MÉXICO CITY
CUISINE
The only limit to cooking in Mexico City, one of the main gastronomic capitals of the world, is personal taste. This vast city offers a generous sample of eateries ranging from small stalls in markets and in the city’s plazas, to intimate, personal restaurants specializing in dishes of many different origins. Many of these restaurants can be found in the Condesa, San Ángel, and Polanco neighborhoods, in the Historical Center, among other places; there are, of course, the bigger, world-class restaurants where gastronomy has taken on ritualistic dimensions.
Alfredo di Roma
The branch of the Italian restaurant famed for its fettuccini Alfredo, prepared tableside with rich cream, light semolina noodles, and fresh Parmesan cheese. Excellent wines and attentive service.
CATEGORY: Italian
Arroyo.
This colorful complex celebrates everything its late founder Don Jose Arroyo loved about his country. Traditional Mexican dishes, tequila, homemade tortillas, plus folkloric singing and dancing afternoons starting at 4. A great place to experience small-town Mexico in the big city. Saturday afternoons Mexican families flock here for the novilladas (bullfights) that start at noon from May through August, followed by lunch.
CATEGORY: Mexican
Auseba
A traditional favorite for coffee, pastries, including a scrumptuous mousse de chocolate cake, and people watching.
CATEGORY: International
Au Pied de Cochon
This faithful replica of the popular French bistro is a favorite of Mexicos movers and shakers. The extensive menu features a variety of seafood, classic onion soup, delicious lamb chops, and the dish it was named after, pigs knuckles. Excellent breakfast specials.
CATEGORY: French
Bellinghausen
With interior and garden seating, this restaurant has been a favorite with local businessmen since 1915. Specialties include fish and seafood, as well as a number of German favorites.
CATEGORY: International
Benkay
A tasteful Japanese setting featuring a glass-enclosed bubbling brook, sushi bar and private tatami rooms. Chefs suggestions include asparagus rolled with smoked salmon, marinated jellyfish, grilled duck or eel with Teriyaki sauce and, for dessert, lovely green tea ice cream. Expensive.
CATEGORY: Japanese
NOTE: Reservations recommended.
FESTIVALS
On the night of September 15, thousands of people go to the Zócalo (the Main Square) in the city center to listen to the traditional “Cry of Independence” and to watch the firework display and other events in celebration of Mexico’s independence. Another famous celebration that takes place in Ixtapalapa during Holy Week is the Vía Crucis (The Way of the Cross) that includes a reenactment of the Crucifixion of Christ.
HANDCREAFTS
This was a village that gradually became a residential area. Set between two colonial monasteries, the Saturday Bazaar sells selected handicrafts while opposite, the Jardín del Arte is an open-air picture galley. Altavista Street offers international fashion, contemporary art.
Fonart
One is on Avenida Patriotismo, in Mixcoac; the other is on Avenida Juárez, downtown.
This is a government institution designed to promote the production and sales of handicraft objects produced by Mexico´s artisans. The city has two Fonart shops where one can buy handicrafts made in all regions of the country.
Popularity: 100% [?]