Santa Fe Summary:
Imagine a mix between Singapore's business district and a lush green Latin-American jungle. What do you get? You get the Santa Fe region in Mexico City, a corporate play ground at ~8,000 ft in altitude (vs. NYC's 33 ft :D)
Santa Fe Summary:
30 minute drive from Mexico City airport (60 minutes with traffic) - $10 uber
Some of the best shopping, dining and nightlife options in the Americas
Many international luxury hotel brands are here (at ~50% of what you pay int the U.S. and nicer!)
Country HQ to many international companies, if you work in MX, high chance you'll spend time here
You may experience mild altitude sickness, I went for a run and did :D
If you have an extra day or two in CDMX or simply looking for some modern comforts, I would give Santa Fe a look. I stayed at the Westin, which I'm recommending due to its location, quality of rooms and it's epic breakfast set up. DO opt for breakfast at their main restaurant 330 MXN (18 USD) ; it features elevated representations of many Mexican classics - e.g. the sweet breads are "mini versions" which come in many varieties, you'll find salsa verde, roja, some I've never seen, local stews, etc. Grab your fill and head to the balcony for epic views of life on the Mexican Valley -->
Across the street from you'll find a hill (one of many in this hilly region) peppered by other luxury hotels and restaurants and "Samara Shops" a shopping mall that makes most similar locales back home look inadequate. Through it all, you're still reminded your in Mexico by the street vendors that line the streets; offering lunch menus priced at ~60 MXN ($3 USD) with a drink! and a smile! They're bright red, you can't miss them.
If you're looking for nightlife options, take the $4 uber to "Centro Santa Fe". Head straight to "La Terazza" (the terrace); it's at on the 4th floor of this shopping shrine (accessible only via elevator). You'll find a small city block of varied bar & dining options, i.e. a Tequila bar with a huge and beautiful Dia-de-los-Muertos mural, an ode to Mexico's internationally-recognized muralism.
Head up one floor still and you're in the "premium" section; a secluded area with options that are yet one-notch higher. At the time, Copa America (soccer tournament) was in full swing and I was in dire need of a sports bar. The coolest such venue I've ever seen can be found here, along with several other hot spots. The "Cranker Sports Bar" had the largest display at this kind of establishment I've ever seen and I spent two nights in a row enjoying world-class soccer here; one as the only Chilean in town (in full uniform, obviously.)
If you have energy left for the nighttime, on the same floor you'll find a live music venue (among indoor water falls) where you can dance the night away, a bowling alley, a pool hall and all with no lines. There are never any lines and the places are absolutely not at capacity; something I'm sure (and I hope) will change in near future.
All in all, Santa Fe is an interesting change of pace from the hustle-and-bustle of downtown Mexico City. Definitely worth a visit.
NOTE: This place is at ~8,000 ft above sea level (we fly at 30,000 ft) and you may get mild altitude sickness. I went for my usual distance run and did :D Take it easy, it's about the R&R here ;)
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