I absolutely love Polanco in Mexico City. My grandma used to have an apartment and so I would stay here whenever I needed to go to Mexico City or as a base to explore the rest of Mexico City. Polanco has so many things to do so you might be wondering what are the best things to do in Polanco, Mexico City.
Is Polanco Safe?
Polanco neighborhood is one of the safest in Mexico City. You can walk around its streets, walk to the museums and Bosque de Chapultepec, enjoy the weather, and enjoy some amazing Mexican food.
While it is true that Polanco is one of the safest neighborhoods in Mexico City, always be cautious. Like in any major city in the world, stay in the areas you know, don’t walk around with valuables such as flashy rings or watches, and don’t walk around late at night. Always be aware of your surroundings, especially if you’re traveling solo in Mexico.
Is Polanco a nice area in Mexico City?
It is one of the most affluent colonias in Mexico City, so expect prices to be a bit steeper than in other Mexico City neighborhoods. You will find some of the nicer hotels in Polanco, as well as high-end restaurants and stores. In spite of this, there are definitely affordable hotels and rentals, and it is one of the best places to stay in Mexico City.
Where to Stay in Polanco
Presidente InterContinental Mexico City by IHG ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
great location, great restaurants inside and around, luxury, pet-friendly
Hyatt Regency Mexico City ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
next to Chapultepec Park, Yoshimi has amazing sushi, pet-friendly
Kimpton Virgilio by IHG ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
smaller but still amazing, great location on less busy street than the previous two, pet-friendly
The Alest Hotel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
near Parque Lincoln and Polanquito, beautiful, pet-friendly
Grand Polanco Residencial ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
balcony and kitchenette, free bicycle to use
Is Polanco a Centric Area to Stay In When Visiting Mexico City?
Polanco is a great area to stay in when visiting Mexico City. It is walkable with lots of restaurants and shops that are walking distance. It is also where most of the best museums in Mexico City are, such as the Museo Nacional de Antrolopolgía.
Not only is Polanco safe and walkable, but it is easy to move from Polanco to other colonias like Condesa, Roma, Coyoacán, and Centro Histórico. There are many access routes to Polanco, so it is easy to get in and out. The Periferico and Segundo Piso, the paid overpass in Mexico City, has access points to and from Polanco, which make it easy to do day trips from Mexico City to places like Teotihuacan from Polanco.
If you’re visiting for special events such as for Día de Muertos, Polanco is also ideal. The starting point for the Day of the Dead Parade in Mexico City as well as the alebrije exhibition are on Paseo de la Reforma walking distance from Polanco.
Best Things to do in Polanco, Mexico City
Condesa, Roma and Polanco are some of the nicest areas in Mexico City, but Polanco has many more things to do! Some even compare it to Beverly Hills with its high-end stores, especially on Masaryk. Polanco also has some of the best restaurants in the world.
Here are my favorite things to do in Polanco, Mexico City:
Museo Nacional de Antropologia
This museum is definitely a must visit in Mexico City. It is inside the Bosque de Chapultepec so in a great location to see other important highlights in Mexico City.
The National Museum for Anthropology is a wonderful collection that provides a deep dive into Mexico’s indigenous cultures, including the Maya, Aztec or Mexica, and Olmec civilizations.
Some of the highlights of the Museo Nacional de Antropología are the Sun Stone also known as the Aztec Calendar in the Mexica or Aztec exhibit, the four basalt warrior columns from Tula’s Temple of Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, a jade mask of the Zapotec Bat god or the 20 tonne Olmec head carvings in Oaxaca room, the recreation of Pakal’s tomb in the Maya room, and the amazing umbrella roof in the courtyard.
You should do this on your first day in Mexico City as it provides a great introduction to Mexican pre-Columbian history so you can understand more about the culture, the sites you visit like Teotihuacan and the Templo Mayor, and our traditions.
Opening times: Tuesday-Sunday from 9am to 7pm
Cost: $100 mxn
Free on Sundays for Mexican citizens and residents.
How to get there: Walk about 1.3km from either the metro Auditoria (Line 7) and metro Chaputlepec (Line 1)
📍Av. Paseo de la Reforma y Calzada Gandhi s/n, Col. Chapultepec Polanco.
Don’t miss the Voladores de Papantla in the clearing in front of the museum!
Bosque de Chapultepec
The Bosque de Chapultepec of Mexico City, is double the size of Central Park in New York City and measures more than 1,700 acres. There are many entertainers and street vendors around the park. Have a fruit cup, mango on a stick with chili and lime, or some esquites—all very healthy options and delicious!
It is not technically in Polanco, but Section 1 of the Bosque de Chapultepec is adjacent to Polanco. Sections 2-4 are further away from Polanco so I will not mention them.
Chapultepec Park is home to museums, botanical gardens, a zoo, a lake, and restaurants. It has some of the best museums in Mexico City like Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Museo Nacional de Historia, Museo Rufino Tamayo, and Museo de Arte Moderno.
Chapultepec Section 1 is the most visited part of Bosque de Chapultepec. It has some of the most important things to do in Mexico City.
Museo Rufino Tamayo
Museo Nacional de Antropología
Museo de Arte Moderno
Chapultepec Lake
Maybe take a leisurely stroll or head to Chapultepec Lake and rent a swan-shaped pedal boat. But don’t get in the water, it is not safe!
For a coffee break go to Libreria Porrua, a Mexican bookstore with a great cafe overlooking the lake. Take a break from the bustle of the city and exploring Mexico City in this quiet cafe.
Chapultepec Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden is open Tuesdays through Sunday from 9am to 4pm and free. It has 22 unique environments within the garden and more than 300 plant varieties. There are free guided tours available everyday!
Chapultepec Zoo
You can also go to the zoo. The Zoologico de Chapultepec is free and open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 4:30pm. The zoo has a great butterfly sanctuary, mariposario. Tickets for the mariposario are $79 pesos (~$4 US).
Chapultepec Castle
The Castillo de Chapultepec is also the Museo Nacional de Historia and such a landmark that it deserves its own section.
Check out the calendar for free activities at Bosque de Chapultepec. They have guided tours, concerts, workshops, and exhibits.
Castillo de Chapultepec
The Castillo de Chapultepec was home to the Spanish viceroys and the Emperor Maximilian of Hapsburg and his wife. It used to be an actual castle, the only real one in America. It later became the Presidential House until 1940.
Today, it is home to the Museo Nacional de Historia and the balconies have some amazing views of Mexico City!
You can also watch the Christmas version of the Ballet Folklórico de México in the courtyard.
Opening times: The National History Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm.
Cost: $100 mxn
Sundays free entry for Mexican citizens and residents.
How to get here: The castle is inside the Bosque de Chapultepec. Follow the road that curves up behind Monumento a los Niños Héroes or take the train that runs up every 15 minutes when the castle is open for $25 mxn.
More information
Museo de Arte Moderno
The Museum of Modern Art exhibits works by famous 20th century and contemporary artists like Dr Atl, Diego Rivera, Siqueiros, Orozco, Tamayo, O’Gorman, Leonora Carrington, and Frida Kahlo.
Frida Kahlo’s Las dos Fridas is in this museum.
The building was designed by Mexican architects Pedro Ramírez Vázquez and Rafael Mijares. If you are interested in important unique architecture in Mexico City, like buildings by Barragan, check out this post.
Opening times: Tuesday- Sunday 10:15am to 5:45pm
Cost: $95 mxn
Sundays free entrance.
How to get here: You can arrive by Line 1 of metro Chapultepec, Line 7 of metro Auditorio, or Line 7 of metrobus stop Gandhi.
📍Av. Paseo de la Reforma y Gandhi s/n, Bosque de Chapultepec
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Tamayo Museum
The Museo Tamayo houses the collection donated to the Mexican people by famous Mexican artist, Rufino Tamayo and his wife, Olga Flores Rivas.
Another architecturally interesting builfing, it was designed by Mexican architects Teodoro González de León and Abraham Zabludovsky inspired by the pyramids of pre-Hispanic cultures.
The Tamayo Museum has hosted cutting-edge exhibitions of international artists, including Yayoi Kusama’s colorful phallic exhibit.
Opening times: Tuesday-Sunday from 10am to 6pm
Cost: $95 mxn
Free entry on Sundays.
How to get there: You can arrive by Line 1 or 3 of metro Chapultepec or Line 7 of metrobus stop Gandhi.
📍Av. Paseo de la Reforma 51, Bosque de Chapultepec
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Museo Soumaya
The Museo Soumaya holds the personal collection of Carlos Slim. It is named after his wife and is definitely a unique and enigmatic building in Mexico City.
The Soumaya Museum has 70,000 pieces, including works from artists like Auguste Rodin, El Greco, Claude Monet, Camille Pisarro, Edgar Degas, Vincent Van Gogh, Joan Miro, Salvador Dali, Jose Clemente Orozco, and Diego Rivera.
Opening times: The museum is open daily from 10:30am to 6:30pm.
Cost: Free entry
It is not technically Polanco but Ampliación Granada, adjacent to Polanco.
📍Bulevar Cervantes Saavedra esquina Presa Falcón, Ampliación Ganada
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Museo Jumex
Museo Jumex is right next to Museo Soumaya. This museum holds the private collection of Eugenio Lopez Alonso which includes works by Andy Warhol, Gabriel Orozco, Jeff Koons, and Marcel Duchamp.
The Museo Jumex holds rolling exhibitions from contemporary artists. In the past, it has held James Turrel’s Passages of Light, Rogerio Duarte’s Marginalia 1, and Andy Warhol’s Dark Star.
Opening times: The museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 10am to 5pm, Saturday from 10am to 7pm, and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
Cost: Free entry
It is not technically Polanco but Ampliación Granada, adjacent to Polanco.
📍Bulevar Cervantes Saavedra esquina Presa Falcón, Ampliación Ganada
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Masaryk Avenue
Masaryk is lined with high end stores and restaurants. You can find stores like Tiffany & Co., Tane, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Max Mara, Hugo Boss, Gucci, and Hermes.
It is a beautiful street lined with trees and also has some great restaurants, like Guzina Oaxaca and my favorite Mexican coffee shop chain, Cafe Garat.
For some unique Mexican souvenirs, check out the Ministry of Tourism on Avenida Masaryk 172. They hold exhibitions on each state, as well as sometimes a pop-up store with Mexican brands. I got some cool pewter plates from Malte Taller on one of their pop-up stores.
You’ll also be able to see the diversity of the Mexican people. In Polanco, but especially on Masaryk, you’ll see many of the lighter skinned Mexicans, those with more European ancestry.
Mexico’s history is that of mestizaje. The indigenous people of Mexico mixed with the Spanish, but there were also an important number of African slaves brought to Mexico, especially along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, there were different waves of immigration such as Italians, Germans, and Lebanese.
My maternal grandmother’s family was Mexican for generations, with genetic tests showing she is 50% indigenous Mexican. On my father’s side, my great-grandparents came from Lebanon, this Lebanese grandfather married my Italian grandmother.
Libreria El Pendulo
The Polanco location of Cafebreria el Pendulo, is a great place to curl up on one of the couches with a book and unwind from a crazy day of walking around Mexico City.
It is a bookstore and coffee shop, with a great selection of snacks and books, including English language books.
Where to Eat in Polanco
Mexico City has so many options for food, from street tacos and Mexican antojitos to restaurants that have been ranked as top 50 in the world.
These are the best restaurants in Polanco, Mexico City:
High End/ Cocina de Autor
Find some of my favorite restaurants and some of the best in the world in Polanco. The following restaurants are more on the expensive side like high-end comida de autor Mexican restaurants:
Pujol $$$$
Has consistently been in the top 100 restaurants in the world. It has a delicious tasting menu based with inventive dishes inspired by traditional Mexican food, such as the mole madre.
Their tasting menu is $3,595mxn or $3,995mxn for the barra de tacos ($180 usd or $200 usd)
Tennyson 133, Polanco
Quintonil $$$$$
Quintonil is number 3 in The World’s 50 Best list and it really lives up to the hype.
The tasting menus is $5,100 mxn per person.
Av. Isaac Newton 55, Polanco
Dulce Patria $$$
Dulce Patria uses traditional ingredients in different and unexpected presentations. It was an amazing experience to eat at the restaurant and absolutely delicious.
Anatole France 100, Polanco
Sylvestre $$$
Sylvestre Polanco has some amazing gourmet Mexican food, and you can order Mexican pre-Hispanic delicacies like escamoles and gusanos de maguey.
Anatole France 74, Polanco
Carmela y Sal $$$
I love this restaurant! While it is not technically in Polanco but in Virreyes, it is super close to Polanco, inside the Torre Virreyes, colloquially known as El Dorito.
They have a tasting menu or you can order a-la-carte. Try their tostadas de mentiras, they are vegetarian versions of typical tostadas and are amazing!
Torre Virreyes, Calle Pedregal 24, Virreyes
Affordable Mexican Restaurants in Polanco
Guzina Oaxaca
Guzina is a more affordable Mexican food restaurant. They make the tortillas in the moment as well as the salsa de molcajete. Try the taquitos de cerdito, ceviche de pescado con xoconostle or the mole with tortillas.
Masaryk 513, Polanco
Peltre
Peltre is a cafeteria style eatery. I would go here often when I needed some good and fast lunch. Their enchiladas are delicious.
Petrarca 253, Polanco
Mexican Food on a Budget in Polanco
Quesadillas Maria Isabel (Av. Emilio Castelar 14) for fried quesadillas.
El Turix (Emilio Castelar 212) for cochinita pibil
El Farolito (Av Isaac Newton 130), a Polanco institution, for tacos al pastor.
My parents used to go to El Farolito on dates when they were 17, when the small grey napkins where they gave you the tacos were used to count the amount for your bill. Don’t forget to order chicharron de queso, a fried cheese folded tortilla.
International Food In Polanco
Belfiore (Av. Presidente Masaryk 514) if you are craving Italian, their pizza is the closest to Italy I’ve gotten in Mexico, with delicious pastas, and the octopus antipasto a must.
Au Pied du Cuchon (Campos Eliseos 218) if you want great French food and escargots.
Iwashi ( Av Emilio Castelar 204) for great sushi in Mexico City.
Breakfast in Polanco
Mexico has the best breakfast in the world. We have so many options, from savory dishes like huevos rancheros to delicious sweet bread. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and Mexico does it best.
Maque (Emilio Castelar 209 G) with its decadent concha con nata.
Saks Polanco (Campos Eliseos 133) for some chilaquiles verdes.
Ojo de Agua (multiple locations but my favorite on La Fontaine 78) has great food, locally sourced ingredients, and amazing juices!
El Cardenal (Av. Paseo de las Palmas 215)— a second location to the original in Centro Histórico. It is technically in Lomas de Chapultepec but it is Polanco adjacent. For breakfast it might be full, my grandma and I waited about 30 minutes because she was craving the nata. It is finger licking good according to her, so don’t forget to try it!
Where to Get Coffee in Polanco
A local coffee shop I love is Tierra Garat, their mocha frapuccino is the best I’ve had, not too sweet and tastes like coffee. Don’t skip the chocolate chips! They use Mexican chocolate and Mexican coffee in their drinks and snacks. My husband loves their Espresso Garat.
There are two locations in Polanco but the one on Av. Isaac Newton 178 is always less crowded than the one on Masaryk.
How to get to Polanco
I recommend using Uber in Mexico City to move around the city. It is cheap and safer than other options. Use Uber or another ride-share option, especially at night. Share your ride and always let the rider know there are people expecting you, especially if you are a solo woman traveling.
You can also rent some Eco Bicis, the Mexico City eco-bikes to move around Polanco and Reforma.
To get to Polanco using public transportation, Metro Line 7 (orange) and exit Metro Polanco which is a good exit for Masaryk and Parque Lincoln or Metro Auditorio for the west side of the Chapultepec Park. For Museo Soumaya and Museo Jumex, use instead Metro San Joaquin.
Metro Line 1 (pink) will take you to the east of Bosque de Chapultepec and the museums if you exit on Metro Chapultepec.
MetroBus 7 and exit on Auditorio. This MetroBus will take you all the way on Paseo de la Reforma past el Angel, Plaza Garibaldi, and finally to the Basilica de Guadalupe.
Check out other things to do in Mexico City
Mexico City Travel Guide: Best Neighborhoods, What to Do, Where to Eat, written by a local
33 Mexican Slang Words
What To Eat In Mexico City: 7 Mexican Foods You Need To Try
Where To Shop The Best Mexican Souvenirs In Mexico City
10 Best Day Trips from Mexico City
Off The Beaten Path Mexico City: 22 Non-Touristy Things To Do
5 Fun And Unique Activities In Mexico City
Día de Muertos in Mexico City: An Amazing Celebration of Life, Death, and Tradition
Day of the Dead: 10 day Mexico City Itinerary
