The Best Shopping Malls in Mexico City, Mexico

Laying claim to the title of the largest shopping mall in Mexico is Centro Santa Fe. Inside, you’ll find about 500 stores to browse through, including prestigious brands such as Escada and Dolce & Gabbana. The mall also houses a host of attractions, including an ice rink, a cinema and children’s play areas, along with many restaurants and fast-food options for when you work up an appetite. If you find yourself seeking shelter during Mexico City’s rainy season, a day trip here wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Housed in a building designed by Teodoro González de León, the architect of the Museo Tamayo, the Reforma 222 shopping mall is a glass-covered delight. The four-story mall has shops to suit every budget, ranging from the budget-friendly Bershka to upmarket cosmetic brand Mac Cosmetics and high-street Spanish favorite Zara. Bookstores, a food hall and a cinema make Reforma 222 the complete package for anyone looking for a bit of downtime away from Mexico City’s hectic streets.

Another upscale shopping center is Perisur, named for its location on Periferico Sur, in southwest Mexico City. While not the largest, it’s one of the most important shopping malls in the capital, known as much for its high-end feel as its extravagant Christmas decorations – think life-size polar bears and glittering lights. If you get bored with shopping, visit the on-site cinema or one of the many restaurants, serving everything from Japanese fare to Italian cuisine.

In one of Mexico City’s most famous skyscrapers, you’ll find the highly exclusive Paseo Arcos Bosques shopping mall. It sits inside the interconnected tower building just next to the instantly recognizable and appropriately nicknamed structure El Pantalón (the Pants). As well as a Cinépolis cinema, this shopping center plays host to some of the most high-end designers around, such as Kate Spade and Hugo Boss. Sweeping glass walls, shiny floors and high ceilings only add to the upscale feel.

Small but perfectly formed and sitting in the Coyoacán district, made famous for being the home of Frida Kahlo, is the Centro Coyoacán shopping mall. Opened in 1989 and designed by architect Javier Sordo Madaleno, this mall is still going strong and houses more than 100 shops and boutiques. With stores such as Kiehl’s, Mango and Zara, Centro Coyoacán suits all budgets and tastes.

Galerías Insurgentes, with colorful tiled floors and a glass roof, is part of the Galerías brand, which also includes the aforementioned Perisur shopping center. While smaller than Perisur, this shopping mall is still a good choice, with a range of stores that will please everyone, including Build-a-Bear Workshop for the kids, Bari Swimwear for the beachgoers and plenty of cafes for the tired shopper to refresh and recharge. Keep your eyes peeled for the Louvre-style glass pyramid.

Exclusivity is a given at Antara Polanco, as it’s within the parameters of the wealthy Polanco district. This gorgeous open-air Mexican shopping mall is dripping in glamour – even the fast-food court offers high-backed chairs with amusing silhouettes on the back, adding a touch of class to your burger-eating experience. Elegant boutiques such as Benetton and Oysho, beauty stores Sephora and Mac Cosmetics, plus perfumes and jewelry can all be found in Antara. If you visit during December, expect fake snow to fall from the sky during the evenings.

Another Polanco option is the less exclusive Pabellon Polanco, with clean white walls and some lesser-known brands, such as Tanya Moss for jewelry, Fiorentina for clothes and Prada for shoes (not to be confused with the Italian luxury brand of the same name). There are also some great beauty salons if you need a quick blow-dry or manicure. It’s smaller than some of the Mexican malls on our list but also notably quieter.