As a San Francisco local, Instagrammer Nanette Wong, knows how to live the sweet life. From photos of decadent treat to her favorite coffee spots in town, Nanette’s mouth-watering content is the best part of anyone’s feed. She just returned from an Instagram takeover in Mexico City, Mexico as part of Alaska’s Weekend Wanderer series. For more Weekend Wanderer posts, be sure to follow Alaska Airlines on Instagram.

Mexico City has always been on the top of my to-visit list, so I was thrilled to find out that Alaska Airlines just launched direct flights from San Francisco to Mexico City. Recently, Mexico City has been showing up everywhere— it’s a design hub, foodie destination, and let’s be real, a truly Instagram-able place.

We arrived on the tailwind of a storm, but Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico) still shines even during the grayest of days. Though I hate the rain, I can’t deny its benefits on this city. Coming from drought-ridden California, the regular rain in Mexico City has resulted in a city that’s full of lush greenery and prolific parks. Wherever we walked, flowers were in full bloom and buildings were covered in romantic ivy.

The people of Mexico City are also so nice. I don’t know how else to describe it. Everyone is friendly and happy to have people visiting their beautiful city. We stayed at La Valise Hotel, a boutique hotel in the poppin’ neighborhood of Roma. There’s a very discreet entrance that opens up to the small but robust hotel with distinct suites. The hotel is built into a former mansion, so it has the feel of the home with the amenities of a hotel. We stayed in the Terraza room, where you can move the bed outdoors to sleep under the stars!

When I travel, I love getting lost in the local neighborhoods, and Mexico City was no different. Roma and Condesa were all great for wandering— and are full of design-oriented coffee shops and boutiques. I would recommend spending a few afternoons without an itinerary, and stroll the streets to see what calls you. Polanco was also a great neighborhood for this, and is packed with high-end boutiques.

Mexico City’s design culture is prevalent everywhere you go. The first thing I noticed upon landing here is how colorful and vibrant all the buildings are. They are not afraid to experiment with color. At the same time, the buildings have a very organic feel— think lots of living green walls and outdoor dining patios. I also headed to see the work of Luis Barragan, a famous Mexican architect and civil engineer who’s had a huge influence on contemporary design. His house and studio are a must-visit, and if you can, the Cuadra San Cristobal is truly jaw-dropping in its beauty.

Mexico City is also home to Frida Kahlo, perhaps one of the most famous Mexican artists of our time. We were able to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum at Casa Azul, where we saw see exactly where she lived, loved, and worked. Truly a one-of-a-kind experience!

And of course, you can’t forget the food! From street tacos to fine dining at one of the top  restaurants in the world, Mexico City has something for everyone. We were able to experience the best of both worlds. I loved the juicy, gritty tacos from the small storefront on the corner as much as I thoroughly enjoyed the 11-course dining experience at Pujol.

 

As you can tell, Mexico City is a city to fall in love with. Four days in Mexico City wasn’t enough, we’re already planning our next trip back. We’re so thankful that Alaska Airlines makes it easy to get there. For a more in-depth city guide to Mexico City, stay tuned to my blog, Cultural Chromatics.