Cover Alice Ma and Jessie Li in front of Teotihuacán, an hours’ drive from Mexico City (Photo: courtesy of Alice Ma and jessie Li)
Alice Ma and Jessie Li in front of Teotihuacán, an hours’ drive from Mexico City (Photo: courtesy of Alice Ma and jessie Li)
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In this series of travel guides, we invite creatives and insiders from our global community to showcase a city through their unique lens. This time, entrepreneurs and social media sensations Alice Ma and Jessie Li take you to Mexico City through the stylish route
The art of curating the perfect girls’ trip is no easy feat—but it’s one that Zynthesis founder and managing director Alice Ma, and Reliefx AI co-founder and CEO Jessie Li, have mastered after travelling the world together. A quick scroll through their social media says it all: the style, the energy, and the bucketloads of fun that these two seem to have had against backdrop of some of the most beautiful places around the world.
In this insider guide to Mexico City, Jessie and Alice share their recipe for the ultimate girls’ trip: the hottest spots in town, playlists to set the mood, good food to keep the energy high—and a suitcase packed with looks meant to be clicked. Forget the clichés of white-sand beaches—this is Mexico City at its most thrilling, where taco runs and late-night dance floors set the pace.
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Where to stay
Casa Polanco
Above Casa Polanco's terrace (Photo: courtesy of @casa_polanco)
Above Room at Casa Polanco (Photo: courtesy of @casa_polanco)
Casa Polanco's terrace (Photo: courtesy of @casa_polanco)
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Like Paris has its 16th arrondissement and New York its Upper East Side, Mexico City has Polanco—its wealthy residential quarter, home to the city’s top art galleries, boutiques and fine dining. Just steps from the capital’s main avenues, Casa Polanco stands as one of the most stylish addresses in town: a boutique hotel housed in a restored 1940s Spanish Revival mansion.
Far from the more traditional Mexican aesthetic found elsewhere, Casa Polanco leans into modern design, where neutral tones meet carefully curated details that nod quietly to the city’s layered past. If Mexico City is a feast for the senses, this is the place to retreat and recharge—wrapped in comfort, right in the heart of one of its most elegant neighbourhoods.
Casa Polanco
Luis G. Urbina 84, Polanco, Polanco III Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Four Seasons, Mexico City
Above Four Seasons Mexico City (Courtesy of Four Seasons Mexico City)
Four Seasons Mexico City (Courtesy of Four Seasons Mexico City)
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Close to the Bosque de Chapultepec, the Four Seasons Mexico City is an icon—and you can never go wrong with an icon.
Set along the bustling Paseo de la Reforma, it offers a slice of luxury within a hacienda-style setting, where pared-back design blends with natural textures and organic materials. The rooms have everything you need to reset after a day spent navigating the buzz of the capital, but the real highlight is the lush inner courtyard—a quiet pocket of green that lends itself perfectly to slow mornings over coffee or an afternoon with a book.
Four Seasons
Av. P.º de la Reforma 500, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Where to eat
Restaurante Rosetta
Above Restaurante Rosetta's patio (Courtesy of @restauranterosetta)
Above Food at Restaurante Rosetta (Courtesy of @restauranterosetta)
Restaurante Rosetta's patio (Courtesy of @restauranterosetta)
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At first glance, it’s easy to miss—a grand old mansion that doesn’t try to stand out. Step inside, and you’re in a leafy, light-filled space where high ceilings, climbing plants and laidback elegance set the tone.
At the heart of it all is chef Elena Reygadas’ personal take on Mexican cuisine, rooted in seasonality, sustainability and ingredients from small producers. The menu strikes that sweet spot between inventive and familiar—proof that comfort and creativity can go hand in hand. Upstairs, Salón Rosetta, her moody bar concept, shifts gears with house-fermented cocktails, Mexican spirits and natural wines. For something more casual, Panadería Rosetta, her cult bakery, gives traditional breads and pastries a modern spin.
Restaurante Rosetta
Colima 166, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Máximo Bistro
Above Food at Máximo Bistro (Courtesy of @maximobistro)
Above Dining area (Courtesy of @maximobistro)
Food at Máximo Bistro (Courtesy of @maximobistro)
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Máximo Bistro has earned a reputation for its dedication to serving food that speaks to your palate and heart.
Situated in La Roma district, it offers an intimate setting that, thanks to its success, often requires booking ahead. The menu changes with the seasons, as Chef Eduardo García has a deep appreciation for local ingredients and crafts French bistro-style dishes inspired by them. Chef García describes Máximo as a “European restaurant with a Mexican feel,” giving us just the right mix of both worlds—and a compelling reason to visit this renowned spot.
Máximo Bistro
Av. Álvaro Obregón 65 Bis, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Contramar
Above Contramar dishes (Photo: courtesy of @contramar)
Above Lunch scene at Contramar (Photo: courtesy of @contramar)
Contramar dishes (Photo: courtesy of @contramar)
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A cornerstone of Mexico City’s dining scene, Contramar gets seafood exactly right. The menu changes with the daily catch, but the rhythm of the kitchen is consistent: sharp, fresh and rooted in coastal Mexican flavour.
At the helm is Gabriela Cámara, a chef with serious clout (she also advises the Mexican president), who brings together influences from across the map—think tiradito with a Peruvian accent, Galician-style octopus, even a nod to New England chowder. But the real icon is the butterflied whole fish, glazed in red and green salsas and best shared with a cold drink in hand. Come for a long lunch when the sun’s out and the room is buzzing—it’s when Contramar is at its best.
Contramar
Durango 200, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
What to do
Teotihuacán
Above Alice Ma and jessie Li visiting Teotihuacán in Mexico (Photo: courtesy of Alice Ma and Jessie Li)
Alice Ma and jessie Li visiting Teotihuacán in Mexico (Photo: courtesy of Alice Ma and Jessie Li)
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Just 30 miles northeast of Mexico City’s lively sprawl lies Teotihuacán, an ancient city shrouded in mystery and scale. A Unesco World Heritage site since 1987, this once-thriving metropolis, built between the 1st and 7th centuries, still commands awe with its vast, symmetrical layout and towering pyramids.
The Pyramid of the Sun rises dramatically along the Avenue of the Dead, while its lunar counterpart, the Pyramid of the Moon, brings striking symmetry to the site’s northern edge. Don’t miss the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, where serpent heads and intricate stone reliefs whisper stories from a lost civilisation.
For the ultimate perspective, brave an early morning hot air balloon ride—where Teotihuacán’s geometric precision and cosmic design reveal themselves in full, golden light.
Xochimilco
Above Trajinera at Xochimilco (Courtesy of jessie Li)
Above Jessie Li at the the famous canals of Xochimilco (Courtesy of jessie Li)
Trajinera at Xochimilco (Courtesy of jessie Li)
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At the southern edge of Mexico City, Xochimilco offers a shift in pace without losing the city’s energy. Its network of canals—remnants of an ancient lake system—is best explored by trajinera, the brightly painted boats that have become shorthand for the area. On board, expect coolers packed with drinks, the occasional live mariachi, and a steady flow of tamales passed between friends.
While you can visit any day of the week, Sundays offer the most authentic experience, when locals gather to celebrate, share food and enjoy the canals at their most lively.
Castillo de Chapultepec
Above Alice Ma at Castillo de Chapultepec (Photo: courtesy of Alice Ma)
Above Inside Castillo de Chapultepec (Photo: courtesy of Alice Ma )
Alice Ma at Castillo de Chapultepec (Photo: courtesy of Alice Ma)
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Perched atop Cerro del Chapulín (Hill of the Grasshopper) in the heart of Mexico City, Castillo de Chapultepec is one of the highest points in the valley, offering panoramic views of the city and giving visitors a glimpse of its layered past. Once the residence of an emperor, then home to a line of presidents, the castle now stands as both a national landmark and the Museum of National History.
Cinephiles might recognise its grand façade from Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996), where it stood in as the Capulet mansion opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.
Frida Museum
Above Entrance of the Blue House, also known as the Frida Kahlo Museum (Getty Images)
Entrance of the Blue House, also known as the Frida Kahlo Museum (Getty Images)
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No trip to Mexico is complete without a visit to the Frida Kahlo Museum, better known as La Casa Azul—The Blue House—for its vibrant cobalt façade. Formerly the home of the late Mexican icon, it’s now a historic house museum dedicated to the life and work of the artist who was born, raised and passed away within its walls.
Inside, you’ll find a few of Kahlo’s own artworks, but the real story lies in her personal universe—folk art, jewellery, traditional Tehuana outfits and the corsets that became part of her visual identity. Step through the rooms and it’s as if time folds in on itself—Frida’s spirit lingers in every detail, not just telling you who she was, but letting you feel what it was like to live, create and endure in her world.
Where to drink
Tlecān
Above Inside Tlecān bar in Mexico City (Courtesy @tlecan)
Above Cocktail at Tlecān (Courtesy @tlecan)
Inside Tlecān bar in Mexico City (Courtesy @tlecan)
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By now, you’ve likely gathered that La Roma is Mexico City’s beating heart when it comes to good food and stylish places to drink. But among its many haunts, Tlecān rises—quite literally—from the embers. Specialising in mezcal (a non-negotiable when in Mexico), this sultry bar has rightly earned its place among North America’s top 10.
Named after the Náhuatl word for “place of fire”, Tlecān delivers on dramatic design: think rust-toned walls, flickering candlelight and pre-Hispanic motifs that conjure up ancient ritual with a contemporary edge. Don’t miss their take on tascalate—a reimagining of a traditional Maya drink blending cacao, maize and achiote.
Tlecān
Av. Álvaro Obregón 228-Local 2, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Rayo Cocktail Bar
Above Cocktails at Rayo Cocktail Bar (Courtesy Rayo Cocktail Bar)
Cocktails at Rayo Cocktail Bar (Courtesy Rayo Cocktail Bar)
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Another pin to drop in La Roma: Rayo Cocktail Bar is set in a heritage estate and shares its space with Fónico Restaurant, offering two distinct yet complementary experiences. Both venues embrace traditional Mexican flavours, reimagined with a modern twist. The spaces span two levels, with Rayo upstairs showcasing cocktails inspired by Mexican myths and legends. The menu is reliably strong, featuring signature drinks you can trust.
The design keeps it sleek—clean lines, moody lighting, and the occasional neon highlight. For a change of pace, there’s a terrace lined with agave and cacti, perfect for those who want to enjoy their drinks with a side of fresh air.
Rayo Cocktail Bar
Salamanca 85, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Alix Lefebvre was the Assistant Manager of VIP Relations & Styling Coordinator at Tatler Hong Kong. Hailing from France, she has a wealth of experience in fashion from across Europe and Asia. When she’s not busy mingling at events, you’ll find her soaking up the energetic atmosphere of Hong Kong or planning her next trip.
