Mexico City/Santa Fe

Santa Fe was developed in the early 1990s on the remnants of an old landfill yes, a junk yard turned into a modern business district. It wasn't until the early 2000s that Santa Fe gained attention, radically different from the rest of the city, because of its ultramodern architecture and contrasting wealth lifestyle signs.
The paranoia that the local authorities have against photographers in Mexico City goes double for Santa Fe. Guards will yell "no photo" at you, or even shoo you away from a building if you as so much approach with a camera, tripod or no.
This building is nicknamed, "The Washing Machine Building" (or "Lavandería").

Santa Fe is not served by the Metro, so the only ways into the area are by car, taxi or bus. Cars and taxis are probably the fastest, but are certainly not the cheapest. However, Santa Fe is served by Mexico City's RTP network and much more frequently by pesero buses, which leave from station (Metro Lines 1, 7 and 9) and take around 30-45 minutes to get there. Look for buses that say "Sta. Fe" in the window.
You will recognize instantly when you are in Santa Fe, when the two-lane road widens to lessen stop-and-go traffic and grand office buildings replace stucco shanties. If you're on a pesero, it will travel around the skyscrapers rather than go in between them; a good place to get off and look around is when the bus is on Avenida Vasco de Quiroga, or on the opposite end of the line of skyscrapers. Don't wait too long though, because the bus continues onward into the residential area of the hills.

If you just want to see a radically different side of Mexico City, Santa Fe is the place to be, with lots of skyscrapers and modern architecture. Also, take a stroll in the Alameda, the central park of Santa Fe.

• Dutch EmbassyThe washing machine, an example of modern architecture

There's not much to do; Santa Fe is a business district first and foremost, so during nights and weekends it looks like a ghost town.

• Centro Santa Fe

  phone: +52 55 3003 4330
  address: Avenida Vasco de Quiroga
  This is the country's largest shopping center with more than 500 stores and a movie theater. Buy the unimaginable, from a t-shirt to a yacht. Anchor stores include Liverpool, El Palacio de Hierro, Sears and the first Saks Fifth Avenue in Mexico. Other remarkable stores include French Connection, Mango, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Armani, Hugo Boss, Tous, Scappino, CHANEL, and many others.

• Zentrika

  address: Prolongación Vasco de Quiroga and Mario Pani St
  Features an IMAX 3-D theater and a big food court.

• Los CanariosHaute Mexican cuisine. Refined ambiance.

• GuadianaHaute Mexican cuisine, refined ambiance.

• Estoril Bistro

  address: Gonzalez Camarena 999 1A
  Haute Mexican and International Food.

• Oaxa-KInexpensive, great Oaxacan food.

• Ruben's HamburgersMesquite charbroiled sirloin hamburgers.

• El Buen BifeArgentinian food.

• Taco InnTacos and Mexican food. Inexpensive great food.

• La Buena Tierra

  phone: +52 55 21-67-40-37
  Healthy food.

• La Pergola di RomaInternational cuisine.

• Fisher'sSea food, refined ambiance.

• Chili'sBranch of the American franchise.

• La Cantina

• Sens

  phone: +52 55 5246 3580
  address: Paseo de los Tamarindos 90 Priv.01, Bosques de las Lomas, Cuajimalpa de Morelos, Arcos Bosques

• Camino Real Santa Fe

• Distrito Capital

  phone: +52571300
  address: Juan Salvador Agraz #37

• Fiesta Americana Santa Fe

  phone: +52 55 11-05-50-00

• Haus Suites

• NH Hotel Santa Fe

  phone: +52 55 91-77-73-80

• Novotel Santa Fe

  phone: +52 55 91-77-77-00

• Sheraton Santa Fe

  phone: +52 55 52-58-85-00

• Stadia Suites