Hi All

Where do we stay in CDMX? We shall start our Mexico trip in February in CDMX (surprise!).
We are not young but happy to ride a motorcycle , use buses & metro and like to see some street life.
However, a nice mid range hotel (balcony please) with some quiet and comfort would be appreciated, you can always find the noise (especially in Mexico, I have read).
So general advice about an area to use as a base for exploring the sights and, maybe, specifics regards a hotel.
I have seen Roma Norte mentioned but I think this might be too 'young'...? Zocalo, Polanco??

Thanks

For street life you might consider the Centro Historico. The zocalo is filled with it: glue-sniffing kids, "Aztec" dancers, marching bands, stray dogs, demonstrations, community events . . . and several major sites, including the Templo Mayor and its museum, the cathedral and the National Palace with its fine Rivera murals.

We've stayed at the mid-level Gran Hotel Ciudad De Mexico which is just off the zocalo. I'm not sure if it has balconies (our room didn't) but it does have a rooftop bar and restaurant.

Not sure what you mean by too young as many "seasoned" Fodorites have stayed in Roma Norte. Anything with a balcony will be noisy when on the balcony. Noise in the room can come from dogs, traffic, bars and other guests.

Perhaps you saw the recent discussion of hotels is Roma Norte/Roma from someone seeking a quiet room.

Two trips to Mexico City and both times we stayed in Roma Norte at different hotels and in neither place did I find it at all noisy, quite the opposite. I liked Roma Norte for its laid back vibe and its plethora of bars, great restaurants, street food, markets etc. We mostly got around the city by foot, subway or Uber (Uber is v cheap and v efficient) .

We did venture out to Polanco for lunch at the famed Pujol and did a bit of wandering and shopping when there. It is a very different barrio, all five star hotels and high end shopping.

The only place I think I would avoid would be the historic centre - you dont have to wander to far to hit some very dodgy areas. A bit further out but a nice area that I might consider if returning would be Coyacan (home to Frida Kahlo house)

Thanks for the replies.

We have booked the Michoacan Apartments in Condesa hopefully giving us the balcony, flexibility, location and freedom (read own front door) we look for.

Cheers

You should enjoy La Condessa. We will be there in three weeks. You are a short Uber ride away from Chapultepec Park with the Anthropology Museum. Walk around the Amsterdam St, a big circle with runners and dog walkers also visit Parque Espana and Parque Mexico. Check out El Moro if you want some hot chocolate. Have fun!