Mexico

Mexico City
This is one of the world’s largest cities and the heart of Mexico. It is the country’s capital, business hub and cultural center. The main financial and commercial districts are located along Paseo de la Reforma, Avenida Insurgentes and Paseo de las Palmas. Mexico City is so huge and plagued by such terrible traffic that it is wise to leave plenty of time between meetings. Government offices are scattered throughout the city. The headquarters of many large companies and banks are now in Santa Fé, a sprawling commercial center about 30-45 minutes from downtown.

how

To Get There
Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez is located within the city limits, but during rush hour, the trip downtown can take more than an hour. Hire only registered taxis at one of the airport taxi booths. Fares are set according to zones. Mexico charges a $20 arrival and departure tax.

where

To Stay
We recommend staying at Mexico City’s greatest hotel, the Four Seasons (Paseo de la Reforma 500, Col. Juárez, tel: 52-55-5230-1818). Nestled in the swank Polanco district near Chapultepec Park, the hotel exudes style and elegance. Room rates range from $290-$3,480 plus 17% tax. Visit www.fourseasons.com or e-mail: reservations.mex@fourseasons.com.

If you prefer a sleek contemporary feel, try the Habita Hotel (Avenida Presidente Masaryk 201, tel: 5255-5282-3100), which has an interesting al fresco roof-top lounge with a 12-foot fireplace. Room rates range from $195-$315 plus 17% tax. Go to www.hotelhabita.com or e-mail: infor@hotelhabita.com. Another stylish choice is the W Mexico City (Campos Eliseos 252, tel: 5255-9138-1800) with its striking red rooms. Rates range from $249-$399 plus 17% tax. Visit www.whotels.com.

Although it is beginning to shows its age, we still like the Camino Real (Mariano Escobedo 700, Col. Anzures, tel: 5255-63-8888) located in Polanco and minutes from the financial center. The Camino Real has excellent restaurants (see below), a bar whose glass floor is suspended above a pool of water and an amazing kinetic sculpture at its entrance. Room rates range from $175-$690 plus 17% tax. See www.caminoreal.com/mexico or send an
e-mail to: reservas@crmexico.com.mx.

To Eat
Good choices for business dinners in Mexico City include Acqua (Avenida Presidente Masaryk 275 P.B, Polanco, tel: 5282-3292) which features salad dishes, fusion seafood and an extravagant table-wide seafood dish. The restaurant has a breezy terrace and a separate dining area with tables that double as small aquariums. Puntarena (Avenida Las Palmas No. 275 tel: 5520-1735) offers a variety of seafood dishes including tuna with soy butter and octopus ink papardelle served with shellfish. The setting is cozy, yet sophisticated.

You can’t go wrong at Le Cirque and China Grill, two restaurants located in the Camino Real Hotel (Mariano Escobedo 700, Anzures). Le Cirque (tel: 5263-8881) is good for modern French food with Asian influences. China Grill (tel: 5263-8887) serves scrumptious sushi and fusion dishes.

An old favorite is Au Pied de Cochon, a fashionable 24-hour bistro in the Hotel Presidente InterContinental (Avenida Campos Eliseos 216, tel: 5327-7756). The restaurant is modeled on the Parisian original and is a popular spot for corporate power breakfasts, so call ahead to book your table.

If you have a long evening free, venture outside the city to San Angel Inn (Diego Rivera 50, San Angel, tel: 5616-0973). The restaurant is a 45-minute drive from downtown, but well worth the trip. This 18th century hacienda houses one of the city’s most attractive restaurants with its mahogany furniture, crisp linen tablecloths and Talavera place settings. The restaurant serves refined Mexican and Spanish food and margaritas in silver carafes. Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo’s former home and studio is next door.

To Drink
Rande Gerber’s Living Room (formerly known as Whiskey Bar) in the W Mexico City (at the corner of Campos Eliseos and Andrés Bello) is a winding maze of split level seating areas connected by a snaking sofa. Opened only recently, the bar has quickly become a hot spot. El Bar at the Four Seasons (Paseo de la Reforma 500) remains a classic place for cocktails. The China Grill’s Luna Bar in the Camino Real Hotel (Mariano Escobedo 700) has an outdoor lounge surrounded by fountains and flowers.

To Unwind
Mexico City’s well-preserved historic center features handsome colonial and 19th century buildings set close to ruins of Aztec temples. The Metropolitan Cathedral was built over the remains of an Aztec temple and next door is an ongoing excavation of the ancient city of Tenochtitlán. The National Museum of Anthropology (Paseo de la Reforma in Chapultepec Park) is world-renowned for its collection of exquisite pre-Columbian artifacts.

what

To Buy
Ceramics and silver are classic Mexican products. We recommend Talavera, high-quality glazed earthenware distinguished by intense colors and decorative patterns. Studio pottery and jewelry created by Sergio Bustamante (in the Hotel Nikko, Campos Eliseos 204-6) make fine gifts. And don’t leave Mexico without a couple of bottles of tequila and some mole, a spicy condiment made from chiles and chocolate that is a key ingredient in Mexican recipes.

Monterrey
Many of Mexico’s most important industrial companies are based in this modern northern city set in a valley surrounded by the Eastern Sierra Madre mountains.

how

To Get There
Getting to downtown Monterrey from Aeropuerto Internacional Mariano Escobedo should take less than 45 minutes and cost around $25. Monterrey’s main financial center is located in the San Pedro Garza Garcia district while the main commercial and hotel area is known as Zona Rosa.

where

To Stay
We recommend Hotel Quinta Real Monterrey, (Diego Rivera No. 500 Fracc. Valle Oriente, tel: 5281-8368-1000) a classically styled hotel located 10 minutes from downtown. The dramatic backdrop of the surrounding mountains makes the hotel’s views particularly notable. Visit www.quintareal.com or send an e-mail to: reservaciones@quintareal.com. We also like Hotel Presidente InterContinental, (Avenida Jose Vasconcelos #300 Oriente, tel: 5281-8368-6000), conveniently located in the heart of the financial district. Visit www.ichotelsgroup.com or send an e-mail to: cnpresidente@hotelesmilenium.com.

To Eat
For exquisite Mexican gourmet food, our top choice is La Catarina (Av. Morones Prieto 2525 Loma Larga, tel: 8345-3357. We also recommend the casual Los Arcos (Av. Morones Prieto 2414 Sertoma, tel: 8347-2305) for its excellent seafood. The specialty of the house at El Mirador (Constitución 1257 Pte, tel: 8343-6894) is grilled meat.

To Drink
Bar Havana (Calzada San Pedro 202 Ambiente) has a minimalist décor and relaxing atmosphere in which to enjoy live music and a drink.

2004 National Holidays May 1 – May Day Sept 16 – Independence day October 11 – Columbus Day November 2 – Day of the Dead Nov 20 – Mexican Revolution December 25 – Christmas Day