Late last month, we were invited to our dear friends' wedding in the Mexican state of Puebla. There’s a lot to see and do in Puebla, but we thought: let's make a full trip of it and spend a few days in Mexico City.

Prior to our recent trip to Cabo San Lucas, we had only ever been to border cities in Mexico along Texas and California. As you've probably read, Mexico City is becoming quite the hotspot for American travelers. The city is loaded with history, world class architecture, and cool spots/neighborhoods in which to hang out. Plus, flights are incredibly cheap (from Texas), Uber works great, and you can eat some of the best tacos you've ever had for under $1. We covered quite a bit of ground during our time in CDMX, so we've distilled this post into a few categories. Each spot highlighted here will include a Google Map link to help populate your list (trust us, this was a HUGE and helpful part of our trip planning). We're going to touch on where we ate, the sightseeing we did, but first: coffee...

HIS AND HER COFFEE DATES:

BUNA: Café Rico

This was actually our very first stop in in the city, and it came as a glowing recommendation from our good friend (and CDMX expert), Payton. Simple yet significant design moves, a nice patio, and solid capps... This is a must-stop if you're in the area.

Chiquitito Café

Just as its name suggests, this cafe sure is tiny, but every square inch is full of charm. By the way, we highly recommend the chia seed pudding.

Postales de Café

WHERE WE ATE:

Puntarena

"I think it was the green wall that drew me in". It was definitely the green wall that drew me in. I'd wanted to experience this restaurant for years, not even knowing (or caring) how the food was. Luckily enough, the food, the service, and the light were all on point this particular early evening. Even though I found out that night that I may be slightly allergic, my octopus was prepared perfectly.

Tacos

With countless options for really (really) good tacos, we've left off Google Map locations of where we went and would instead encourage you to walk around and pop into as many taco spots as possible!

These were seriously some of the best tacos we've ever had... and this plate cost under $1

Lardo

Submerged in planters and dangling ivy, Lardo was a perfect restaurant to pop into for a midday bite. We started with the most perfectly precise pancakes and followed up with the huevos estrellados and chilaquiles

Tori Tori

Designed by the renowned Rojkind Arquitectos, Tori Tori is another spot that had been on our list for years. As you can see, the building design is incredible, but not shown is some of the best sashimi we've ever had.

SIGHTSEEING:

Zócalo, Historic District

Whether day or night, this part of the city is absolutely breathtaking. Giant plazas, endless shops... This might be the most touristy area in Mexico City, but it's for good reason, and definitely worth sorting through the crowds.

Chapultepec Castle

Possibly THE highlight of the trip, we could've spent the entire day wandering around this beautiful castle.

Soumaya Museum

Luis Barragán House and Studio

There's no doubt that Luis Barragán was a master of color and light, and this is most evident in his home/studio tucked away on the outskirts of La Condesa. Just be sure to make a reservation ahead of time— we got super lucky we were able to squeeze in without one!