Wear & Pack
🌤️Weather in Mexico City (mid-October) ›
Climate averages — check the 10-day forecast around Oct 11.
Temps
Avg high ~73°F / 23°C, low ~51°F / 11°C. Expect a 20°+ swing from dawn to afternoon.
Rain
Measurable rain on ~1 in 5 October days, usually afternoon or evening.
Altitude
7,350 ft / 2,240 m. Expect shortness of breath and stronger alcohol effects on Friday. Hydrate.
Sun
UV is high at altitude even when it feels mild. Bring SPF 50, a hat, and sunglasses.
🧳Pack ›
Layers
Light sweater or jacket for mornings and nights; breathable tops for midday.
Shoes
Cushioned walking shoes for cobblestones, plus one dressier pair for Saturday night.
Rain
Packable rain jacket or compact umbrella.
Style
CDMX dresses like a major city. Smart-casual fits everywhere.
Packing Checklist
Tap to check things off — it remembers on your phone.
- Passport
- Light sweater or jacket (mornings & nights)
- Breathable tops for midday
- Cushioned walking shoes (cobblestones)
- One dressier pair of shoes for Saturday night
- Packable rain jacket or compact umbrella
- SPF 50
- Hat & sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle — hydrate at altitude
- Pesos + a card with no foreign-transaction fee
- Phone charger & portable battery
- Any daily meds + something for an altitude headache
- Travel outfit + light jacket for the predawn Monday departure
Flights
If you're traveling with a group, confirm times with them — these are the reference flights from the agenda.
🛫 Friday, Oct 16 · LAX → Mexico City
Delta DL7952 · operated by AeroméxicoLeave home 5:30–6:00 AM. Bring your passport. Lands at MEX (Benito Juárez, the central airport) — about 30–45 min by car to Casa Talavera in afternoon traffic.
🛬 Monday, Oct 19 · Mexico City → LAX
Delta DL7992Arrive 3 hrs before an international flight; leave the hotel around 5:30 AM — the predawn drive to MEX is only ~25–35 min. Pre-book a hotel car or Uber, not a street taxi.
Logistics
🏨Where we're staying ›
Hotel Casa Talavera by Tasman
📍 Colima 211, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México
Boutique hotel in Roma Norte. Most Friday and Sunday stops are walkable. The rooftop is for breakfast, sunsets, or simply hanging out; Bistró Talavera on the ground floor specializes in Mexican and Puebla-style cuisine.
✈️The airport — MEX ›
Both flights use MEX (Benito Juárez International), the central airport about 10 km east of Roma Norte. ~30–45 min by car in daytime traffic; ~25–35 min predawn on Monday.
Buffer: arrive 3 hrs before an international flight; leave the hotel 3.5 hrs before departure.
🚗Getting around ›
Uber is the easy default; pre-book a hotel car for the predawn airport run. Not a street taxi. Mexico City traffic swings a lot — the drive times below are typical, so add 15 min when it matters.
By car from Casa Talavera (Roma Norte)
MEX airport ~30–45 min (25–35 predawn) · Museo de Antropología ~20–30 min · Polanco (Masaryk) ~20–30 min · Coyoacán ~35–45 min · San Ángel ~30–45 min · Centro Histórico ~20–30 min · Handshake (Juárez) ~10 min or a 20-min walk
Between stops
Antropología → Mercado de Coyoacán ~35–50 min · Casa Azul → Bazar Sábado ~15–25 min · Polanco → Handshake ~15–25 min · Reforma (Ángel) → Zócalo ~15 min by car, 45–60 on foot
On foot in Roma Norte
Hotel → Parque México ~15 min · Hotel → Plaza Río de Janeiro / Filomeno ~10 min · Filomeno → Limantour ~5 min · Hotel → Contramar ~10 min · Hotel → Meroma 2 blocks
Sunday mornings, Paseo de la Reforma closes to cars — walk or ride it toward Centro.
⛰️Altitude & sun ›
7,350 ft / 2,240 m. Expect shortness of breath on the first day and stronger alcohol effects — one drink Friday night. Hydrate. UV is high even when it feels mild: SPF 50, hat, sunglasses.
📋Reservations & open items ›
🧭Before You Go — Read & Watch ›
A few books and films to set the mood on the flight down.
🎬 Films
Roma — Alfonso Cuarón (2018). Set in the very neighborhood we're staying in; luminous and quietly devastating.
Frida (2002) — Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo, filmed in and around Coyoacán and La Casa Azul.
Coco (2017) — the Día de los Muertos primer, and a joyful one.
Taco Chronicles (Netflix) — homework for every meal.
📚 Books
Like Water for Chocolate — Laura Esquivel. Food, family, and magic realism.
The Savage Detectives — Roberto Bolaño. A love letter to young, restless Mexico City.
Pedro Páramo — Juan Rulfo. Short, haunting, and the root of so much Mexican literature.
Recommendations by locals at Hanky Panky
The places they go to — tap a name for the map.
🥐Breakfast ›
- Panadería RosettaColima 179 & Puebla 242, Roma Norte
- TetelaÁlvaro Obregón 106, Roma Norte
- CicatrizDinamarca 44, Juárez
- Tamales MadreLiverpool 44a, Juárez
- El HidalguenseCampeche 155, Roma Norte
- Nicos MéxicoAve. Cuitláhuac 3102, Azcapotzalco
- Lalo!Zacatecas 173, Roma Norte
- El CardenalPalma 23, Centro Histórico
- Huset Brunch (weekends only)Colima 256, Roma Norte
🍽Lunch / Dinner ›
- HusetColima 256, Roma Norte
- PigeonPlaza Río de Janeiro 56, Roma Norte
- ⭐ ContramarDurango 200, Roma Norte
- CampobajaColima 256, Roma Norte
- EmTonalá 133, Roma Norte
- AnónimoAtlixco 105, Condesa
- MeromaColima 150, Roma Norte
- MaximoÁlvaro Obregón 65 bis, Roma Norte
- QuintonilNewton 55, Polanco
- LardoAgustín Melgar 6, Condesa
🍸Bars ›
- ⭐ BrujasRío de Janeiro 56, Roma Norte
- Waikiki Tiki RoomOrizaba 115, Roma Norte
- LimantourÁlvaro Obregón 106 PB, Roma Norte
- Baltra BarIztaccíhuatl 36-D, Condesa
- 686Tonalá 133, Roma Norte
- Café OcampoPlaza Melchor Ocampo 14, Cuauhtémoc
- Tlecān MezcalÁlvaro Obregón 228, Roma Norte
- Maison ArtemisiaTonalá 23, Roma Norte
- Huset BarColima 256, Roma Norte
- ⭐ Café de NadieChihuahua 135, Roma Norte
🍷Wine Bars ›
🌮Tacos ›
- Tacos HolaÁmsterdam 135, Condesa
- Taquería OrinocoInsurgentes 253, Roma Norte
- Los ParadosMonterrey 333, Roma Sur
- El VilsitoPetén 248, Narvarte
- Los ArbolitosEuler 17, Chapultepec Polanco
- Los PanchosMoliere 222, Polanco
- Tacos de carnitasMérida & Durango, Roma Norte
🛍Local Shops ›
- Lemur ShopJalapa 85, Roma Norte
- DestructibleColima 254, Roma Norte
- HeadquarterColima 244, Roma Norte
- 99 ProblemsMarsella 3B, Juárez
- EscópicaColima 138, Roma Norte
- Revancha DFColima 110, Roma Norte
- La Roma NorteÁlvaro Obregón 200 Bis 1, Roma Norte