Discover Roma Norte with a Self Guided Walking Tour
Roma Norte is one of Mexico City’s Hippest and most famous neighborhoods.
When are the best days to wander around Roma Norte?
Any day is a great day to wander around Roma Norte, however the best days to wander around Roma Norte are the weekends. Here’s why. Roma has many pop up bazars on the weekends and the neighborhood comes to life more on the weekends.
Also, Most tourists come to Mexico City to enjoy the museums and the Museums can become terribly crowded on the weekends. It’s best to hit the museums on Tuesday through Friday, and Roma on the weekends. I left out Monday becasue the museums are closed on Mondays.
For those of you who are interested in other walking tours that are packed with museums and really cool things around the museums check out my other free walking tours of Mexico City
Downtown walking tour for gay travelers
How do I Arrive at the beginning of this walking tour
Take an Uber to Jardin Pushkin, or if you’re staying in my best neighborhood in CDMX for gay travelers take the Metrobus Linea 3 from Estacion Juarez to Estacion Gardin Pushkin.
Starting Out
Tianguis de Antiguidades
This tour starts on the eastern end of Roma. The principal street that goes East to West in Roma is called Alvaro Obregon. This tour actually takes place along another east west corridor Called ‘Colima.’ Alvaro Obregon runs parallel a few streets south.
If you’re doing this tour on a Saturday or Sunday you can start off at the best flea market in Mexico City which is located in Jardin Dr. Ignacio Chavez.
Here you’ll be able to find jewelry, clothing, antiques, art, cookbooks, magazines, and so much more.
While tourists probably won’t walk away with a victorian armchair, a baroque wardrobe or a giant portrait of Maximialiano, I guarantee you’ll find plenty of accessories, magazines, and other fun things to wear on your trip and bring home to remember it.
I find this flea market is a great way to connect to the community of Roma and of Mexico City.
There is a fountain in the middle of the park with benches around the perimeter. While never crowded, I always find the people watching to be quite interesting if I have the time.
I live close by this flea market and this is one of my favorite places to go when it’s the weekend and I don’t have anything particular planned.
I’ve bought so many things for my apartment here. I think it’s a great place to start your walk through Roma.
Jardin Pushkin
After you’re finished with the flea market, cross Av. Cuauhtemoc to Jardin Pushkin. This is an urban park where there are always people playing sports, exercising, holding dance classes, and living life. There is a community feel to this park.
Thrift Shopping along Colima
Mexico does thrift fashion very well. All along Colima you’ll find some of the cutest clothes at amazing prices in comfortable boutiques.
The employees are almost always very welcoming and helpful. This is a lesser known part of Mexico, and it actually answers a question I originally had about the high cost of new clothing here.
When I first arrived in Mexico I went to Parque Delta, an American style shopping mall with all the American brands. I went to The Gap to buy some clothes for work.
Everything seemed more expensive. My friends verified to me that yes, clothes, especially shoes, are more expensive in Mexico.
For this reason there is a booming second hand clothes scene here. People are more creative in their wardrobe and are less likely to allow Banana Republic to determine exactly what they will wear every season.
Bazars along Colima
Bazars are the next frontier of the thrift clothing scene in Mexico. Bazars allow vendors to sell their products without assuming the cost of a permanent store location. Roma is a hotspot for the coolest bazars in Mexico City.
You’ll find plenty of them along Colima, and you’ll hear of others around the neighborhood.
Streets like Colima have a vibe of creativity and entrepreneurship. In Mexico so many everyday people are able to go out shopping and put together cool outfits because of streets like these.
Entrepreneurs can buy and sell clothing with negligible cost of doing business. Opportunities like these don’t exist in the United States. Only the big businesses can do business like this anymore.
Casa Basalta
This house has a little bit of everything. An art gallery, yoga studio, restaurant, and lots of space for revolving exhibitions and for the sale of local artists. In Mexico spaces like this are called Foros. This space is a must see in La Roma.
Like the previous section, about Bazars, these Foros are another example of the emphasis that Mexican Culture places on emerging artists and entrepreneurs.
A walk through this house and you will feel like anything is possible in Mexico.
Rosetta Bakery
If you haven’t had anything to eat along the way stop by Rosetta Bakery. They have outdoor seating as well as a small bar inside. They serve sandwiches, soups, and have a large selection of breads and sweets.
The next stop is a park so feel free to get your order to go.
Parque Rio De Jinero
Parque Rio De Jinero is the most famous spot in Roma. Here the neighbors gather to walk their dogs and enjoy the outside. It’s a great space for people watching.
On the weekends they sell lots of clothes here in the Plaza. I’ve found some great deals for all sizes of clothes both men and women.
Avenida Orizaba
After Plaza Rio de Jinero follow Avenida Orizaba back towards Rosetta. At this point you’ve seen the thrift shops and bazars and all the must sees of Roma. What remains is a nice walk where you’re very likely to run into something or someone interesting. We will follow Orizaba all the way through Roma Norte, on to Roma Sur, and we’ll end at Jardin Ramon Lopez Velarde.
Parque Luis Cabrera
Here you will find a beautiful water fountain (when it’s turned on). This was a favorite spot of the Beat Generation writers when they were living here.
This is a fun article that talks about their time here.
Mercado El Cien
On Sundays only you will find an organic farmers market at the end of Avenida Orizaba.
Jardin Ramon Lopez Velarde
This is one of my favorite parks in Mexico. It lacks the polished perfection of Alameda Central. It makes up for it with great people watching and cool brutalist art sculptures all over.
