Cheap Places to Eat in Mexico

"Taco joints are generally more functional than design-oriented, but El Califa has raised the bar, using the tortilla as a guiding design piece. Esware Studios have lined walls with white, circular tiles showing how tortillas can be folded in different ways – an effect multiplied by the reflective ceiling and terrazzo flooring emblazoned with a golden circle motif. Avenida Insurgentes 810, Colonia del Valle, 03100 Ciudad de México, CDMX"

"El Califa is one of a few big-name taquerias that's bringing the brazen street classic to a button-down, posh format. The menu is expansive, focusing beef tacos (sirloin, flank, and rib-eye) as well as al pastor. Beyond that, there are quesadilla-like gringas—two flour tortillas with meat and cheese, and costras, a crispy dish of cheese-covered meat that's flipped like a pancake so the cheese will caramelize."

"Right across from Mercado San Juan is El Huequito, which is all al pastor all day, and it’s a great example of the Mexico City staple that's been around since the 60s. Crispy, salty, slightly sweet from pineapple, and perfect with a liberal dose of their piquant salsa verde. The tacos are so small you could eat about 12 before you’d notice." - Heidi Brown, Journy Mexico City expert. Calle Bolívar 58, Cuauhtémoc, Centro, 06000 Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico. READ MORE: Heidi Brown's Guide To Mexico City"

"Tacos al pastor are a Mexico City staple, al pastor meaning ‘in the style of a shepherd’. At El Huequito, the chilli pork is roasted on a revolving spit like a kebab. Served in a small tortilla with onion and coriander, these tacos are a taste of the city."

"Calle Isabel la Catolica 30, Centro Histórico, Centro, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico. You have a few different options when it comes to stopping for a coffee at The Shops at Downtown, the retail complex inside Hotel Downtown in Mexico City's Centro Histórico. There's the hotel's own restaurant, which offers comfortable chairs and..."

"There’s nothing like watching the sunset with a cocktail in hand from the rooftop of this splendid 18th-century building. From time to time, pool parties are organized, but on a normal (preferably sunny) day, it is the ideal place to enjoy a Negroni or gin and tonic. Isabel la Catolica 30, Centro"

"A line often swings around the corner in Colonia Álamos for these popular esquites (corn kernels in broth), the most coveted of which is served with tuétano (bone marrow). Other varieties include kernels with... Mexican in Mexico City"

"The former home of Emilio "El Indio" Fernandez offers a unique window into the world of this award-winning Mexican filmmaker. Few international tourists seek out the museum, but a visit offers deeper insights into Fernandez's life and the Golden Age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. As you walk around, you'll see his possessions as he originally used them."

"If you’re an instagrammer like me, you also need to stop and take a couple shots at the Casa de los Azulejos [Sanborns restaurant] that’ll remind you of Portugal, and at the Palacio Postal (postal office) which has some really luxurious interiors. ⇒ If you want to learn more about the places you visit, CHECK OUT the 3-Hour Walking Tour of Downtown Mexico City that’ll show you everything that’s on today’s itinerary (if you prefer a private tour, check this oneout)."

"From the top of the Torre Latinoamericana, you’ll be able to see your final stop of the day: a pedestrian road next to the Torre Latinoamericana stands right in between the tower and the House of Tiles. The unmistakable House of Tiles building is absolutely gorgeous and worth observing and photographing!. We didn’t go inside to visit the cafe, but that is always an option."

"The Palacio de Correos (Postal Palace) in Mexico City was built between 1902 and 1907 by Italian architect Adamo Boari. It became the city’s central post office. At the time of its construction, Mexico’s President Porfirio Díaz was keen to emphasize his country’s modernity, and he commissioned a number of public buildings that drew on European architectural styles."

"Stay in the historic center, and let’s head now towards the Palacio Postal. Its numerous and imposing staircases, its architecture and extraordinary ornaments inspired straight from the Baroque style will dazzle and surprise you, and for free."

"Post Office (Palacio Postal) This building is beautiful with turn-of-the-century architecture. You can go in the entrance, look around a bit and take a photo."

"With two branches in Mexico City, Nagaoka is an authentic Japanese dining experience like no other. We recommend the Nápoles branch, which serves up a wide variety of dishes from the typical – sushi and tempura – to some slightly more out there dishes, such as shabu shabu. The house specialty is wateishoku though, so don’t go without trying out this all-encompassing set menu."