Where to Stay in Mexico City: Roma Neighborhood Guide
Long before the indie Netflix film, Roma was on my radar as a must-visit neighborhood in Mexico City.
I’d heard all about the neighborhood’s bohemian vibe, hipster shops, and sidewalk cafes. Seeing countless photos of colonial buildings matched with lush green plazas only sealed the deal.
If you’re planning a trip to Mexico City, Roma is a wonderful place to base yourself. Sandwiched between the sights of the historic center and bustling Chapultepec Park, there’s no better place to see the whole city from, returning each evening for dinner and a stroll along the quiet streets.
Read on for our favorite places to stay, eat, and play in Roma, Mexico City.
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Colonia Roma: Roma Norte vs. Roma Sur
Colonia Roma, or simply ‘Roma’, is a Mexico City neighborhood rich in history. It was one of the first upper class “suburbs” of Mexico City, which later saw a decline into a working class neighborhood in the mid 20th century. Today, Roma is divided into two main areas: Roma Norte and Roma Sur.
Roma Norte is the area you’ll see in most photos online, and has gradually been undergoing re-gentrification since the early 2000s. As it’s name suggests, it covers the area of Roma north of Coahuila Avenue, and is where you’ll find the neighborhood’s bustling bar & restaurant scene, colonial-era buildings, as well as most of it’s green space.
South of Coahuila Avenue, it’s still very much a working class neighborhood. In Roma Sur, you’ll find the well-known Mercado Medellin, as well as 22 Tepeji, the home where Roma was filmed (across the street from director Alfonso Cuaron’s real-life childhood home).
Where to Stay in Roma, Mexico City
You’ll have lots of choices for where to stay in Mexico City. The whole city is quite budget-friendly, even for nice digs in upper class neighborhoods like Roma Norte. If you’re interested in a hotel, I’d suggest:
Block Suites ($) | If staying on a budget, Block Suites is a good choice on the northern edge of Roma. Close to Glorieta de los Insurgentes, you’ll be able to walk your way to most of the sites.
Compare Prices at: Booking.com | Hotels.com
Hotel Stanza ($) | On the footsteps of Jardin Pushkin and Churreria El Moro, Hotel Stanza is another cozy and affordable option. The on-site restaurant serves a breakfast buffet each morning (though you’ll have to pay extra for it).
Compare Prices at: Booking.com | Hotels.com
Four Points by Sheraton ($$) | For a classic hotel in the heart of Roma, Four Points checks all the boxes. Families will enjoy the 2 on-site restaurants, rooftop terrance, and free crib rentals.
Compare Prices at: Booking.com | Hotels.com
Airbnb has lots of great options as well and should not be overlooked. We stayed at this Airbnb in the heart of Roma and absolutely loved it!
If you’re new to Airbnb, use this referral link and get a $40 credit when you book your first stay!
Where to Buy Essentials in Roma
Sumesa | One of the best full-service grocery stores in the area, you’ll find just about anything you need here, including baby supplies and a pharmacy.
Farmacia San Pablo | For a bigger selection of personal care and baby items, head to Farmacia San Pablo near Mercado Roma.
Oxxo | You’ll Oxxo’s all over the place in Mexico City, and it’s a good spot to pop in for a quick snack or beverage.
Where to Play in Roma
Plaza Rio de Janiero | One of the things that drew us to Roma were the many parks and green spaces – a must when traveling with kids! At Plaza Rio de Janiero, it’s a great place to people watch and enjoy a treat from one of the many nearby cafes.
Jardin Pushkin | A couple blocks from the famous Churreria el Moro, enjoy some play time at Jardin Pushkin.
Jardin Dr. Ignacio Chavez | Though technically just outside of Roma’s boundaries, this park just across the street from Jardin Pushkin is more shaded, with pop-up flea markets on the weekend!
Roma Street Art Tour | Who needs to go to the museum when you can find art abound on the streets of Roma? You could DIY your own tour using this helpful article, or join a guided tour like this one.
Plaza Luis Cabrera | One of our favorite plazas (mostly because it’s smaller and was right around the corner from our place), we enjoyed watching the fountains or chasing birdies for a bit any time we were passing by.
Mercado Roma | This mercado is actually more of an upscale food hall, and we found the place to be packed quite often! But if you go for an early happy hour, you can enjoy drinks and appetizers and finish the night off with some live music.
22 Tepeji | Head down to Roma Sur for a photo in front of the now famous garage at 22 Tepeji, the filming location for Alfonso Cuaron’s Oscar-nominated Roma.
Mercado Medellin | Not too far from Mercado Roma, Mercado Medellin is well-known for it’s wide selection of imports from Latin America, as well as a great place in the area to buy fresh produce.
Museo del Objecto del Objeto | While we admittedly didn’t visit this Roma museum thanks to having two young children with us, it’s one of the most popular things to see in the area. MODO’s concept is actually quite interesting, and I wish we’d made some time for it. Literally meaning “Museum of the Object of the Object”, it features exhibitions on ordinary objects and how they’ve shaped our culture and society throughout history.
Parcela | Part restaurant, part garden playground: this place is a parent’s dream! Next to Mercado Roma, we passed by this place so many times; I’m really not sure why it took us until our last night in Mexico City to stop in! It’s a must for any family visiting with young kids.
Where to Eat in Roma
Churreria el Moro | One of the most famous places in all of Mexico City. The Roma location may not be the original, but it is the most photogenic. You can also find an outpost of Churreria el Moro at Mercado Roma.
Tacos Alvaro Obregon | Come for the cheap prices, stay for the delicious tacos al pastor. Tacos Alvaro Obregon is super unfussy, making it the perfect place to try a little of everything.
Fournier Rousseau | When the day calls for a sweet treat, make a stop to Fournier Rousseau. Their mini cakes were so delicious, we came back for seconds!
El Beso Huasteco | We had one of our favorite meals at this quiet little restaurant. Highly recommend the ceviche and antojitos de huasteca!
Dosis Cafe | One of the best coffee shops in Mexico City (so I’m told), next door to Churreria el Moro. If you’re a digital nomad family, it’s a good place to get some work done too.
Amor Casero Helados | This tiny ice cream shop may be a chain, but there’s nothing more fun than going for a swing while you eat some ice cream. Oh, and the flavors are pretty good too!
Cabrera 7 | This place serves classic Mexican food right on the footsteps of Plaza Luis Cabrera. We enjoyed a sidewalk table, but you could also request an upstairs table if you don’t want to be bothered by passerbys selling anything and everything.
Panaderia Rosetta | This tiny pastry shop sits across the street from Chef Elena Reygada’s Rosetta, and you MUST try a little of everything if you visit. We took home a smorgasbord of pastries for just over $10! The * Ocho’s are a popular (and tasty) favorite and the honey rosemary rolls are literally to die for.
Porco Rosso | Barbecue might not be the first thing on your mind when visiting Mexico City, but Porco Rosso does it well with good food reminiscent of the home, plus a casual setting that’s great for kids too. Get the Montana Potatoes: you won’t be disappointed!
Have you been to Mexico City? What’s your favorite places in Roma??
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