Avenida Michoacán

Avenida Michoacán Review

Restaurants, cafés, and hip boutiques radiate along and out from La Condesa's main drag, Avenida Michoacán. It's a great place for a break from a sightseeing slog—just relax at a sidewalk table and watch the hip young world go by. A snack will also fortify you for Avenida Michoacán's other main activity, shopping. The clothing stores often lean toward the trendy; Kulte, for instance, at Atlixco 118, dishes up the latest fads, as does Soho, on Avenida Vicente Suárez between Avenidas Michoacán and Tamaulipas. Along the nearby streets you'll find a good mix of temptations—everything from modern furniture to risqué lingerie.

Stop to sip coffee and flip through the magazines at Coffee Max (Tamaulipas 75, at Av. Michoacán, Col. Condesa, 06140. 55/5553-9562. Patriotismo). Just across the street, you can also pick up a quick slice of pizza in inventive combinations (such as ham and fig) at Pizza Amore (Michoacán 78, Col. Condesa. 55/5286-5126. Patriotismo).

The tacos at El Farolito (Altata 19, at Alfonso Reyes, Col. Condesa. 55/5515-7844. www.taqueriaselfarolito.com. Patriotismo) are yummy. Try the costras, in which the meat is wrapped in fried cheese before being wrapped in a tortilla. Wash it down with a delicious juice, like the mango or coconut, made fresh in the taquería.

El Péndulo (Av. Nuevo León 115, at Av. Vicente Suárez, Col. Condesa. 55/5286-9493. www.pendulo.com. Chilpancingo) acts as a sort of cultural center. The first of what is now a chain of bookstores is stuffed with Spanish-language books and international CDs; classical guitarists and other musicians play on weekends.