The Safest Places to Stay in Mexico City

What are the safest places to stay in Mexico City?  I typed that exact phrase into Google right before my trip!  Mexico City can have a bad reputation, at times, with tourists: it’s a huge city, with potentially dangerous neighborhoods lurking around every corner.  This was my “perception,” at least.  But it turns out, the city felt far safer than I’d imagined, with plenty of highly walkable neighborhoods such as Roma, Condesa, Zona Rosa, the Zocalo, & upscale Polanco.  Here, we’ll focus on finding safe & fun hotels within each of these parts of town.

Mexico City gets a bad rap in terms of safety. But I found it to be a colorful & lively city ~ filled with gorgeous architecture, streets teeming with people, & lovely hotels.

Overview of Mexico City Neighborhoods

For first-time visitors to Mexico City, I’d concentrate your hotel search on these six parts of town ~ for reasons of safety, plus proximity to the city’s most famous sites & great nightlife.  My favorite neighborhoods are starred.

You’ll find this view in the Zocalo district: which has some of Mexico City’s most historic buildings.

1. Centro Historico/Zocalo: This is where most of Mexico City’s finest historic buildings are: including the Zocalo & beautiful Palace of Fine Arts.  If you love history & museums, consider staying here. But just know that the Zocalo really empties out at night, & may not feel as safe then. 
2. **Roma: Just south of the Zocalo, in a great, central location is Roma. This is probably the hippest part of town, with great nightlife, cafes, & pretty parks galore.  This is a highly walk-able area, & feels safer at night than the Zocalo because it’s usually bustling with people at all hours. 
3. **Condesa: South of Roma lies its sister neighborhood, which is also having a serious “moment” right now.  With its graceful, colorful buildings, Condesa is a great spot for first-time Mexico City travelers to stay.  It’s slightly more upscale than Roma, & a little less hipster. I visited a wonderful, upscale Day Spa here!
4. Zona Rosa: This is the LGBTQ, nightlife-loving part of town. Which means, LOTS of people are walking around here during the day & definitely at night!  The downside: Zona Rosa is a LOUD part of town, as it has many night clubs. But it has a great location just west of Roma, along busy Paseo de la Reforma, which leads to Chapultepec Park. It’s also possible to find cheaper hotels in this area!
5. **Polanco: This is the swankiest part of town, & also borders Chapultepec Park, making it easy walking distance to the park’s world-famous museums.  This is also where you’ll find some of the city’s best bars & restaurants, making it great for foodies who can afford it (some of the city’s most expensive hotels are here)!
6. Coyoacan: Perhaps the most authentic of all these areas is Coyoacan. As it’s the southern-most district here, it’s a little harder to reach the main sights (like the Zocalo) ~ but you’ll be close to the Frida Kahlo museum, as well as incredible Mercado Coyoacan, & the floating gardens of Xochimilco.

1) Historic Center/Zocalo

The closest part of Mexico City to the International Airport is the Historic Center of town, also called the Zocalo.  Here, you’ll find some of the city’s oldest buildings, beautiful architecture, & the city’s oldest park: lovely Alameda Park, next to Palacio de Bellas Artes.  The streets here teem with people (both locals and tourists) during the day, as many work here.  But it’s much quieter at night, & can even feel desolate ~ which doesn’t make it my top choice if you’re looking for great restaurants & nightlife. 

My top two hotel picks for this area have their own gorgeous rooftop restaurants.  So the good news is: you won’t have to walk far for dinner. Check out historic Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico ($140+), with its amazing location overlooking the Zocalo, or the romantic & slightly more modern Hotel Zocalo Central ($193+).

Alameda Park is the oldest in Mexico City, & lies right in the heart of the Zocalo ~ making it a great place to stroll & people-watch.

You’ll get grand views like this when staying at the Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico. 

The Zocalo Central Hotel is my *top pick* for hotels in the Zocalo area. Stay here, or simply visit its grand rooftop restaurant for killer views & drinks!

2) Roma Norte = Hip & Cool

Roma, especially Roma Norte, is currently the hippest spot in Mexico City.  There’s NO shortage of great corner restaurants, wine bars, & cafes that spill out onto the streets of the area’s many small parks ~ which gives Roma a very friendly, safe feel.  Because it has so much local flavor & charm, I highly recommend staying in a boutique hotel: not a chain.  Then you can really soak in the authentic Mexican architecture & food, as its being interpreted in modern new ways here.

Hip bars, restaurants, cafes, & wine shops line the streets of Roma Norte.

My top three hotel picks for Roma Norte are bright & cheerful Casa Goliana La Roma ($196+), the oh-so-pretty, plant-filled Nima Local House Hotel ($540+), & the gorgeously sleek & modern La Valise Hotel ($359+) ~ which features outdoor beds on some its balconies!

Casa Goliana is a quiet, elegant choice for a stay in Roma.

Nima Local House sits right in the center of Roma Norte, with open, airy decor ~ & lots of plants!

One of the most modern hotels on this list is La Valise, which offers unique open-air, sleekly-designed rooms. Some rooms have beds on the terrace!

3) Condesa = Colorful Charm

If you’re looking for a slightly quieter neighborhood than Roma, but with similar character: stay in Condesa.  This is a lovely area to walk in, & you’ll find cute day spas, quiet round-abouts flanked by historic homes, & a generally peaceful vibe ~ with plenty of upscale cafes & restaurants.  Similar to Roma, boutique hotels are the way to go here.  Beautiful options include the vibrant Maria Condesa Boutique Hotel ($170+/night) & the chic Hotel Condesa DF ($318+), which has an amazing rooftop bar.

The vibe at Maria Condesa is quirky & colorful ~ much like Mexico City itself.

Visit the chic rooftop bar at the Hotel Condesa DF, located right in the heart of Condesa.

4) Zona Rosa = Nightlife!

I stayed in the Zona Rosa, at the delightfully colorful Room Mate Valentina Hotel ($58+/night).  This neighborhood has a more urban feel, & it’s also home to the gay district (which I didn’t realize when I booked my hotel).  It’s HAPPENING here at night!  You won’t be alone on the streets here, & its central location means you can walk to Chapultepec Park & the Zocalo along beautiful Paseo de la Reforma. 

Some of the city’s most high-end hotels are also located here, right by Chapultepec Park, such as the St. Regis Mexico City ($469+/night) & the Four Seasons Mexico City ($225+/night), which is where Taylor Swift stays when she’s in town!

This picture sums up Zona Rosa well: it’s not as charming as Roma or Condesa, but there are ALWAYS people out on its wide, pedestrian-friendly streets. 

Something to Note: There are plenty of many restaurants & lots of fast food in Zona Rosa: but better, more upscale restaurants can be found in Polanco & Roma Norte. 

The Roommate Valentina is known for its VERY colorful rooms. Downside: the street they’re on can get quite noisy at night!

It’s hard to go wrong at any Four Seasons: but the one in Mexico City is particularly stunning, & located right by gorgeous Chapultepec Park. It’s also where Taylor Swift stays!

5) Polanco = Posh!

Polanco is the “Beverly Hills” of Mexico City.  The best meals I had were here (thanks to the advice of friends who live in the city).  Along certain streets: you’ll find one upscale, trendy restaurant after another.  There’s plenty of shopping, local farmer’s markets, hair salons (I even saw a renowned dermatologist while in Polanco) & of course, lots of upscale hotels…like the JW Marriott ($429+/night), & a more boutique-choice, with gorgeous rooms: The Wild Oscar ($245+/night). 

Polanco is home to chic shopping malls, high-end boutiques, & some of the best restaurants in town.

Polanco is right next to Chapultepec Park, the home of famous sights like Museo de Anthropologie, which houses the original Mayan calendar!

Bonus: In Polanco, you’re within walking distance of Chapultepec Park, the “Central Park” of Mexico City, with its numerous museums, castles, & famous central lake.

The Wild Oscar Hotel in upscale Polanco gives you a little more quirk & character than larger, chain hotels ~ at about 1/2 the price.

6) Coyoacan = Cultura!

Coyoacan = Culture.  Or “cultura,” as they say in Mexico.  This is the most authentic district on this list, with charming cobblestone streets, artisan markets, bohemian flair, & COLORFUL buildings & churches!  It’s also home to the Museo de Frida Kahlo, plus several parks,like Jardin Centenario.  The only downside to staying here is that you’re further from the airport & Zocalo, making for longer taxi rides.  But you’re closer to other Mexico City sights, like the Xochimilco Floating Gardens. 

My top hotel pick for Coyoacan is one that reflects its unique, artisan feel: the quaint & cozy Casa Jacinta Guest House ($114+).

Many bars & restaurants in Coyoacan pay homage to Frida Kahlo, the famous artist who made this area her home.

Casa Jacinta Guest House is a lovely, safe place to stay here ~ with its artisan, understated flair.

The Safest Places to Stay in Mexico City

For more articles on Mexico City, read about how safe I felt as a solo traveler there.  Also, a friend & I did the most amazing hike about an hour away from the city, to the incredible hilltop ruins of Tepoztlan ~ which I HIGHLY recommend for all adventure lovers!

xoxo Noelia

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