VIVA LA MEXICO!

Pablo Galindo Vargas is a proud Mexico City native. The co-owner of Milpa Collective, which includes Sydney’s Calita, Carbòn, Taqiza and Sonora, shares his love for his home town’s culture and cuisine.

MEXICO CITY OFFERS incredible diversity – there’s a place for everyone and every taste.

I was born and raised in Mexico City and lived there until I was 25 years old. I miss the high energy of this bustling city – all the cultural activities, street food and endless nightlife (though I don’t miss the traffic!). Being raised in such a dynamic, culturally rich part of the world, you can’t help but develop a deep love of the place, its people, food and history. I recommend a visit to Templo Mayor and Zócalo: the cultural and political centre of the country, bustling with activity and events year-round.

Also worth exploring are the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco, Teotihuacán pyramids, the cultural meeting place Plaza Garibaldi, Bosque de Chapultepec park, and Polanco, at the ritzy end of town. Colonia Roma (which inspired the award-winning film Roma) is one of the trendiest neighbourhoods, and it’s here that we launched our new venue, Mux, where we celebrate ancestral knowledge by collaborating with indigenous cooks and communities from across the country.

Museo Frida Kahlo (also known as Casa Azul for its cobalt-blue exterior) is an institution, where Frida threw legendary parties in the 1940s (which inspired our most recent Sydney venue Londres 126).

There’s famous markets such as the Mercado Coyoacan, Mercado Roma and La Lagunilla antique market, and Mercado Jamaica for flowers, traditional medicine, herbs and brujeria (witchcraft).

For a true taste of Mexico City, you must try street food. There’s tacos, elotes, tlacoyos, gorditas, flautas, esquites, frutas, quesadillas, tamales, broiled sweet potatoes and more. My favourites include tortas (THE Mexican sandwich), chiles en nogada (stuffed chillies) and pozole (meat stew). Check out the taquerias to try tacos al pastor, tacos de canasta, tacos de tripa (tripe) and tacos de cabeza (beef brain).

There are almost too many incredible restaurants to count, but stand-outs are

El Moro Churerría, for the best churros you’ve ever tasted; Pujol for Enrique Olvera’s high-end cuisine; La Casa de Toño for simple, delicious Mexican food served all day; La Docena for some of the city’s best seafood; and bustling little Salón Corona, my favourite local cantina.

And be sure to experience the nightlife – the choices are never ending.