Featured Gay Friendly Hotels in Mexico City

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The St. Regis Mexico City

The St. Regis Mexico City captures its diverse, distinctive surroundings as no other hotel in Mexico City.

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W MEXICO CITY

Discover the most vibrant hotel in Mexico City!

From 346 to 1500

Gay Mexico City

As one of the world’s most populous urban centers, with over 21 million people, Mexico City is intense. Thankfully, the people are gregarious, the pollution is less than commonly stereotyped, and crime has fallen to be on par with most mega-cities. Costs are also comparatively lower here, making the city an affordable urban destination. Mexico City is also a fantastic place for gay and lesbian travelers, as the city has been at the forefront of gay and lesbian rights in Mexico. Same-sex marriage is now legal in Mexico City, which demonstrates how fully the enormous metropolis is bucking the traditionally conservative, Catholic Church-influenced national culture.

Distrito Federal, or D.F. as its known locally, has a long history that radiates out from the bustling Zócalo in the Centro Historico. The Zócalo, also known as the Plaza de la Constitución, is the largest public square in Latin America and third largest in the world after only Beijing’s Tiananmen and Moscow’s Red Square. Most historical colonial landmarks, including the Aztec Templo Mayor, can be found here. Everything else is easily visited via the city’s extensive – if crowded – metro system.

Mexico City Gay Scene

The surprising legalization of same-sex marriage really liberated the gay scene in Mexico City, the capitol of religiously conservative Mexico, inspiring a growing general acceptance of LGBT people. In fact, Mexico City has skyrocketed in our eyes as one of the best gay destinations: a big urban centre without the big urban price. You can still find beers for a buck and big meals for under $5; taxis are inexpensive and the subway cheap. And there is no loss of culture – this place is chock full of it – or a vibrant gay community.

There are 16 delegaciones, or boroughs, within the city. From trendy Condensa to creative Coyocan (the former home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera), many have become hip and stylish with significant gay and lesbian populations. The throbbing center of gay life is Zona Rosa, named not after the gays but after the hue of the pavers, where festive bars overflow into the streets.

Most gay-friendly lodging can be found in the Condensa delegacion, which is also a perfect foundation from which to explore the city.

When to Visit

Mexico City’s higher elevation is particularly suited to year round travel, because the summers are not as stifling as many in Mexico. In fact, the warmest months are March through June, overlapped by the rainy season that runs from May to the end of September. November through March is especially gorgeous, with moderate highs cooling off at night and little rain. The elevation is real, though, so bring ample clothes for the nighttime!

Gay-Friendly Activities & Attractions

Mexico City is a cosmopolitan city wiith a lot of life and energy, but also a lot of history. It's the capital of Mexico, after all, and one of the largest Lating American cities. 

Museo Nacional de Antropología

Every visit to Mexico City should include a stop at the impressive archaelogical museum which covers the history of the region. With significant archaeological and anthropological artifacts from Mexico's pre-Columbian heritage, such as the iconic Stone of the Sun (also called the Aztec calendar stone), it's an important site to gain better understanding about Latin American history.

Frida Kahlo Museum

The Frida Kahlo Museum (also referred to as the Blue House), is a historic house museum located in the Colonia del Carmen neighborhood of Coyoacan. The home wasa Kahalo's birthplace and where she ended up living with her husband Diego Rivera. An iconic artist with close ties to the LGBTQ community, the house is now dedicated to her life and work, with a number of her personaal artifacts and works (as well as many from her friends).

The Angel of Independence

Located in the center of a roundabout along Pasaeo de La Reforma, the iconic statue (El Angel) is a victory column commemorating the centennial of Mexico's War of Independence. It's the city's most iconic structure and watching the taxis and cars circle the roundabout is a mesmerizing and popular thing to do. You can grab a cocktail or light bite to eat at one of the nearby rooftop restaurants for some great views.

Gay-Friendly Dining

Restaurante Pujol

Pujol offers a 6-course tasting menu in a fine-dining establishment of contemporary Mexican cuisine. The kitchen is run by chef Enrique Olvera, and Restaurante Pujol has been named among the best restaurants in Mexico City.

Bellini Restaurante Giratorio

Bellini Restaurante Giratorio offers high-class international cuisine, with the best 360 degree view of Mexico City from atop the World Trade Center.

El Lago

This restaurant is ready to make your night special whether you are having an intimate dinner for two or hosting a large event. It's picturesque location on the edge of a lake in a posh part of the city makes it especially lovely.

Gay-Friendly Bars & Nightlife

Most of Mexico City's gay and lesbian nightlife takes place in the Zona Rosa neighborhood.

Tom's Leather Bar

Popular with gay men, it's a long-time favorite thanks to its anything-goes vibe. Videos play on TVs in the background and there's a dark room in the back by the toilets, but it's also just a casual spot for good music and fun people.

Baby

A relatively spacious club space that plays top 40 hits and just about anything you can dance to, Baby is a chic nightclub that attracts gay and lesbian visitors of all ages.

Pecado

Located in the historic City Center, El Pecado is a lively bar and smaall club. Attracting a mixed crowd, there are regular drag queens and performers on the small stage in the back.

Safety

Be aware of your surroundings, as petty theft is common in the sprawling urban core (especially in the Condensa delegacion). It’s best to not wander alone in the wee hours in the morning. Watch out for some small tourist scams involving taxis; sometimes it's better to have your taxi arranged by the restaurant or use an app-based service like Uber or Lyft to lock in your taxi fare. Gay and lesbian travelers can feel comfortable that Mexico City, like most major metropolitans, is a welcoming city and it's unlikely you'll encounter LGBTQ issues when sticking to the main tourist routes and popular LGBTQ neighborhoods.

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