Dinner – Day 1

Start your holiday with a dinner prepared by a private chef at home or at your hotel. La Valise delivers in-room dining from the fantastic Sartoria restaurant around the corner, or if you have your own place, chefs like Victor Dorantes (+52 55 4131 9330) are happy to create a personalized menu for you and your beloved.

Morning – Day 1

Find a cozy corner at Niddo and enjoy shakshuka eggs or huevos rancheros with salted fresh cheese, avocado, and jalapeño. After breakfast, you can walk through the green Chapultepec Park, entering at Estela de Luz and exiting on Av Quebradora.

How to Spend the Day – Day 1

Cross Av Constituyentes, and you will be in San Miguel Chapultepec, one of the most charming residential neighborhoods in the city as well as home to many of its most acclaimed art galleries. Map out a route and visit Kurimanzutto, Galeria de Arte Mexicano, and RGR+ART, and also stop by Casa Luis Barragan and Casa Gilardi (both require advance reservations), built by the famous Mexican architect Luis Barragan.

Your final stop on the art circuit requires a taxi. Head to Lago Algo, a modern gallery as well as a farm-to-table restaurant with beautiful views over the main lake in Chapultepec Park Section 2. Have lunch here and enjoy the sun on the outdoor terrace, if you can.

Dinner – Day 1 Evening

For something relaxed and intimate, go to Bar Sin Cruda, run by a pair of French immigrants who serve delicious small plates, well-crafted cocktails, and natural wine. If you want to impress, make a reservation at Caviar Bar inside the Alexander Hotel for the city’s most expensive caviar and fantastic drinks with outstanding views over the city.

After Dark – Day 1

For atmospheric romantic vibes, I recommend a good, dark jazz club where you can slide into a booth with your better half and let yourself be carried away by the sensual tones of piano and trumpet. Zinco Jazz Club is a landmark in Centro Historico that fits the bill perfectly, tucked away in a basement bar. Parker & Lenox also has great shows in a speakeasy-style back room with excellent cocktails to relax with at the end of the night.

Morning – Day 2

Although it’s not always my idea of a relaxing vacation to get up early, a sunrise balloon flight over the pyramids of Teotihuacán outside Mexico City is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Take in the full scale of the ancient Teotihuacán complex with coffee, or perhaps champagne if you’re celebrating something special. It’s worth every penny.

How to Spend the Day – Day 2

On the way back from the pyramids, stop by Nicos for a slow, refined Mexican lunch. Get a couple’s massage and take a dip in the pool at Andaz or Ritz-Carlton. Alternatively, if you want a truly special experience (but one that will take most of a day), arrange a temazcal for two – an ancient Maya sweat lodge that I have always found both bonding and rejuvenating.

Dinner – Day 2

Head to one of Mexico City’s best fine dining spots. My two favorites are Máximo for modern Mexican or Rosetta for a blend of Italian and Mexican. If you’re planning at the last minute, Gamal is also excellent and may be easier to book. Dimly lit with punched tin lamps and draped wallpapers on the ceiling, this sexy Middle Eastern cocktail bar serves small, flavorful dishes and unusual handcrafted cocktails.

After Dark – Day 2

End the night by swinging your hips to some sexy salsa and sweating it out on the dance floor at Mama Rumba, a dance institution in Colonia Roma. If you’re not sure your skills are up to par, arrive early for a group lesson on the bar’s upper floor. Salon San Luis is more laid-back and local, if that’s more the vibe you’re looking for.

Morning – Day 3

Head south from the city to El Cardenal in San Angel. This Mexican breakfast restaurant in a grand old mansion in one of the city’s affluent neighborhoods is famous for its conchas y nata (sweet bread and clotted cream) and Mexican hot chocolate, which is whisked at the table. The rest of the menu is just as delicious and features regional specialties from all over the country. Arrive early, as the waitlist on Sundays can get long once families start to show up.

How to Spend the Day – Day 3

After breakfast, hop in an Uber and head down to Embarcadero Cuemanco for a boat ride through Mexico City’s ancient canals. There are many departure docks throughout the waterways that you can leave from, but I especially like Cuemanco because it’s more rural and relaxing, allowing you to experience the agricultural side of the canals and catch a glimpse of Mexico City’s past.

On the way back to the city, stop by the Los Danzantes restaurant for some fantastic Oaxacan food on the outdoor terrace overlooking Coyoacan’s main square. Sunday is a time when many families will be out enjoying the neighborhood, and if you’re lucky, a musical trio might stop by to serenade you.