Lively but relaxed, beautiful but not chic, cosmopolitan. For me, Roma is like Little Europe in Mexico City. It has a relatively cosmopolitan vibe with a European touch, is tidy and clean but not over the top, completely plastered with European countries, cities or anything else in the street names and even has a replica of the Cibeles fountain in Madrid on a central roundabout in the middle of the neighbourhood. There is also a Museo de Jamón here, which I know from Madrid and a few other places in Spain. What I’m trying to say is that Europeans have the highest chance of finding something familiar here.
At the same time, it’s quite green, not quiet, but quieter than other neighbourhoods or areas in Mexico City and you also see more non-Mexicans. In Condesa it’s even more blatant and a good bit greener and a bit quieter, but there’s a separate post about Condesa.

Roma was honestly the first neighbourhood I planned to visit (Polanco was unintentionally the first) and I loved it straight away. But I also love the Museo de Jamón. Just the fountain of Cibeles in Madrid…. It’s one of my favourite places ever in Madrid and the replica just doesn’t even come close for me personally. But as I said, I’m also a real fan. So it’s actually quite cool. Especially because there’s also a really tasty burger restaurant (Mataleon) at the roundabout, which made fantastic burgers when I was there. Highly recommended!

Go or not to go? I personally really like Roma. Roma is actually divided into Norte and Sur, but that’s more because Roma is just a relatively large neighbourhood I think. Apart from that, as I’ve already said elsewhere, I would only do the neighbourhoods once you’ve seen everything touristy etc. Then go according to your personal taste or which side of Mexico City you would like to get to know first/better. Personally, I had heard about Roma and Condesa and it sounded like my vibe. That’s why I went there first. And as the neighbourhoods are right next to each other and really very similar, sometimes you don’t even know exactly where you are. 😊