The Atlas Obscura Guide To Mexico City

183 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Mexico City, Mexico

Updated May 5, 2025

Discover new flavors at open air markets, contemplate the “Disk of Death,” and make your way around an island full of creepy dolls. Whether you’re drawn to architecture, the arts, or spooky explorations, Mexico City has something to offer every traveler.

Unusual Attractions in Mexico City

Mexico City, Mexico

Cafebrería El Péndulo

Part bookstore, part café, and part forest.

Mexico City, Mexico

La Casa Azul

Frida Kahlo's childhood home, now a museum of her life and works.

Mexico City, Mexico

Mercado de Sonora

Superstitious? Discover the witchy side of Mexico through its largest esoteric market.

Mexico City, Mexico

Biblioteca Vasconcelos

A jaw-dropping "megalibrary" that turns book-browsing into a geometric adventure.

Mexico City, Mexico

Soumaya Museum

66,000 pieces of art, donated by one of the world's richest men.

Diego and Frida’s houses, connected by a bridge

Mexico City, Mexico

Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo House Studio Museum

The famous artist couple lived and worked here, in two different houses separated by a bridge.

A view of the convent from the courtyard.

Mexico City, Mexico

Desierto de los Leones (Desert of the Lions)

Explore the atmospheric ruins of an abandoned convent in the dense forests of Mexico's first national park.

Mexico City, Mexico

La Posada del Sol

Meant to be one of the most extravagant hotels in the world, now an eerie, abandoned architectural gem in Mexico City.

See All 183 Things To Do in Mexico City

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Mexico City

Mexico City, Mexico

Cafebrería El Péndulo

Part bookstore, part café, and part forest.

Mexico City, Mexico

Minichelista Restaurant

A quirky and charming restaurant founded by artists.

Mexico City, Mexico

The Sweets Section at Mercado de la Merced

Mexico City's largest market contains a Willy Wonka-esque wonderland.

Mexico City, Mexico

Café La Habana

This old-school café is famous for serving coffee, chilaquiles, and the Cuban Revolution.

See all 18 Places to Eat in Mexico City

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Mexico City's Centro Histórico

Anchored by the Zócalo plaza and the architectural splendor of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City's historic center rightfully draws scores of visitors from around the world. If you look, smell, and taste carefully, you’ll also find a universe of culinary offerings that tells stories of immigration, adaptation, and imagination. With the help of Culinary Backstreets, we assembled a primer on eating and drinking your way through the district.

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