My Favorite Airbnb Experience: A bike and food tour of Mexico City after dark

As a lifelong vegetarian, I always worry about food when I travel. Most of the time I pack snacks and simple meals as I’m trained to always pack something to eat if there aren’t any other options.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy eating out: On a recent visit to Mexico City for the grand opening of Hyatt’s Andaz Mexico City Condesa, I had an evening free to explore. I wanted to expand my palate and try some dishes that are more representative of regional Mexican cuisine.

When I first started looking for restaurant recommendations that would appeal to vegetarians while maintaining the authenticity of Mexican cuisine, I came across a Night Food and Bike Tour by FoodHoodmx on Airbnb Experiences.

According to Airbnb, the $60 bike and food tour would include stops at local taquerias, eclectic fusion restaurants, and nighttime street vendors (plus mezcal and beer at the final stop) while pedaling through Roma Norte and Condesa, two neighborhoods known for their artistic, Bohemian vibes influencing everything from food and drink to decor and shopping.

I was immediately intrigued but also hesitant due to my dietary restrictions. Fernando Luis Miranda, the owner of Foodhoodmx, assured me, “As long as you’re willing to try new flavors, we’ll make sure you get full.” And Mario Hernandez Martinez, my tour guide, promised, “Nobody leaves our tour with one hungry feeling.”

Karthika Gupta, the writer, ready to get back on her cruiser to hit the streets.

Karthika Gupta

The El Ángel Victory Column on Paseo de la Reforma in downtown Mexico City.

Karthika Gupta

When I met Mario to start the tour, we shared a refreshing drink of agua fresca, a mix of sparkling water and fresh fruits like pineapple, mango, and strawberry to cleanse our taste buds. I sampled a tall cold glass of tangy sweet pineapple agua fresca, a crowd favorite. Foodhoodmx outfitted me with a cruiser bike that was particularly comfortable for pedaling the city streets—the geometry of its frame encourages an upright riding position.

Cycling in the CDMX was much more enjoyable than I expected from a big city. There are many bike lanes along the roads of Roma Norte and Condesa, and motorists tend to be cautious around cyclists. Also, having a resident guide who is familiar with the area added an element of safety and comfort.

Our first stop was Gracias Madre Taqueria Vegana in the Roma Norte neighborhood, one block from the Museo del Objecto, the city’s famous design museum. This taco stand is completely vegan and uses fresh ingredients daily. I tried a vegan Suadero Taco. Typically Suadero is a thin cut of meat from the middle part of the cow between the belly and the leg. Mine was made with soy protein, and while I have no relation to the meat, Mario assured me it tasted just as tender and chewy as the typical carne version.

A juicy, sassy cup of esquites makes the perfect snack.

Courtesy of Airbnb

Tour members gather and listen for directions.

Courtesy of Airbnb

We then drove a few blocks west to Tizne Tacomotora, a Korean-Mexican fusion taqueria. I had a blue corn tortilla with smoked eggplant that tasted sweet and earthy but also slightly bitter. The smoky flavor comes from cooking the eggplant on a traditional Korean grill, which brings out the sweetness and bitterness of the eggplant.