Mexico City is one of the best destinations for a remote or hybrid team retreat — direct flights from most major hubs, minimal (to no) visa requirements for international team members, and a food and culture scene that gives your team something to talk about long after they're home.
I live and work here full-time as a hospitality pro, and I've helped teams like Dropbox, and WeTravel make the most of their time here.
Here's the ground-level advice I give clients — where to stay, where to work, where to eat, and what to actually do together.
Don't want to plan this yourself? I do full-service retreat planning in CDMX.
Getting to CDMX
An overlooked benefits of hosting your team in Mexico City is the ease of travel.
MEX (Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez) has direct flights from most major US hubs and a strong, growing set of nonstop international routes.
Mexico also allows visa-free entry for citizens of 60+ countries, which can make it a much more workable option than the US or much of Europe for teams with members who'd otherwise be stuck navigating a harder visa process.
And if you book your hotel block with me, I'll handle any confirmation letters your team members do need for entry. 😉
Where to Stay in CDMX
Cuauhtémoc is the go-to borough for visiting teams — central, walkable, and full of character. There are a few neighborhoods within it, each with a different feel:
Condesa
Tree-lined, cafe-heavy, built for wandering. Avenida Ámsterdam (the main strip) was originally a horse-racing track. Best for teams who want charm without sacrificing walkability.
Roma Norte
Condesa's neighbor, with more restaurants and galleries, fewer trees, and a slightly more artistic, less residential feel. Still very walkable and safe.
Centro
The historic downtown. Most recognizable hotel brands are here, which makes group coordination easier, but it has less charm than Condesa or Roma and you'll spend more time/money on Ubers in my experience.
Juárez
West of Centro, up-and-coming, crumbling mansions and hipster hotspots side by side. Quality varies block to block, but it's a great option for budget travelers and bigger groups who don't want to sacrifice convenience.
Booking tip
Small teams can often find a boutique hotel (or large Airbnb) in Condesa or Roma if they book early enough, but most hotels in these areas have less than 10 rooms. The big hotel chains are primarily located in Centro.
Book early for the best selection, and prioritize one that's walkable to any co-working space or restaurants you know you'll be visiting. (If you need a point of reference for walking distance to Condesa, I recommend using Parque México.)
Close all the tabs and let me help! I can secure discounted hotel blocks for groups with 5+ rooms—at no cost to you.
Get a free hotel quote.
Where to Cowork
There are a number of small, independent co-working spaces scattered around the city center, but here are a few reliable bigger options:
HAAB: A "social club" and co-working space on Avenida Ámsterdam. There's a café on the ground floor and a beautiful rooftop terrace, but the staff can be hard to work with. Unbeatable location for groups based in Condesa though!
WeWork: Multiple CDMX locations, standard amenities, bilingual staff, easy online booking. The Varsovia location is a particularly good option for teams staying in Juárez, but it's a 20–40 minute walk from parts of Condesa and Roma.
Colabora: A smaller, Mexican version of WeWork basically. They have beautiful locations in Roma Norte and Juárez but availability is very limited so book early!
Where to Eat
Mexico City has one of the best food scenes in the world — the trick with a group is managing reservations, not finding good food.
- Taquerías and street stalls are actually the easier call for casual lunches — no reservation, super affordable, and likely what your team actually wants to eat.
- Most taco stands only accommodate 3-5 people at a time, so I recommend breaking into small groups.
- Nicer, sit-down restaurants often cap online reservations at six people so plan to call ahead to coordinate a bigger group, or filter OpenTable for spots that accept larger reservations.
- Google Maps is also helpful here—most listings link out to their preferred reservation system, whether that be Open Table, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc. Use Spanish if you can, but most spots are used to English-speaking visitors.
As far as specific spots to check out, here are the food & drink spots I often share with friends and clients.
What to Do With Your Team
Food Tours
Taco Mensch is a great taco tour in the Condesa/Roma area that easily slots into an afternoon as a long lunch.
Eat Like a Local, meanwhile, hosts more in-depth tours at the larger market. It's best paired with a free night, as most people will not want dinner after.
Cooking Classes
Martaja, run by a friend and frequent collaborator, hosts great cooking classes that can be paired with or without a market tour. Tell 'em I sent ya!
Mezcal or tequila tasting
I regularly host my own experiences (via Between Drinks) in Condesa, or at your chosen location. My friends are Salon de Agave are also fantastic.
Teotihuacán
An ancient Mesoamerican city located about an hour outside of the city. Most visitors do a sunrise hot air balloon ride, then explore the pyramids and have brunch before heading back.
Bosque de Chapultepec
Bigger than Central Park, with its own castle at the top (the only one in North America!) Plus: a lake, zoo, two art museums, and the famous Anthropology Museum.
It's a great day plan for teams on a budget: the group can head to the castle together for a group photo, then split off to explore whatever catches their interest in small groups.
Now for the two most popular activities for visiting groups...
Xochimilco
A famous borough in southern Mexico City known for its colorful network of Aztec-era canals and floating gardens called chinampas. Floating around on a colorful flat-bottom boat (or trajinera) — flower crowns on, micheladas and elote in hand — is a great way to spend an afternoon.
You can book a guide online, or just Uber to a dock and hire boats on the spot. (Embarcadero Nuevo Nativas is my suggestion.) There are small stores selling ice, drinks, and snacks nearby, and most boats will have a cooler and speaker, too.
Alternatively, you can book a calmer experience more focused on food and less centered on drinking via Arca Tierra.
Lucha Libre
The iconic matches are held at Arena Mexico in the Doctores neighborhood and generally hosted every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.
You can buy tickets online but, if you're not picky about seats, I recommend buying in person just beforehand. Ticketmaster is locally known as a nightmare, with very particular rules about when and where you can pick up tickets.
Make sure to bring cash for everything, including concessions, and be aware that the stadium is not accessible (lots of steep stairs) nor do employees speak English.
See you soon?
CDMX has everything you need for a memorable but budget-friendly corporate retreat. It has easy transportation to and around the city, minimal to no visa issues, and local flavor that your team members will love.
The hard part is coordinating it for a group. But I can help with that!
How I Can Help
- Hotel Bookings — I can shared vetted, often discounted room rates for groups booking +5 rooms. Commission-only so the hotel pays me, not you.
- Experiences — Custom activities, specifically packaged for your team's interests and schedule.
- Full Planning — Itinerary, budget, vendors, travel, reservations, end to end. you just show up and enjoy!
- On-Site Coordination — For larger retreats, or high-stake offsites, I can also be there in person.
I'd love to help! Kick things off with a quick form or email me directly.