The 20 Best Rooftop Terraces to Visit in Mexico City
23 August, 2020
The Best Bakeries to Celebrate Día de Muertos in Colonia Roma
11 October, 2020Without a doubt, cities without open and public spaces, such as parks and plazas, would be much more sterile places. These places give vitality, oxygen and identity to cities, and they also reduce crime levels among many other benefits. And in CDMX, one of the areas with the largest number of these types of oasis-sites is in the Roma and Condesa neighborhoods.
Plazas, parks, medians, pedestrian circuits, we made a list of outdoor spaces so that you can enjoy the city from these incredible places for rest, walking and contemplation, in one of the trendiest areas of the city.
In addition, in these times of Covid-19, visiting open spaces is one of the safest ways to experience the city, of course, with the necessary care that you already know and that we also remind you of, here
PUSHKIN GARDEN
The Pushkin Garden commemorates the legendary Russian poet with quiet spaces for contemplation. It has benches and children's games and a charming bookstore. It is also known for being a skateboarding spot and cultural activities for the whole family are usually held on weekends.
On Sundays, a market is set up where you can find everything from clothing and jewelry to gourmet and organic products. Its location is incredible and it is surrounded by cafes, bookstores, restaurants and one of the best-rated hotels in the area, Stanza Hotel.
LA ROMITA
This peculiar and beautiful space is, in fact, responsible for the name of the Roma neighborhood. It turns out that in pre-Hispanic times there was an islet that was a small town called Aztacalco. Over time it became known as Romita because it was located near one of the roads closest to the town of Chapultepec, and the trees on this road were similar to another one located in the city of Rome, Italy, and by association, they called it that; this appears in documents from the City Council from 1752.
With its beautiful church, this little corner of the square is a delightful refuge that makes you feel like you are in colonial times, and its charm is such that it has been the setting for the film ‘Los Olvidados’ by Luis Buñuel, or, in the literature of José Emilio Pacheco, in his iconic ‘Las Batallas en el Desierto’.
PLAZA LUIS CABRERA
With temporary exhibitions of local artists and photographers, this place is ideal for spending a pleasant time, and it is also located in a very central point of the Roma neighborhood. It is said that the writer José Emilio Pacheco learned to walk here. On Sundays, a market of organic and fair trade products is set up; it is an ideal space to walk your dog for a while, read or have a coffee in the surroundings. Its fountains are almost always on and the sound of the water, as you know, is super relaxing as part of the combo that this place offers you. The surrounding businesses, including cafes, bookstores, bars, etc., also give you many alternatives for entertainment.
PLAZA RÍO DE JANEIRO
This beautiful plaza was born as one of the wishes of Porfirio Díaz, the Mexican dictator at the beginning of the last century, to make CDMX a place of modernity, which is why it was considered a symbol of this historic moment, and its design, of course, included all the aesthetic avant-garde of French architecture of the time. This plaza is very pleasant and its surrounding Porfirian buildings are also very beautiful and the nearby shops, from galleries to cafes and bars, make it a delightful place to walk around. Its replica of Michelangelo's David is also very peculiar in this environment and gives it a small surrealist touch. Without a doubt, one of the best spaces in the Roma neighborhood.
RAMÓN LÓPEZ VELARDE GARDEN
This is a place with a lot of history. This land, which is characterized by a statue of a javelin thrower, once housed a cemetery and was an Olympic stadium in the first Central American games. Over time, it became the Benito Juárez Multifamily Complex designed by the prestigious architect Mario Pani, and then the park that we know today by the name of one of the first punk poets of the city. It is best to visit it during the day, since in the evenings and nights it gets a bit lonely; it also houses the Huerto Roma, which is highly recommended and which we will talk about later.
ROMA VERDE GARDEN
In addition to being a charming space and a rural and organic refuge from the city's hustle and bustle, it is an incredible project that was adopted by a group of people who decided to install a large urban garden based on permaculture, to promote a culture of respect for the Earth. Today it has also become a place that is home to innovative ideas for caring for the environment. Cultural activities and events within this site promote this new culture in which nature takes on the relevance it has, it has become a kind of lung and an ecological reserve. You have to go and you can check out their activities, here.
PARQUE ESPAÑA
Located between the limits of the Roma and Condesa neighborhoods, this park was designed by architect José Luis Cuevas and is about to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Its architecture has avant-garde styles from the beginning of the last century, such as art deco and art nouveau. It has long and pleasant paths to walk along, and you can take your pet; it also offers special places to exercise, play areas for children, and also houses the Carlos Fuentes Public Children's and Youth Library. It offers Wi-Fi, good lighting, and in its surroundings you will find a very interesting gastronomic and cultural offering. It is a 'must go' in the area. Also, the city government announced that it will soon have its own special dog area.
CAMELLÓN
ÁLVARO OBREGÓN AVENUE
Located in the heart of Roma, this avenue is perhaps the most emblematic place in the neighborhood. With its benches, the classic street vendors selling esquites, the bookstores on its surrounding streets, cafes, tea shops, bars, walking through Roma is, yes or yes, walking through Álvaro Obregón, an avenue that also houses one of the best rated hotels in Roma-Condesa, such as Stanza Hotel, undoubtedly one of the best lodging options in CDMX.
A must-see in the area is the Cafebrería El Péndulo, and the Caravanserai tea shop.
THE CAMELLONES OF THE
AMSTERDAM CIRCUIT
Walking along the Condesa is like walking along this very tree-lined circuit of cobblestone medians. The feeling of freshness, its tiled benches with a very special design, the houses that surround it, in art nouveau and art deco style, are part of its charm. In addition, the attendance of people and pets makes it a delightful space to experience this area like few other options. Along the way you will find three roundabouts and a curious mushroom-shaped fountain covered with tiles, as well as cultural and gastronomic businesses around it that are a must.
THE PLAZA OF THE COMPOSERS
It is also located on the edge of the Colonia Hipódromo and has a very pleasant median surrounded by trees. It is a cultural walk through Mexican composers, a tribute to these people who, through their music, have given life to the cultural identity and feelings of society. Steel busts give life to famous people such as Felipe Bermejo, Chava Flores, José Alfredo Jimenez, Consuelo Velazquez and Gabilondo Soler. A very pleasant walk and a taste of the musical culture of the country that you have to know.
PARQUE MÉXICO
When this park was created, designed by architect José Luis Cuevas in 1925, it was designed with the idea that all the streets in the area would converge here. Its nine hectares have an elliptical shape and are full of fountains, a pond, and an emblematic clock with an octagonal art deco fountain. It has green area corridors and its iconic Lindberg Forum, which is characterized by its fountain with a mermaid with jugs. It is one of the most recreational places in the city and here visitors do yoga, skate, walk their dogs and exercise, as well as go for a walk. It has a special pet-friendly area and you will love it as a place of cultural and nature contemplation.
And after this tour, we remind you that our Hotel Stanza has an incredible location to access all these relaxing spaces. We are among the best rated hotels in the area and we are undoubtedly one of the best located accommodations in CDMX and with a quality of service that, not for nothing, you will love.
