Where the City Starts the Brief. As a remote event planner working with global brands and fast-moving companies, I’ve learned that inspiration doesn’t come from sitting in front of a screen—it comes from proximity to real culture (or the mango cart in this case). That’s why I chose to base myself in Mexico City.
CDMX is not just a base—it’s a creative engine. The pace, the color, the friction and flow of the city—it rewires how I think about events. When I walk through the artisan stalls of Coyoacán, or hear the echo of a street musician in the tunnels of the Metro, I’m not just observing—I’m absorbing. Here, the city becomes the first line of my event brief, not the backdrop.
Tasting Notes as Design Cues. In Mexico City, food doesn’t just feed—it communicates. From the lime-drenched ceviches of Contramar, the local (best) mango cart (of your life), to the smoky complexity of a single street taco al pastor in Tacos Orinoco, food is a fully choreographed sensory experience. It inspires how I think about sequence and pace in an event.
It’s made me want to rethink how F&B can serve not just as fuel, but as strategy. Could we create a tasting progression that mirrors a product launch journey? Could guests hear from a chef in Xochimilco about their mole recipe as part of a workshop on storytelling? Could we fly in an Abuela to hand-press tortillas during a team dinner, not for novelty, but to root the experience in memory and meaning?
The food here is layered. Intentional. Local. And it reminds me: every touchpoint should tell a story
Goodbye Bad Carpet. Forget beige ballrooms. In CDMX, venues come with their own narrative architecture. I’ve seen private homes in San Rafael turned into intimate activations, modernist rooftops in Juárez hosting immersive brand experiences, and abandoned warehouses in Doctores transformed into futuristic launchpads.
It changes how I plan. I think less about dressing up a space and more about amplifying what’s already there. I think about light patterns through 18th-century windows. About projection mapping across courtyard walls in Condesa. About creating pathways where the space and the story unfold together.
The right venue here doesn’t just hold the event—it shapes the idea itself.
Warmth as a Competitive Edge. Here, hospitality is instinctual. People greet you with “¿Qué necesitas?” and they mean it. There’s a sense that time stretches for conversation, collaboration, or just a coffee that turns into a brainstorm.
From florists in Mercado Jamaica to AV crews who operate like family-run film sets, the teams I work with aren’t just vendors—they’re creative allies. They ask good questions. They anticipate needs. They care about the outcome.
That kind of warmth isn’t just pleasant—it’s powerful. It makes you want to do better work, because you’re not just delivering—you’re building something together.
Mastering the Exchange: Language, Currency, and Connection. Yes, there are logistical curveballs. My Spanish is a WIP, and I’ve had moments where I mimed my way through a conversation about power distribution at a venue walk-through. But with patience, translation apps, and good collaborators, the communication gap narrows quickly.
Then there’s the currency layer. Quoting in pesos means constantly doing mental math and watching exchange rates. But it’s also given me surprising flexibility—what might be cost-prohibitive in New York or London often becomes possible here. Custom fabrication, artisan-made decor, even live performers—it’s all more accessible, which opens up creative potential.
And navigating all of this with empathy—acknowledging different workflows, holidays, timelines—has only made me a sharper, more human-centered planner.
CDMX Isn’t a Backdrop—It’s a Co-Creator. What I’ve come to realize is that this city doesn’t just influence my work—it collaborates with me.
It pushes me to make events that are equally about depth and efficiency . To build experiences where guests don’t just receive information, but feel something. It makes me want to create activations that feel like discovery. Keynotes that unfold like a neighborhood walk. Product launches that taste like tamarindo and sound like a mariachi warming up down the street.
Mexico City makes me bolder. Slower in the right places. Sharper in the details. And more intentional in everything I design.
By Chelsey Taylor
Bonus | My CDMX Run Sheet
As event planners, we often find ourselves so immersed in logistics that we forget to pause and let inspiration in. But when you find yourself in a city like CDMX, make it a point to step away from the checklist and experience the local culture. These spots aren’t just places to visit—they’re sources of creativity that can refresh your perspective and fuel your next big idea.
- Niddo – My go-to coffee shop for slow mornings, strong lattes, and the guava donut that will absolutely ruin all other pastries for you. Cozy, elevated, and always buzzing with locals and creatives.
- Kill. Bill – Yes, excellent sushi exists in the middle of Central Mexico. This spot in Roma is laid-back, design-forward, and always a surprise hit with out-of-town guests.
- Carnitas El Patrón (Michelin-rated) – Unbelievably good. Melt-in-your-mouth carnitas served simply and perfectly. Proof that the best meals are often the least complicated.
- Los Cocuyos – A true CDMX institution. This tiny taquería in Centro Histórico serves up legendary suadero and tripa tacos until late into the night. No frills. All flavor.
Pro Tip: Always ask for your tacos “con todo” (with everything) to get the full experience. It’ll come topped with salsa, cilantro, onion, and lime that’ll make every bite sing. - Siclo – My reset button. Their cycling classes feel like a dance party on a bike, but also: rent a bike and cruise down Paseo de la Reforma on a Sunday when it closes to cars. That ride through the city? It’ll shift your whole mindset.
- Hot Air Balloon Ride over Teotihuacán – Unforgettable. Floating above ancient pyramids at sunrise is one of those perspective-reset moments I think every creative needs at least once.
- Brick Hotel, Roma Norte – My favorite place to stay when I want a little indulgence and a lot of style. The rooftop is a perfect sundown workspace, and the interiors nail that balance between modern and historic.
