Roma Norte and Centro Taco Crawl

Direction
Begin at the plaza's central fountain, easy to spot with its replica of Michelangelo's David at the centre.

See
A quiet, tree-lined square surrounded by early 20th-century mansions, many now restaurants or embassies. It gives a sense of Roma Norte's architecture before the food part of the walk starts.

Navi Tip
Weekday mornings are calmer here than weekends, when the plaza fills with joggers and dog walkers.

Time here: 10 min

Direction
Walk two blocks south to Avenida Alvaro Obregon, where basket vendors set up carts along the median in the late morning.

See
Tacos de canasta are steamed rather than fried or grilled, packed tightly in a basket and often sold from a bicycle or handcart. They are cheap, soft, and usually filled with potato, chicharron or beans.

Navi Tip
Ask for salsa on the side if you want to control the heat, the pre-dressed versions are made spicier than most first-timers expect.

Time here: 20 min

Direction
Continue south-east on Avenida Medellin for about 700 m to the covered market of the same name.

See
A neighbourhood market with a strong South American section, reflecting Roma's mixed immigrant community, alongside the usual produce stalls and fonda counters serving daily comida corrida.

Navi Tip
The fonda stalls toward the back are less crowded than the ones near the entrance and the food comes out just as fast.

Time here: 25 min

Direction
Head north-west along Avenida Insurgentes for roughly 1.2 km, a straight, easy stretch, toward the Cuauhtemoc metro area.

See
This is the connecting leg of the walk, passing mid-century apartment blocks and small businesses. It is a good stretch to let the first two stops settle before the taco al pastor ahead.

Navi Tip
Insurgentes has wide, shaded sidewalks on the western side in the early afternoon.

Time here: 20 min

Direction
Near the Cuauhtemoc metro station, look for a vertical trompo, a spit of marinated pork turning near an open flame, usually with a pineapple on top.

See
Al pastor tacos trace back to Lebanese immigrants who brought the shawarma-style spit to Mexico City, adapted with local chilies and achiote. The pineapple is sliced straight onto the meat as it is carved.

Navi Tip
Order two to start, they are small, and watch the carver slice a bit of pineapple onto yours, that detail is what separates a good stand from an average one.

Time here: 25 min

Direction
Continue north-west on Avenida Juarez for about 1.3 km until the park opens up on your right.

See
The oldest public park in the Americas, laid out in the 16th century and now a shaded rest point between the taco stops and the market ahead. Vendors here sell aguas frescas, useful for washing everything down.

Navi Tip
The hibiscus and tamarind aguas frescas are both good choices if you want something cold and not too sweet.

Time here: 20 min

Direction
From the park's southern edge, walk about 900 m through the streets south of the Centro toward the Mercado San Juan area.

See
A transition from the wide park avenues into narrower commercial streets, small hardware shops and printers mixed with more food stalls, a good look at how the old centre actually functions day to day.

Navi Tip
Keep bags zipped and in front on this stretch, it is busy and crowded rather than dangerous, but pickpocketing does happen in dense crowds.

Time here: 20 min

Direction
The market entrance sits on Calle Ernesto Pugibet, about 200 m past the last turn.

See
Known for its gourmet and specialty ingredients, exotic meats, imported cheese, unusual produce, this market is a different register from the street stands earlier in the walk and a fitting place to end with something more unusual.

Navi Tip
Several counters inside will cook what you buy on the spot, ask before you purchase if you want it prepared rather than raw.

Time here: 30 min