Day by day

The itinerary

Eleven daysTue 29 Dec to Fri 8 Jan 2027
The finding that shapes the whole week

Of the five nights in Mexico City, three are already committed and one is a write-off. That is why the dinner list had to be cut.

Tue 29 DecArrive, then the one big dinner

Fly to Mexico City, Ling Ling at eight

  • 08:40DL 646 departs Detroit, lands Mexico City 12:30
  • 14:30At the house in Roma NorteImmigration plus transfer runs about 90 minutes. Nothing scheduled after this.
  • 20:00Dinner at Ling Ling56th floor of Chapultepec Uno, Reforma 509. Seats parties up to 20.The only open upscale slot in the whole week, which is why it gets arrival night.
  • lateDrinks at Limantour, Roma NorteNumber 20 on Mexico's 50 Best.
Watch out
  • Owl Bar and Rayo are both closed Tuesdays
  • Gin Gin Cibeles is open daily but is formal attire
Wed 30 DecTaco day

Street food on foot, all day, no reservations

  • all dayStreet food crawl through Roma Norte and Condesa, working outwardReplaces the guided Sabores food tour that was penciled in. Saves about $115 each and is closer to what Krysta actually asked for.
  • eveningKeep it casual, or Cuina on Tabasco 46, a four minute walkNo tasting menu on a day spent eating tacos.
  • lateDrinks at Owl Bar, the Condesa speakeasyOpens Wednesdays, 18:00 to 02:00.
Thu 31 DecNew Year's Eve

Dinner at the house, midnight on the rooftop

  • morningMercado Medellin run, Campeche 101 in Roma Sur, about a ten minute walkOpen 08:00 to 19:00. The fondas at the back run hardest noon to 15:00.
  • 13:00Collect pre-ordered dishesEvery New Year's Eve pickup window in the city is 13:00 to 17:00. This is an afternoon errand, not an evening one.
  • eveningPotluck dinner at the house, on our own schedule
  • 00:00Midnight on the Oasis rooftopThis is why the house was chosen over hotel rooms.

Approach decided, specific orders not placed. See the New Year's Eve options for the three options and what each costs.

Watch out
  • Reforma closes both directions, plus Florencia, Rio Tiber and Rio Rhin
  • The free Reforma party runs 18:00 to 02:00 and draws about 250,000 people
  • The Zocalo is dark, the city confirmed no programming
  • Cars will not move. Keep everything walkable from the front door.
  • Of the restaurants open on a normal menu, only Macelleria is in Roma Norte and it closes at 19:00
Fri 1 JanRecovery, deliberately empty

Nothing booked, on purpose

  • middayLate brunch at the house, or Lardo in Condesa
  • eveningAn early nightGin Gin Cibeles and Owl Bar are the only sure things if anyone wants out.
Watch out
  • Anthropology Museum closed
  • Casa Azul explicitly closed 1 January
  • Most of the city is shut and the group will have been out late
  • Small taquerias commonly close 31 December and 1 January without publishing it
Sat 2 JanThe birthday

Sunrise balloon over Teotihuacan, then the big dinner

  • 04:30Pickup for the balloon, hotel collection included
  • 06:30Sunrise over Teotihuacan, 45 to 60 minutes aloftBreakfast and a toast after, then the pyramids.
  • 14:00Back in the city
  • 14:30SleepNot optional. Roughly fifteen hours from the alarm to dinner.
  • 19:30Birthday dinnerVenue not locked. Pujol private room is the incumbent at $223 each. See the birthday dinner options for the alternatives, several of which suit a balloon day better than a nine course tasting menu.
  • lateDrinks at RayoCaps at 8, open until 01:15 Saturdays.
Watch out
  • 2 January is a Saturday on a holiday weekend, the hardest night of the week to seat 8
  • Bazar Sabado runs Saturdays only but the balloon owns the day
  • Pujol's 14:00 seating is unusable, the balloon returns at that hour
Sun 3 JanThe group splits

Six to Cancun, two home, both at 13:55

  • 11:00Checkout. Leave together around 11:30.
  • 13:55Both flights depart at the same timeSix to Cancun, two to Detroit. Nobody waits around at the airport.
  • 17:33Land in CancunTransfer to Puerto Morelos is 27 km and about 27 minutes.
Mon 4 JanBeach

Nothing. That is the point of this leg.

  • all dayNothing scheduledThe village is a 16 minute walk with 19 restaurants inside a kilometre.
Tue 5 JanChichen Itza

Private tour, full day

  • all dayChichen Itza private tourFrom $119 each.
Wed 6 JanIsla Mujeres

By ferry, or another beach day

  • all dayIsla Mujeres by ferryMX$580 each round trip, about $34.
  • Tulum was considered and is 87 minutes each way. Three hours of driving for a beach club probably does not survive.
Thu 7 JanBeach

Last full day, dinner in the village

Fri 8 JanHome

DL 1911 at 15:15

  • 12:00Checkout. Leave for the airport around 11:45.
  • 15:15DL 1911 to Detroit, lands 19:10Cancun in the first week of January genuinely needs three hours.

What does not fit, and why

ItemWhy not
QuintonilCaps at 6 in the main dining room, 1 to 3 at the counter. Cannot seat 8.
La Table KrugAt the St. Regis. Works on 29 or 30 Dec, but do not book it if the group takes a St. Regis New Year's Eve.
Bikes and Munchies street food bike tourNo day left for a second food tour.
Casa AzulWants a half day. 30 Dec is taco day, 31 is New Year's Eve, 1 Jan it is closed, 2 Jan is the birthday.
Teotihuacan as its own day tripNo longer needed. The 2 January balloon package includes pyramid entry, which closes this gap without giving up another day.