For many visitors, Monday in Mexico City comes as a shut-down surprise.
Many museums close on Mondays, following a long-standing schedule that gives staff a rest day after the weekend when most are free for Mexican citizens. Some restaurants, especially those that operate at a higher intensity from Thursday to Sunday, follow a similar rhythm. And major parts of Chapultepec park and most shops and stores also have the day off.
The result is a quick pause in the most visited parts of the city after a busy Sundays.
But worry not, Monday is not an empty day it’s just a different version of the city, and there are still places where this pause doesn’t apply.
Here are a few ideas:
Markets are at their most functional
If there is one place where Monday still feels fully alive, it’s in the markets.
Without weekend crowds, markets shift back into their primary role: feeding the city. You can check out some of your mercado options on this post.
Teotihuacan
Monday is one of the easiest days to step a little bit outside Mexico City.
A visit to Teotihuacán is a great idea. Whether you go there for the hot air balloon or just a regular on-the-ground visit. It’s often less crowded, and you can come back in time for lunch or dinner.
Take a food tour (duh)
If you’d rather not navigate the city’s slower rhythm on your own, Monday is a good day to let someone else set the pace, let’s say someone with a lot of experience in what is actually up and running and what’s good.
Instead of chasing reservations or landmarks, move through neighborhoods with my great team of local guides via Devoured.
But… some restaurants are indeed open
Restaurant & Tacos:
- Choza
- Voraz
- Máximo
- Galanga Thai House
- Ultramarinos de Mar
- Cursi
- Orinoco
- Tizne Tacomotora
- Escandalo
- Bartola
- Contramar and Itacate del Mar
Or bars like:
- Cafe de Nadie
- Despacho Margarita
- Tlecan
- Mauro
- Kaito del Valle
- Oropel
