Where To Stay in Mexico City
The most important part of this choice is access to transport. A hotel near a metro is ideal, as well as within walking distance to attractions. The metro is by far the best way to get around (link) Mexico City for the most part, so staying near a station on a main line is helpful.
I stayed next to the Insurgentes metro station in the Juarez area of CDMX. The station is on a major East/West metro line, with plenty of trains.
That station is two stops to major park in CDMX, Bosque de Chapultepec, or a 10-15 walk. I suggest the walk, purely based on the food along the way.
Hotel Segovia Regency
The hotel that I chose was the perfect location and within my budget. I booked on Booking.com as per standard. The Segovia Regency was built in 1978, and was likely a top hotel back in the day. The staff are friendly and welcoming and the hotel is comfortable. While peak periods of the day overload the wifi, the internet still works throughout the building. I picked the hotel based on location and budget for my first trip, and have stayed there multiple trips now.
Juárez Area
The Juarez area has many bars and nightclubs, El Moro churros and more importantly tacos are available until the early hours of the morning. There are a couple of small supermarkets, multiple OXXO and 711 convenience stores, electronics and clothing stores etc. Calle Génova is a pedestrian road with all sorts of shops, bars and restaurants. Genova is also the location of some hostels, so there’s guaranteed budget food items around.
Centro Historico
A common area for tourists to stay is Centro Historico, with plenty of history, but it is also very overpriced. Depending on your trip, you may chose to stay in Centro Historico to access the Zocalo, Palacio de Bellas Artes and Templo Mayor etc. There are also plenty of hostels. I personally think that visiting this area is important as part of your trip, but it’s also full of tourist traps. No need to stay there. You may want to visit the original El Moro Churreria etc.
Polanco
The rock stars stay in Polanco. Pujol is in Polanco. The best museum in CDMX - the Anthropologie Museum - is in Polanco. The hotels have views over the park, there are plenty of fancy restaurants and high end shops. It’s nice for visiting, especially for a meal at Pujol, but I can’t justify the cost of the hotels. There is much less in the way of street food, you are further out on the metro line and the night life isn’t as fun.