographically, it boasts a healthy gay population as well as a relatively high concentration of Korean immigrants. Mexico City's financial heart is also here, with the Mexican Stock Exchange building and the 35-story HSBC building next to the Angel de la Independencía, amongst other banks with offices in this area. It is clearly defined by Avenida Insurgentes to the east, Avenida Chapultepec to the south, Paseo de la Reforma to the north, and Calle Sevilla to the west. Though not considered part of Zona Rosa, a lot of its characteristic style spills northward across the Paseo de la Reforma.
Zona Rosa (which means "pink zone", not to be confused with zona roja, a red light district) used to be the place to go for nightlife in the city, but other areas, most notably Condesa, have surpassed it in trendiness. Nevertheless, there is still heavy tourist traffic, and you will easily find yourself accosted by people in the streets selling goods and services, be it dance and strip club promoters, tourist information from police officers, tours from taxi drivers, plus the usual crowd of street vendors, lottery vendors and beggars. If you're not interested, just ignore them.
Get in
Glorieta de Insurgentes, the plaza-and-traffic circle at the intersection of Avenida Insurgentes and Avenida Chapultepec, is a transportation hub for the Metro and Metrobus and is an excellent stopping-off point.
By metro
You can hop off at 🌍 Insurgentes Station (Line 1, pink). The station exits in the plaza at the center of Glorieta de Insurgentes, where good people-watching opportunities abound.
By bus
If you are riding on Chapultepec Avenue, ask the driver to drop you at Florencia Avenue. Keep in mind though, that the MetroBus is usually packed.
By car
You can access the area using Avenida Niza, Avenida Reforma or Avenida Insurgentes. There are several parking lots charging around M$14 an hour. Several restaurants have their own valet parking, charging between M$30-45. There are also parking meters charging M$10 an hour. Make sure you pay enough when using meters, as unlike other countries where the police will just leave a ticket on the dashboard, in Mexico City, they will put a wheel lock to violators and paying fines is a very expensive and troublesome process. Meters are off on Saturdays and Sundays.
By turibus
The double-decker hop-on and hop-off tourist bus that runs along Paseo de la Reforma, and throughout many other areas of the city. You can depart Zona Rosa at the Angel de Independencia for connections to the pyramids, the south of the city and the normal tourist route. Be sure to check the schedule at the tourist information booth a few steps from the stop.
Get around
Walking is the best way to move around. The area has a few pedestrian-only streets, being Genova the main street where many restaurants and shops are located.
See
- 🌍 Paseo de la Reforma. Be sure to check out the Paseo de la Reforma, a long avenue with fine examples of architecture, numerous banks and offices, and older residential areas now transformed into fashionable venues and spectacular monuments.
- 🌍 Monumento a Cuauhtémoc (Monument to Cuauhtémoc). Bust of Cuauhtémoc, the Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan from 1520 to 1521 is displayed proudly at the intersection of Paseo de la Reforma and Avenida de los Insurgentes.
- 🌍 Monumento a la Independencia (Ángel de la Independencia / Angel of Independence). A victory column on a roundabout over Paseo de la Reforma in downtown Mexico City. El Ángel was built to commemorate the centennial of the beginning of Mexico's War of Independence, celebrated in 1910.
- 🌍 Stock Exchange Museum (Museo de la Bolsa Mexicana de Valores), Paseo de la Reforma 255. M-F 10:00 - 17:00, Su 10:00 - 15:00, closed Sa. Mexico's stock exchange, like its peers in other countries, is mostly electronic today, so the trading floor is mostly quiet and sparsely populated, but visiting Mexico's home of the Bolsa is a must for anyone interested in the wheeling and dealing of big business. The view inside is remarkable with walls of screens flashing stock prices and trading activity while looking straight up gives you a spectacular vista of the inside of the exchange's iconic glass dome. The museum has a number of exhibits describing the stock exchange's history and changes over time. Free.
- 🌍 Fuente de la Diana Cazadora (Diana the Huntress Fountain), Paseo de la Reforma. This fountain by Fernando Olaquibel was originally known as 'The Archer'. It depicts the beautiful Diana Cazadora aiming her arrow at infinity.
- 🌍 Torre Mayor, Av Paseo De La Reforma 505, ☏ +52 55 5283 8000. Daily 24 hr. The Torre Mayor stands on Paseo de la Reforma and soars 225 meters above the ground with 29 high-speed elevators.
- 🌍 National Museum of the Revolution (Museo Nacional de la Revolucion), Plaza, Av. de la República S/N, Tabacalera (Take Metro line 2 to Revolucion, then walk 3 blocks south), ☏ +52 55 5546 2115. 09:00 - 15:00 (til 19:00 Sa Su). Excellent historical museum that's often overlooked by foreign tourists, though it's amazingly popular with Mexican visitors. Impressive building with a towering arch, a copper dome, and an observation deck with outstanding views and a coffee shop. Lots of stairs. Learn about Mexico's 20th century civil war along with the stories behind great heroes like Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata.
- 🌍 Museo de Cera (Wax Museum), Londres 6, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, ☏ +52 55 5546 7670. 11:00 - 19:00. Fun wax museum full of historical figures and pop culture icons, both Mexican and international. M$170 (adults).
- 🌍 Museo de Chocolate (Chocolate Museum), C. Milan 45, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, ☏ +52 55 5207 1467. 11:00 - 17:00. Explore the world of chocolate, from growing the beans through tasting candies or hot chocolate. A favorite of kids! M$90.
Do
Zona Rosa is probably the only area in Mexico City that really never sleeps. It's a great place to start and end your night. Mexico´s Zona Rosa is also known as a meeting point for Mexico City's thriving gay community.
- 🌍 Fronton Mexico, Av. de la República 17, Tabacalera, Cuauhtémoc (Metro to Revolucion: the Fronton is across the street from the monument to the Revolution (giant arch)), ☏ +52 55 5128 3411. Are you familiar with the sport of jai alai? It's sometimes called the fastest sport in the world, and it does look fast (and hard). It's a traditional handball game from the Basque region of Spain. A "fronton" is a place where jai alai is played, and it's an unusual game that's worth seeking out for the experience. If you're not into sports as cultural experiences, then you might come here for a concert, or to sample the Spanish cuisine and innovative cocktails at the Zesta Punta restaurant, housed in the Fronton.
Buy
- 🌍 Plaza del Ángel, Calle Hamburgo and Amberes. This complex houses several antique shops and on Saturdays and Sundays, there are more informal dealers selling vintage stuff. Arrive early as dealers close around 16:00.
- 🌍 Plaza La Rosa, Calle Amberes and Genova. Shopping precinct that has over 72 prestigious shops and boutiques, including Mango, Furor, Iker and others.
- 🌍 Jardín del Arte, Rio Nevada (between Sullivan and Manuel Villalongin). Colorful market on Sundays with more than 100 artists exhibiting and selling their paintings and sculptures.
- 🌍 Reforma 222, Paseo de la Reforma 222, ☏ +52 55 5525 0602. Daily. This shopping complex designed by Mexican architect Teodoro González de León has a number of international chain stores, restaurants, and a cinema.
Eat
If you're looking for fast food chain restaurants or internet cafes, they're practically on every corner in Zona Rosa.
Street food
- 🌍 Food District, C. Río Lerma 310, Cuauhtémoc. Daily 08:30 - 22:00. Tacos, burgers, pizza, sushi, fries. Five food vendors with a shared table area where you can sit and eat. M$100.
Budget
- 🌍 Los Pancho's Bar, Av. Chapultepec (on north side of street, between Insurgentes station and Amberes; around the corner from Best Western Royal Hotel). This restaurant is a lot bigger than it looks, but on this crowded sidewalk of Avenida Chapultepec just west of the station you might almost miss it. They tape a photocopy of their menu above every table, but don't let that fool you--the staff are professional and the food is great, especially at these prices. It's Mexican cuisine with a creative streak. The house tortilla chips and salsa are excellent, and can fill you right up before your meal even arrives! On the cheap end, quesadillas are M$14, flautas (chicken or beef) are $10, and you can get a very large and very satisfying torta (there are a few varieties) with fries for $30; most other meals start with soup and rice before getting to the main dish and go for an average $50, though there are a few dishes that are as high as $180. M$45-65.
- 🌍 Cafe Ventura, corner of calles Hamburgo and Genova. A nice place to have breakfast or lunch. You can sit inside or on the patio. They have great meal specials for about M$50. For breakfast try the chicken chilaquiles, or you can just get pancakes.
Mid-range
- 🌍 El Dragón, Calle Hamburgo (between Niza and Copenhague). Daily 11:00-22:00. Mid-priced Peking style Chinese food, semi-formal atmosphere. The Peking duck is the specialty, also try the beef in orange peel sauce. M$150-250.
- 🌍 Beatricita, Calle Londres 190-D (between Florencia and Varsovia), ☏ +52 55 5511 4213. M-Sa 10AM-6PM. The best tacos in the city. Established by Beatriz Muciño Reyes, who decided to immigrate into the city in 1887 alongside her brother Claudio, hoping for a better life. In the morning, you may enjoy a complete breakfast for $42, which includes: juice, coffee and the pastry of your choice; 2 tacos or eggs in any way you may think of, chilaquiles with eggs or chicken or pork rinds in green salsa. For lunch, there's a menu which includes: soup, rice, and the plate of your choice among 9 typical Mexican dishes, a soda and dessert for just $47. Don't forget to drop by on Viernes Pozolero(Fridays). On weekends, you cannot miss the Pancita en Cascabel (cow guts cooked in cascabel chili sauce) or a mushroom soup. M$150.
- 🌍 La Cicciolina (Cicciolina), Rio Nilo 90 (Reforma with Rio Nilo, one block from Angel-Statue), ☏ +52 55149553. 07:00-23:30. La Cicciolina, is a Bistro, Café and Gourmet Shop just one block from "El Angel" at the heart of México opened by a German/Argentinien couple, they make personalized Pizza, they way you tell them and have everyday a special menu. Also nice place to have a coffee and little talk, don't miss their Illy coffee and offers gourmet.
- 🌍 Rouge Boheme, Copenhague 29, Juárez, ☏ +52 55 5511 9704. 08:00 - 23:00, closed Su. French cuisine with hospitable Mexican service. Delicious crepes and coffee in the morning.
Splurge
Drink
- 🌍 Bar Milan, Calle Milan, Col. Juárez (corner with General Prim, a few blocks from the corner of Insurgentes and Reforma). W-Sa 18:00-03:00. Popular with a bohemian crowd, Bar Milan has a very relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere. It has a tendency to get overcrowded however. Plays electronic music and rock W Th, more Spanish language rock and Latin music F Sa. The mojito is the specialty cocktail. Note: Cash needs to be changed into milagros, the in-bar currency, before use, bartenders and waiters don't accept cash. Larger-denomination milagro bills can be changed back when leaving. M$60-300.
- 🌍 Tokyo, Rio Panuco 132. 19:00 - 02:00. Cocktail bar with an enormous collection of music on vinyl. DJ keeps the tunes spinning while you keep sipping some of the tastiest but most expensive drinks in Zona Rosa. Fun atmosphere. Food available.
Pulquerias
- 🌍 Pulqueria Spiritu Santo, Eje 1 Poniente, Rosales 5BC, Tabacalera (3 blocks from Metro Revolucion station (toward the Alameda)). Su-W 14:00 - 22:00, Th 14:00 - 24:00, F-Sa 14:00 - 01:30. Traditional pulqueria with a young, Bohemian crowd. Serves natural and cured pulques with a variety of innovative flavors including several fruit flavored pulques such as apple and mango. Come in when they're not too busy and the servers will be happy to offer samples of different flavors so you can see which ones you like best.
Dance
In Amberes street, there are a few places to go and let loose on the dance floor.
Gay-friendly
The Zona Rosa is also a very gay-friendly area. In the information kiosks you'll find many guides with gay places to visit in the zone. A good first stop is the BGay cafe on Amberes (a street which also has several other gay bars and clubs). See LGBT Mexico City for more gay-friendly bars and clubs.
Sleep
Some of Mexico City's most renowned hotels are located in Zona Rosa.
Hostels
- Hostelling International Zona Rosa, Cerrada de Hamburgo # 156, building 5, Col. Juárez (slightly hidden, walk up Hamburgo and turn right into the alley after the 7-11). Awesome location, very nice staff, within walking distance to the Metro at Insugentes and many other area attractions. hi
Mid-range
- 🌍 Royal Reforma, Amberes 78, Col. Juárez, ☏ +52 55 9149 3000. A bit pricey if booked direct. Two in-house restaurants, as well as penthouse poolside bar. Standard room sizes, very clean, with TV, desk, and minibar (fee for minibar use). Free wi-fi throughout the hotel. Since the hotel is a 17-story tower, and the rooms are on floors 5 and up (ground-4th fl.: parking garage), street noise is not an issue. US$80-120.
- 🌍 Hotel El Ejecutivo, Calle Viena, 8 (2 blocks from Paseo Reforma), ☏ +52 5566 6422, toll-free: 01 800 444 1002, info@hotelelejecutivo.com.mx. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Excellent value for US$50 – must book on the website for this deal. It will cost over US$100 if you walk up. Just print your receipt and present it at the front desk. Rooms and restaurant are clean and in new condition. Bell hop (Mauricio) is very helpful with anything you need.
- 🌍 Hotel Geneve, Londres 130, Col. Juárez (two blocks from Insurgentes metro station), ☏ +52 55 5080 0800, +52 55 5080 0831. This top end hotel is in the heart of Zona Rosa, making it a prestigious address to stay in. While the hotel has been around since 1907, constant renovations maintain its luxurious interior with dark wood paneling and corkscrew Solomonic columns.
- 🌍 Holiday Inn Express, Paseo de la Reforma 208, ☏ +52 55 9150 5900. Inexpensive but surprisingly good value with clean rooms, friendly staff and a great location, just across the street from the WTC. Price includes a free continental breakfast.
- 🌍 Hotel NH, Liverpool 155, Col. Juárez. Modern hotel with a great location. First rate service and the staff are very professional. Hotel has an outdoor heated swimming pool, fitness center and wireless internet access. US$81.
- 🌍 Hotel Plaza Madrid, C/ Madrid 15 (Tabacalera; a couple blocks from Paseo Reforma), ☏ +52 55 5705 0836, plazamadrid@hotmail.com. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 13:00. 1970s Sheik Hotel. Free wi-fi in the lobby. Excellent breakfast buffet and full bar until 23:00. From M$552 singles, M$592 doubles.
- 🌍 Hotel Galeria Plaza, Hamburgo 195, Col. Juarez, ☏ +52 55 5230 1717. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 14:00. An elegant hotel that's a bit past its prime, but well maintained and at moderate prices, it can be a bargain. Rooftop pool, onsite restaurants. Short walk to Paseo de Reforma. M$750.
- 🌍 Sheraton María Isabel, Paseo de la Reforma 325, Col. Cuauhtémoc (in the Plaza de la Independencia), ☏ +52 55 5242 5555. Decent, but not impressive 4 star hotel located in the heart of Zona Rosa, next to the HSBC tower and facing "El Ángel" (Monumento a la Independencia) in the heart of the banking district. The bedrooms are of a good size and it has a good gym and pool.
- 🌍 Hotel Bristol, Plaza Necaxa 17, Cuauhtémoc, ☏ +52 55 5533 6060. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Older hotel in a quiet location a few blocks off Reforma. Some facilities are dated and cry out for renovation or maintenance, but large rooms, good location, and low prices compensate for any shortcomings. M$800.
Splurge
- 🌍 Le Méridien Mexico City, Paseo de la Reforma 69, Col. Tabacalera, ☏ +52 55 5061 3000. The suites are larger than average, with 2 large flat panel TVs in each room, and a spectacular view from the 17th floor. The building contains an indoor pool and the free breakfast is mouthwatering and delicious, with the cook preparing fresh and local treats. Price also includes 2 hours of free cocktails with light snacks every night.
- 🌍 Four Seasons Hotel, Paseo de la Reforma 500, Col. Cuahtemoc, ☏ +52 55 5230 1818. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 13:00. Venerable luxury hotel set around a lushly landscaped courtyard. Full spa services, elegant dining rooms. M$10000+/night.
- 🌍 St. Regis Mexico City, Av. Paseo de la Reforma 439, Cuauhtémoc, ☏ +52 55 5228 1818. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. High-end luxury hotel in a modern high-rise tower 2 blocks from the Angel de Independencia monument. M$10000.
Connect
Cell phone services in Mexico City are excellent. 5G coverage is the norm as of 2023, particularly with Telcel, and dark spots with no coverage are virtually unheard of in Zona Rosa. Free WiFi is available at most hotels, restaurants and other tourist spots. The city government provides free WiFi service to everyone in public parks and plazas, including the Glorieta de Insurgentes and nearby Chapultepec Park.