Where to eat, stay and play in Roma Norte, Mexico City’s hipster neighbourhood with leafy streets, historic mansions, trendy cafes and funky restaurants.
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About Roma Norte Mexico City
Roma Norte is the hipster hangout of Mexico City. It’s undoubtedly one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the city, characterised by aesthetic cafes, funky fusion restaurants, vintage thrift shops and alternative, bohemian people.
Roma Norte’s history goes back to the 20th century when affluent upper-class Mexican families were looking for somewhere to reside outside the busy Centro Historico.
The area garnered interest from Mexican politicians and international businessmen, and they invested in the development of the neighbourhood, with the idea of creating a European-style town. Inspired by the wide, leafy avenues and grand mansions of Paris, in Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles.
Roma lost its sparkle after the 1985 earthquake damaged the neighbourhood significantly, but in the last few decades, it has experienced a revival and has grown into one of the most chic and vibrant areas of Mexico City.
So much so that the Colonia Roma has been divided into distinct but similar neighbourhoods:
- Roma Norte
- Roma Sur
- La Romita
Each area offers a similar vibe, but Roma Norte stands out and has become a fan favourite with locals and tourists alike.
Where is Roma Norte
The Roma Norte neighbourhood is located in the central southwest area of Mexico City.
Juarez borders it to the north, Roma Sur to the south, Condesa to the west and Doctores to the east.
It is clearly bound by Avenida Chapultepec in the north and Avenida Cuauhtemoc to the east. Calle Coahuila separates Roma Norte and Roma Sur in the south, but the boundary between Roma Norte and Condesa is less linear.
Roma Norte is central to other popular neighbourhoods in Mexico City, like Centro Historico, and Polanco, and is within easy walking distance of the famous Parque Chapultepec.
6 Things to do in Roma Norte
1. Wander aimlessly on Roma Norte’s main streets
The best thing to do in Roma Norte is to simply stroll around and soak it all in.
It’s not a neighbourhood with a ton of particular sights or attractions like Centro Historico. The beauty of Roma Norte is the vibe and the atmosphere. With its wide, tree-lined avenues, funky dining options, well-preserved historic buildings and beautiful trendy people.
We spent a few hours just wandering around without a plan or a map, and it was the best way to see the neighbourhood.
It’s very walkable, with sidewalks on most streets, and even wide, leafy pedestrian areas in the centre of the larger roads.
Don’t forget to look out for the colourful street art you’ll find all over Roma Norte.
I would suggest just crisscrossing around as best you can, and following any street that looks cute, but some of the major thoroughfares in Roma Norte to align your wanderings are:
- Avenida Alvaro Obregon: the unofficial main street of Roma Norte, jam-packed with restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and pretty historic buildings. There is a median strip with a pedestrian walkway, gardens, fountains and sculptures.
- Avenida Insurgentes Sur: the longest avenue in Mexico City passes through Roma Norte. This is a busier, more commercial part of Roma, but it’s a major landmark in the neighbourhood.
- Cerrada Orizaba: a long leafy street connecting multiple plazas, with a gorgeous leafy centre.
- Calle Colima: this street hosts some of the best boutique hotels and restaurants in the neighbourhood.
If you’d prefer to wander with an expert local guide, this private and customisable walking tour is a great option.
2. Explore the leafy parks and plazas
The entire neighbourhood of Roma Norte feels like one big green space. With tree-lined avenues, median strips full of plants and ivy climbing up historic buildings.
However, there are a couple of dedicated parks and plazas that are worth stopping by:
- Plaza Rio de Janeiro: a small park centred around a fountain with a replica statue of Michelangelo’s David. Look out for the gothic-style Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia church nearby.
- Plaza Luis Cabrera: another small plaza with a central fountain, this is a nice place to rest your legs for a minute. There is a small exhibition space here with rotating visual displays.
- Fuente de Cibeles: the Fountain of Cybele was my favourite plaza in Roma Norte. It’s a replica of the original version in Madrid and was gifted to CDMX by the Spanish residents of the city in an act of friendship and unity. The area is lively, surrounded by restaurants and cafes, and when we visited in spring it was a pop of purple from the Jacaranda trees.
3. Pop into Cafebreria El Pendulo
This chain of bookstores-cum-cafes has multiple branches across the city, but it’s a lovely spot to rest while strolling around Roma Norte.
The three-storey shop is full of thousands of books. As an avid reader, I love browsing books and looking at all the different cover art. There is an English books section and some cute homewares and souvenirs.
You can grab a cool drink or a coffee on any level or even a beer from their rooftop bar. It’s a really cool concept.
4. Shop at boutiques and bazaars
If you’re looking to shop in Mexico City, Roma Norte is full of aesthetic boutiques, vintage stores, thrift shops and street bazaars.
Calle Colima and its offshoot streets are the place to be for shopping, lined with permanent stores and rotating bazaars. Check out:
- Bunker Bazar
- Bazar Resiliente
- Esculturas Vivas
- Casa Bosque
- 180 Grados
- Casa Bazar
5. Check out the museums and galleries
Roma Norte is the creative hub of Mexico City after all, so it’s only fitting this neighbourhood hosts a collection of fantastic museums, galleries and cultural outfits.
Some house traditional art pieces while others have a focus on cultural and historical artefacts. No matter which you visit, you’ll get a taste of the innovative and visionary local art scene.
- Museo del Objeto del Objeto (MODO)
- Casa Museo Guillermo Tovar de Teresa
- Casa Lamm Cultural Center
- Galería OMR
- Galería Mascotaz
- MAIA Contemporary
6. Take a food tour
One of the best things to do in Roma Norte is eat. This neighbourhood is a gastronomic delight, with a trending dining scene full of aesthetic cafes, moody cocktail bars, funky fusion restaurants and mouthwatering street food.
Whilst you can indulge solo, a fantastic way to get a taste of Roma’s food scene is on a guided food tour. You’ll get to sample a variety of food and drinks, all while getting a fun and informative lesson in the history and culture of the neighbourhood.
Hotels in Roma Norte Mexico City
Roma Norte is a great place to base yourself for your Mexico City itinerary. It’s probably the most popular neighbourhood for tourists to stay in the city. It’s safe, peaceful and still central enough to explore the sites in other areas too.
It’s only fitting that some of the city’s best boutique hotels are in Roma Norte, most in tastefully restored historic mansions. If you’re a design lover, you’re going to have a seriously hard time choosing just one hotel!
Even if you’re on a smaller budget, there are still some really gorgeous places, with a taste of that historic Roma Norte charm, light, bright and airy spaces and plenty of greenery!
MID RANGE HOTELS
BUDGET HOTELS & HOSTELS
Best restaurants in Roma Norte
So much of what makes Roma Norte one of the best neighbourhoods in Mexico City can be attributed to its dining scene.
Food in all its forms is a major part of Roma Norte’s identity, and it reminded us of being back home in Melbourne. Weekend brunches, amazing coffee, funky fusion restaurants, and mixologist-made cocktails, just with the addition of delicious and cheap tacos too!
What I’m trying to say is that eating and drinking should be a top priority of your time in Roma Norte, and it’s definitely not too over the top to plan your entire day (or stay) around mealtimes!
I don’t think you could have a bad meal at any of the Roma Norte restaurants, but here are some highlights.
Cafes and sweet treats
- Lalo: a popular, funky café with art-filled walls and classic breaky favourites like smashed avocado, Croque Monsieur and French toast. Prepare to wait on the weekends.
- Panaderia Rosetta: if you want pastries or bread, this bakery is one of the best places in the city. You’ll want to get here early for a choice of the full range of sweet treats, and don’t hold your breath for a table. It’s nice to grab some pastries take away and eat at the nearby Plaza Rio de Janeiro.
- La Ventanita: located on the outer edge of Fuente de Cibeles, the outdoor seating here felt like dining in a jungle. Sweet tooths like me can choose pancakes or French toast, savoury options include classic Mexican chilaquiles, huevos rancheros and more.
- Qūentin Café: there are fantastic cafes all over Roma Norte, that serve up a delicious and well-made cup of joe, but Quentin is up there as one of the best. If you’re serious about coffee (like us Melbourne coffee snobs), I think you’ll be satisfied here.
- Churrería El Moro: a Mexico City icon, this chain of churro restaurants can be found throughout the city, and Roma Norte has a particularly pretty one.
Tacos, markets and street food
- Taqueria Orinoco: If you’re looking for tacos in Roma Norte at any time of the night, this is the place! Choose from pastor, arracherra or chicharron.
- Mercado Roma: this upscale food court is one of the places to be in Roma Norte. An industrial-style building is filled with different international and Mexican stalls, as well as bars serving up delicious cocktails.
- Jenni’s Street Quesadillas: a very popular street food stall on Calle Merida, serving up completely handmade quesadillas with your choice of fillings topped with stringy queso Oaxaca.
- Gracias Madre Vegan Tacos: nothing could be more typical of Roma Norte than a streetside taco cart that serves up delicious vegan versions of classic Mexican tacos.
- Cariñito Tacos: tacos with a twist, this Asian-Mexican fusion spot serves up some unique flavours from a standing-only patio.
Restaurants
- Maximo Bistrot: this French bistro with a Mexican twist is set in a gorgeous, airy restaurant and getting a table here is easier said than done.
- Contramar: this incredibly popular seafood restaurant features on every ‘must-eat in Mexico City’ list. Make a booking or prepare to wait, don’t miss the tuna tostadas.
- Restaurante Rosetta: from the same owner as Panaderia Rosetta, this Italian-Mexican fusion restaurant is housed in a gorgeous historic mansion. Bookings essential.
- Paramo: styled like a traditional Mexican cantina, this is a place to come for food, drinks, music and connection. It’s not too noisy, but the atmosphere is lively. The food is upscale Mexican with plenty of tacos, ceviches and mezcals on the menu.
- Blanco Colima: this is very fine dining in an elegant historic house. Expect to splurge, but it’s totally worth it. With a European-Mexican fusion menu and an extensive drinks list.
Roma Norte nightlife
If you’re wondering where the cool chilangos hang out at night, it’s Roma Norte.
Whether you’re chasing a casual drink at a bar, or a full-blown nightclub, these are some of the best places to visit after dark in Roma Norte.
Cocktail bars
- Licorería Limantour: featuring on The World’s 50 Best Bars list, this double-storey cocktail heaven shakes up some outrageous and unexpectedly delicious combinations.
- El Palenquito: a low-lit mezcal bar, with a great range of mezcals and cocktails if you’re keen to try Mexico’s other famous spirit.
- Café Tacobar: tacos, beer on tap, tasty cocktails and a fun, friendly atmosphere with hilarious bartenders. This dive bar is a casual, enjoyable place to spend an evening in Roma Norte.
Night clubs
- Departamento: the go-to place to dance the night away, this young and trendy venue hosts three different levels where you can choose the music and vibe you’re chasing. They charge a cover fee.
- Mama Rumba: a night out but make it Latin. A live band plays salsa music all night long and the dancefloor is jam-packed! Some nights of the week they offer free salsa lessons before the party gets started.
- Patrick Miller: open just one night only each week on Fridays, this is the place to come to dance. Offering regular 70s, 80s and 90s theme nights, this is old-school fun without any pretentious energy.
How to get to Roma Norte
The Roma area is actually a bit of a black spot for Mexico City’s Metro, so it’s not as straightforward to get to as some other neighbourhoods like Centro Historico.
The closest metro stations are still an easy walk into the heart of the neighbourhood, and if you want to take the train, I would recommend disembarking at:
- Insurgentes
- Cuauhtemoc
- Niños Heroes
Otherwise, the Metrobus Line 1 runs down Avenida Insurgentes on the western side of Roma Norte, or Line 3 runs down Avenida Cuauhtemoc at the eastern edge of the neighbourhood.
I would highly recommend using the city’s bike share scheme, EcoBici, to get to and around Roma Norte. There are tons of bike stations within the neighbourhood and all the sidewalks and median paths on the major avenues are great to ride around.
Uber is an easy way to get to Roma Norte from other parts of the city too.
🚊 Check out our Mexico City transportation guide for more information about how to get around the city via metro, bus, bike and more.
Is Roma Norte safe?
Mexico City is a very safe city overall. Of course, there are a few neighbourhoods that you should avoid, but Roma Norte is not one of them.
This is one of the safest areas of the city. It’s always busy and bustling, but not overwhelmingly so. Even at night time, you’ll find tons of people out and about, so it feels quite safe to walk the main streets day and night.
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Roma Norte Mexico City: Final thoughts
Whether you choose to base yourself in Roma Norte for your entire Mexico City trip, or you’re just visiting the neighbourhood for a day or two, I hope this guide has helped plan your time.
No matter which streets you wander, which restaurants you eat at or what bars you order a drink, it’s impossible not to feel the hipster, boho vibes of this charming neighbourhood!
Don’t forget to pop into neighbouring La Condesa too, which is an almost seamless extension of the Roma Norte neighbourhood, with a similar leafy feel.
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