Fifteen years ago when I'd suggest that visitors to the city get out of the guidebook-recommended Centro Historico district of Mexico City and into different and interesting neighborhoods, such as Colonia Roma ... it was a hard sell. Now, Colonia Roma and adjacent Colonia Condesa are all the rage for so many international visitors. They've been discovered and are being enjoyed; as well they should.
So are there other colonias, sections of the city which have the same potential for ascension to greater levels of acceptance by visitors? I think so. In my estimation they are: Colonia San Rafael and Colonia Santa Mara la Ribera. Both are center-of-the-city colonias with rich histories and well-connected to the city's vast public transport system and within easy reach of the historic center of the city. Both of these colonias possess many of the things visitors look for and/or need: an abundance of hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and interesting architecture and sights-to-see.
Colonia Santa Maria la Ribera probably has greater potential for "discovery." And the startling transformation of the (adjacent to the colonia) Buenavista rail station and upscale shopping center built above, new hotels, the massive Biblioteca Vasconcelos ... have each provided a spark to the neighborhood that was missing for many years.
For many years Colonia San Rafael was home to some of the most important theaters in the city. This colonia, too, offers many lodging choices, interesting architecture, small restaurants, retail and the often overlooked artist market held each Sunday in the Jardin del Arte (which many art buyers in the city will tell you is a better place to view/purchase original art than the heavily-promoted Saturday market in San Angel).
So when you plan your next trip to Mexico City, think once again "out of the box" and consider exploring Colonia San Rafael and/or Colonia Santa Maria de Ribera.
LW
