Mexico City, Mexico

Food is more than simple sustenance in Mexico; it is a way of life, an essential ingredient in the vibrant culture of this country, through which family, friends and lovers come together. In a city this big, it is not surprising that there are many different areas in which to seek out good restaurants, although some in particular stand out.

Chapultepec/ Polanco

The areas of Chapultepec and Polanco have a wide array of dining options in a pleasant part of town. Visitors to the area can start their day with a spectacular view of the Bosque de Chapultepec . Mi Viejo Pueblito serves up amazing traditional Mexican foods like tacos, and parrilladas. If you're not in the mood for a whole meal, but still want the authentic Mexican atmosphere, María Bonita is a fun bar with a large variety of snacks. If you're more the type to wing it, along the Avenida Mazaryk in Polanco there is an upbeat atmosphere with sidewalk tables and a younger crowd in places like Area Bar and Terrace .

Zona Rosa

For those who prefer a quiet, cosmopolitan atmosphere, the Zona Rosa area is the best choice for a drink and light entertainment. La Marinera serves up traditional Mexican seafood in a lively atmosphere. Focolare offers a great experience combining live music with delicious, traditional specialties in the heart of Zona Rosa. And when you're done eating, stop in at Bar Frida , the Frida Kahlo themed bar that's almost more of a gallery than a watering hole.

Centro Histórico

Head to the Centro Histórico for a taste of the city's heritage and have a bite to eat in the famous Restaurante Bar Cafe Tacuba on the street of the same name. La Casa de las Sirenas offers a wide variety of cuisine served alongside musical entertainment to make for a fun dining experience. Or if you're in the mood for something a little fancier, Los Girasoles will provide you with haute Mexican cuisine next door to the Mexican Senate, so you may spot some very powerful people dining alongside you. L'Heritage offers international cuisine in a beautiful, historic building. The Casa de los Azulejos , part of the Sanborn's chain of restaurants is also found here.

San Angel

The beautiful, cobblestone streets and romantic plazas of San Angel are home to some of the best restaurants in the city. The restaurant at the San Angel Inn has been serving delicious local cuisine for many years, and the added bonus of wandering musicians makes this an unforgettable dining experience. Brasserie Q offers up amazing French food in an authentic atmosphere. Stop by Tasca Manolo for dishes from all over Spain served up in an ancient mansion. Pardiños serves up fresh seafood from the Mexican state of Veracruz while Mauna Loa specializes in Chinese food with Hawaiian and Polynesian decor and entertainment after 9p.

Coyoacán

Spend the day in the colonial neighborhood of Coyoacán enjoying great food and mingling with writers, intellectuals and artists who flock here, as did the painters Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in their time. Flor y Canto offers up all things traditional, from the haute cuisine to the decor and atmosphere, while Bistro Voilá offers French food in a relaxed, bistro atmosphere. El Hábito serves up superb food along with an entertaining cabaret show, all in the historic home of a well known Mexican writer. For something a little more exotic, Fun Lom offers diners what some consider to be the very best Peking Duck along with other delectable Chinese dishes.

Mexico City has boundless opportunities for any visitor or local, no matter what you may be in the mood to do, from historical sights to ultra-modern museums. Here are a few options for touring around this dynamic city.

Alameda Central

Start at the Hidalgo underground station and take the green exit leading to the Alameda Central , one of the city's main parks, where you can visit any of the numerous statues here or the monument to Beethoven. Nearby, discover the Museo Alameda , where Diego Rivera's most famous mural is housed. Painted in 1948, his Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Central Alameda) was brought here after the 1985 earthquake, was rescued from the rubble of the Hotel Prado. This mural reflects Rivera's view of Mexican history and his childhood memories within the framework of a typical Sunday stroll in the city's central park. At the far end of Alameda Central, the Plaza de la Santa Veracruz is where the Iglesia de San Juan de Dios is found, displaying its wonderful facade—the oldest in the city. Next door, the Museo Franz Mayer houses an interesting collection of Mexican applied arts and the Museo de la Estampa (Print Museum) exhibits a series of Jose Guadalupe Posada's engravings of the Calavera Catrina. To one side, the Iglesia de la Santa Veracruz , the plaza's namesake, is one of the most important baroque buildings in the capital, for its architecture and for the brotherhood Hernán Cortes established here in gratitude for his safe arrival in the Mexican port. The remains of the Spanish sculptor, Manuel Tolsá are buried here. The nearby palatial white marble wonder of the Palacio de Bellas Artes housing several museums, includes the Museo Nacional de Arquitectura and boasts murals by Orozco, Rivera, Siqueiros and Tamayo. The Palacio Nacional is in the vicinity, as are other Federal District governmental buildings. The Cafe Tacuba awaits the hungry, with Mexican food, mariachis and the rhythm of rondallas (street musicians) to finish off the day.

Bosque de Chapultepec

One of the few remaining "lungs" of the city, the green expansiveness of the Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Woods) is a popular place, particularly on Sundays. It is divided into three sections by large avenues with lakes, museums and other sites of interest for outdoor fun. Near the underground station Chapultepec, is the first section of the woods where it is easy to get around on foot. Upon exiting the underground, stands the Monumento a los Niños Heroes . Dating from 1952, this semi-circle of six columns stands tall commemorating six young soldiers who died defending the Castillo de Chapultepec upon the invasion of the United States in 1847. At that time the castle served as the Colegio Militar. From here, follow the signs to the Castillo and at the foot of the hill a small red brick, Germanic-style building from the 19th-century houses the Casa de los Espejos (House of Mirrors)—for a bit of distorted, playful fun. Part of the Castillo itself dates from 1785, home to the Viceroy of Nueva España and in 1843, it became the Colegio Militar. Later, Maximilian of Hapsburg and his wife Carlotta arrived in Mexico in 1864, refurbishing it for use as their private residence. The original furnishings remain on view in some of its halls, as remnants of their occupants. It currently serves as the Museo Nacional de Historia and offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Visit the lake , zoo or the expansive Museo Nacional de Antropología . Finish the tour off with a bite to eat at any of the restaurants in or near the park, like Adonis , which offers up Lebanese food in nearby Polanco.

Zócalo/ Plaza de la Constitución

Mexico City has always been cosmopolitan, revealing centuries of history hidden in its streets and buildings. Take the underground to the Zócalo / Plaza de la Constitución station where the Palacio Nacional and the Catedral Metropolitana are situated. Take Calle Guatemala behind the Cathedral to the alleyway called Pasaje Seminario, where the journey begins into the origins of the history of Mexico at the Templo Mayor . These ruins of the ancient Aztec ceremonial city of Tenochtitlán date back to around 1325 and underwent seven stages of construction. The Temple's museum houses a monumental sculpture of Coyolxauhqui and the Caballero Águila (Eagle Knight). Moving on, the Catedral Metropolitana and Sagrario Metropolitano exemplify the church's influence in Mexico. The Calle República de Brasil leads to the Plaza de Santo Domingo where the Museo de la Medicina stands, dedicated to all things related to medicine, in the same location where once the Palacio de la Inquisición served the purposes of the Inquisition. Traveling down Calle Argentina the Colegio de San Ildefonso with its 19th-century facade was once the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria until 1978, when it became a cultural center. Inside there are numerous murals by three renowned revolutionary muralists: Orozco, Siqueiros and Rivera. It is said that the painter Frida Kahlo first met Diego Rivera here. If you are in the area in autumn, you're in luck. September and October are the season for the traditional chiles en nogada (Stuffed Poblano Chile Peppers) to be savored at the Hostería de Santo Domingo on the corner of Calle Palma, upon crossing the plaza. Created especially for the Emperor Agustín de Iturbide, who played a crucial role towards Mexican independence, this delicacy reflects the three colors of the national flag. Finish the walking tour at Calle Madero where the Torre Latinoamericana stands, along with the mansion of the Conde del Valle de Orizaba, known as the Casa de los Azulejos , dating back to 1737. The revolutionary Emiliano Zapata and his men had breakfast here upon entering the capital, and later Jose Clemente Orozco embellished it with his mural Ominsciencia ("Omniscience"), which is now a delicious restaurant for you to refuel after your tour.

Xochimilco

Mexico's popular traditions, customs and natural reserves are found further south, including Tlalpan and Xochimilco where delightful trajineras (small covered boats) take the traveler through the legendary Aztec canals known as chinampas. Nearby, San Angel and Altavista are, without a doubt, two commercial districts that command tourist attention for their shops, sites of interest, restaurants and nightclubs such as Rioja , Casa de los Cántaros and Bar Mezzanote . Located just south of the city, the cultural, entertainment and recreational options are countless. The Casa de la Cultura San Angel and the Ex-Convento del Carmen are two worthwhile sites to see for those interested in art in its various forms of expression. A few steps away, the Museo Carrillo Gil is situated.

Bus Tours:
Turibus (+52 5 563-6693/ http://64.78.37.75/turibus/recorrido_turistico_df.html ) Journeys Beyond the Surface (+52 55 922 0123/ http://www.mexonline.com/journeysbeyond.htm) Gray Line Mexico City (+52 555 583 5533/ http://www.grayline.com/Grayline/destinations/mexico/mexicocity.go) Wayak Tours (+52 5568 2085/ http://www.wayakbus.com)

Walking Tours:
Journeys Beyond the Surface (+52 55 922 0123/ http://www.mexonline.com/journeysbeyond.htm) Mexico City Historical Centre (+52 55 5345 8000) Jewish Tours (http://www.jewishtours.com.mx)

Other Tours:
Segway Tours (+ 52 55 5207 2611/ http://www.segwaytours.com.mx/indexi.html)