A guide to Roma Norte, Mexico City’s creative enclave

It’s no secret colonia Roma Norte is considered one of the most iconic neighbourhoods in Mexico City. The area as it appears today mostly dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it became fashionable for Mexican aristocracy to relocate there and build large single-family mansions in the architectural styles of the time. Art nouveau and art deco are the predominant styles, visible in the facades and interiors of up to 1,500 mansions and apartment buildings, which have survived to this day under the protection of Mexico’s National Institute of Culture.

In recent years, colonia Roma Norte has repositioned itself as a cultural and gastronomical destination, with many restored turn-of-the-century casonas transformed into brilliant restaurants, boutique hotels, museums, and bars. Whether you are looking for a great night out, vintage fashion or a stylish abode to rest your head, these are the best things to do, see, buy and eat in Roma Norte.

The best hotels in Roma Norte

Nima Local House

Best for: A luxurious boutique stay
Location: Colima 236, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Ciudad de México
Price: Rooms from 9,000 MXN / 450 USD

This luxury boutique residence is set in a stunning Roma Norte townhouse, and considered one of the best hotels in the city. It has just four bedrooms, all with high ceilings and tall windows overlooking a lush quiet street, giving it the feel of staying in a friend’s spectacular home. The peaceful inner courtyard, covered in monsteras, is a lovely place to have breakfast, read a book, work remotely, or just hang out with your significant other. Nima’s location can’t be beaten, with the best restaurants, bakeries, and boutique shops in the neighbourhood just a few doors down the street.

Ignacia Guest House

Best for: Design you can take home with you
Location: Jalapa 208, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Ciudad de México
Price: Rooms from 4,300- 6,500 MXN / 220-330 USD

Ignacia Guest House is a 1913 mansion restored into a five-room boutique hotel, decorated in bold colour and furnished with a mix of traditional Mexican crafts and contemporary design pieces. Enjoy an afternoon cocktail in the bright red lounge, or have a classic Mexican breakfast with handmade tortillas on your room’s private balcony. Excellent hospitality and perfect location are some of the reasons why you will love your stay here in the heart of Roma Norte. And if you happen to fall in love with one of the design pieces, the owners run design boutique Originario in Roma, where you can buy many of the pieces featured in the house.

Brick Hotel

Best for: Proximity to the best restaurants in Roma Norte
Location: Orizaba 95, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Ciudad de México
Price: Rooms from 6,800-7,800 MXN / 340-390 USD

Brick Hotel is one of the newest and best boutique hotels in Roma Norte, Mexico City. The 20th-century mansion was built in an English style by its original owner, who lived between Mexico and England, and brought yellow bricks over from London to construct the house. Each of the 17 rooms is designed with elegant touches of off-white and cream tones. Some of the rooms have a private balcony overlooking Calle Orizaba, and guests can enjoy a private spa, in-house restaurant, and bar. The Brick Hotel is located just a block away from Mexico City’s best pastry shop Panadería Rosetta, setting you up for coffee and pastries each morning during your stay in Roma Norte.

The best restaurants in Roma Norte

Galanga Thai House

Best for: aromatic Thai cuisine, lush courtyard setting
Location: Monterrey 204, Roma Norte
Price: main dishes starting from 460 pesos / 26 USD

This spacious Roma mansion holds one of the best Thai-inspired restaurants in Mexico City, led by chef Somsri Raksamran. Aromatic dishes are served in a lush courtyard setting, with plants all around. Try grilled scallops with yellow curry or beef brisket served with roti, or opt for a decadent seven-course tasting menu.

Maximo Bistrot

Best for: a special dinner
Location: Avenue Álvaro Obregón 65 Bis, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Ciudad de México
Price: Dishes starting at 320 pesos / 16 USD

At Maximo Bistrot, chef Eduardo García fuses French and Mexican flavours in a lively setting, which places its top-of-the-line kitchen front and centre of the space. Expect delicious comfort food and attentive service here – and the cocktail menu is not to be left out during any visit. Order the caramelised onions with comte cheese, the classic ceviche, or the flat iron steak with velvety potato purée and morels.

Mi Compa Chava

Best for: Generous seafood platters, casual dining, Sunday brunch
Location: Zacatecas 172, Roma Norte
Price: small dishes starting from 150 pesos / 8 USD

Mi Compa Chava is considered the best seafood restaurant in Mexico City right now. Its menu takes inspiration from traditional street food of the Mexican Pacific Coastline, spanning ceviches, aguachiles (a Mexican shrimp dish) and fresh oyster platters. Menu highlights include clam tortillas with fish patè, grilled octopus, and towers of raw shrimp with a sweet and spicy sauce that mixes lime, squid ink, and chillis. The casual Roma location is spacious and gets lively on weekends. Be wary that you may wait up to an hour for a table on Saturdays and Sundays, so get down early.

Meroma

Best for: Lingering lunches, rooftop dining
Location: Colima 150-1, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Ciudad de México
Price: Dishes starting at 150 pesos / 7.5 USD

The team behind Meroma hails from Melbourne, with chefs Mercedes Bernal and Rodney Cusic in the kitchen. International dishes incorporate ingredients from sustainable farms surrounding Mexico City, supported by an excellent wine and cocktail list. The minimalist restaurant also has a small but perfectly formed rooftop for al fresco dining. Try the foie gras terrine, the soft shell blue crab from Veracruz, or the wild mushroom risotto, dishes that speak of Meroma’s culinary range.

The best bars in Roma Norte

Cafe de Nadie

Best for: Mexican spirits, casual dinners, nights out
Location: Chihuahua 135, Roma Norte
Price: signature cocktails starting from 180 pesos / 10 USD

Cafe de Nadie is a coffee shop during the day, which transforms into a cocktail bar in the evening. Signature drinks are mixed with Mexican spirits, incorporating ingredients from the surrounding Xochimilco district of the city. A casual menu includes classic burgers and beef tartare, available for lunch and dinner. The team behind Cafe de Nadie are vinyl fanatics, so expect a stellar playlist.

Brujas

Best for: cocktails with a cultural edge
Location: Calle Rio de Janeiro 56 Local B Col, Roma Norte
Price: cocktails starting from 180 pesos / 10 USD

Brujas is so-called after the turn-of-the-century building that it occupies, Casa de las Brujas. It is known to locals as The Witch’s House for its peaked roof, akin to a witch’s hat. The menu plays homage to the history and hearsay surrounding the residence, which once housed a Mexican chaman called Pachita. Aromantic cocktails are inspired by iconic female characters in Latin American history and culture, prepared by an all-female team, and garnished with local herbs.

Maison Artemisia

Best for: cracking cocktails
Location: Tonala 23, Roma Norte, 06700, Ciudad de México
Price: dishes starting at 180 pesos / 9 USD

Maison Artemisia has been a favourite in the local bar and cocktail scene in Mexico City for several years. It’s tucked up on the first floor of a Roma Norte mansion, above the natural wine specialists Loup Bar. Besides the cosy space, Artemisia’s winning card is the lively, friendly bartenders. The best place to be when visiting Artemisia is sitting right at the bar, so don’t be shy to mingle with locals for a lively night of signature cocktails and friendly vibes. The salmoncito cocktail – a concoction of gin, Campari, and grapefruit – is a stalwart of Mexico City’s drinking scene, so order one or five – it’s fresh, aromatic, and easy to sip.

The best shops in Roma Norte

Xolo Vintage

Best for: Covetable vintage finds
Location: Querétaro 157, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Ciudad de México
Price: Pieces starting at 500 MXN / 25 USD

Xolo Vintage is recognised by locals as one of the best boutiques for vintage clothing and one-of-a-kind pieces from the 1950s to the ’90s. The store sits discreetly inside an old Roma Norte house on a quiet street, which can be easy to miss. Don’t expect thrifty finds – prices are on the higher end of the scale, but it’s worth the price when each item featured in the store is a gem.

180 Grados

Best for: Contemporary fashion from local and slow-fashion brands
Location: Colima 180, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Ciudad de México
Price: Pieces starting at 400 MXN / 20 USD

180 Grados was one of the first shops in Roma Norte that gave window space to local Mexican designers and small boutique brands from abroad. The shop is tiny but well edited and is conveniently located on one of the busiest streets of Roma Norte. Peruse handmade pottery, leather shoes and responsibly made clothing and accessories from contemporary slow fashion items at 180 Grados.

Amor & Rosas

Best for: Unique hand-embroidered designs
Location: Valladolid 55b, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Ciudad de México
Price: Pieces starting at 2,700 MXN / 135 USD

Amor & Rosas’ storefront is sandwiched between Roma Norte’s best bars, clubs, and restaurants. This socially-conscious slow fashion project combines contemporary design with sustainable textiles and traditional Mexican handmade embroidery to create truly unique kimonos, work jackets, blouses, and pants. Amor & Rosas pieces have a relaxed silhouette and are locally made to boot.

The best things to do in Roma Norte

Dancing at Salon San Luis

Best for: A local institution to shake your body
Location: San Luis Potosí 28, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Ciudad de México
Price: Drinks starting at 100 MXN / 5 USD

A true gem from days of old, Salon San Luis has more than 70 years of tradition as a salsa dancing hall and is considered among locals as a legendary Roma Norte social spot, particularly on weekends. The red light immediately transports you to a 1940s neighbourhood cabaret and the drink menu keeps up with the vintage vibe: expect inexpensive beer, straight tequila shots, and easy-to-mix cocktails like rum and soda or vodka tonics. A live salsa orchestra attracts professional and amateur dancers to the floor. Don’t be intimidated by their salsa skills and dive right in.

Visit MODO Museum

Best for: A short but sweet visit to a local museum
Location: Colima 145, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Ciudad de México
Price: Ticket entrance starting at 50 MXN / 2.5 USD

MODO is a small design museum that focuses on Mexican objects and prints dating from the 1800s to the present day. Photography, magazine design, packaging, shoe polish, poster advertising, graphic arts – you name it, and MODO will have an example from Mexican history on display. The museum is located in a historic 19th-century house – it’s not enormous, so you devote a short time to the visit.

Best place to co-work in Roma Norte

Publico

Best for: remote workers, content creators, and entrepreneurs
Location: Alvaro Obregón 171, Roma Norte, 06700, Ciudad de México
Price: coworking desk monthly membership starting at 3,900 pesos / 195 USD

Considered one of the best places for remote working in Mexico City, Publico is the Mexican equivalent of WeWork with slightly fewer facilities but a stronger architectural design. Publico’s co-working space in Roma Norte sits on Alvaro Obregón Avenue, which is a short stroll from the area’s excellent cafes and restaurants. Publico’s co-working amenities are ideal for content creators as it includes a photo studio and a podcast room, while also providing open and green spaces to work to make the most of Mexico City’s balmy climate.