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I Finally Visited Plaza Garibaldi and Here's What I Packed
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items Planning a trip to Plaza Garibaldi for live mariachi in Mexico City but have no idea what to bring, wear, or book? I spent two weeks overthinking it, made a few expensive mistakes, and figured out exactly what made the difference between a chaotic ni...
Sections
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What to Wear to Plaza Garibaldi Without Looking Like a Tourist
Gear That Kept My Night at Garibaldi Stress-Free
How to Actually Book Mariachi and Not Get Ripped Off
Where to Eat and Drink Near Plaza Garibaldi
Stuff I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before My First Night
What to Wear to Plaza Garibaldi Without Looking Like a Tourist
I showed up my first night in cargo shorts and a fanny pack across my chest. A local bartender gently told me I stuck out like a sore thumb. Night two went much better.
Swap those travel pants for something that actually looks intentional. Dark wash blends right in with the crowd at Garibaldi, and the stretch means you can dance without splitting a seam when the tequila kicks in.
Men's Levi's® 511™ Slim Fit Stretch Jeans
Grab these if you want to look sharp but still walk ten miles on cobblestone. My sneakers screamed gringo from a block away. These kept my feet happy and got a compliment from a trumpet player.
New Republic Tan Sonoma Suede Chelsea US Men's 7
Keep it simple. A clean black tee under a jacket is the move for Plaza Garibaldi. I overdressed night one with a button-down and was sweating through it by the second song.
Unisex SUPIMA® Cotton T-Shirt
Temperatures drop fast in Mexico City after 9 PM and I was shivering in a t-shirt like an idiot. This jacket packs down small for daytime but saves you when the breeze rolls through the plaza.
The ReNew Transit Weekender | Dark Forest
Ditch the Apple Watch for one night. A simple analog watch feels right when you're sipping mezcal and listening to live violins. Plus you won't stress about someone swiping something expensive off your wrist.
Weekender 40mm Fabric Strap Watch - TW2W86000
Gear That Kept My Night at Garibaldi Stress-Free
Mexico City pickpockets are real, my phone almost walked away twice. These items let me relax and actually enjoy the music instead of clutching my pockets all night.
Tuck your passport and extra cash in this under your shirt. My buddy lost his wallet at a bar near Garibaldi and spent the next day at the embassy. Don't be that person.
Pacsafe® Coversafe® V75 RFID blocking neck pouch
Use this instead of a bulky wallet. Fits three cards and some pesos, slides into your front pocket, and you won't even feel it. I stopped carrying my regular wallet entirely after this trip.
Peak Design Unisex Mobile Wallet Slim Charcoal
Not for the plaza itself, obviously. But for the Metro ride there and back, these block out the chaos so you can decompress. The noise canceling on Line 3 at rush hour is worth every penny.
Sony Premium Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Your phone will die filming mariachi videos. Mine did, right when a full 12-piece band started playing ‘Cielito Lindo.’ This little brick fits in your pocket and gave me four extra hours.
Anker Nano Magnetic Power Bank
Clip this to your jacket zipper so nobody can casually unzip your pocket in a crowd. Paranoid? Maybe. But a local friend told me to do it and I listened.
Nite Ize S-Biner MicroLock Stainless Steel
How to Actually Book Mariachi and Not Get Ripped Off
First time I negotiated a song price at Garibaldi, I paid triple what I should have. By night three I had the system down. These resources saved me from repeating that mistake.
Read the Garibaldi section before you go. It breaks down typical song prices, which corners of the plaza have better bands, and what times to show up. I highlighted mine like a textbook.
Lonely Planet - Mexico City Travel Guides
Get this before you land so you have data the second you arrive. Trying to negotiate mariachi prices without being able to Google the going rate is how you end up paying 500 pesos for one song.
Mexico eSIM, from $4.00 USD | World's first eSIM store
Download the offline pack before you go. Wi-Fi is spotty around the plaza and you'll want to tell the band exactly which songs you want. My butchered Spanish got laughs but not the right playlist.
Download languages to use offline - Android phone & tablet
Search for guided Garibaldi night tours on here. Having a local guide meant I skipped the tourist-trap bands and went straight to the groups that regulars actually request. Worth every cent.
Best Places To Visit in Mexico City
Try the Mexico City walking tour episodes for context before your trip. Understanding the history of mariachi music made the whole experience hit differently. I teared up during a son jalisciense and I'm not even ashamed.
Rick Steves Audio Europe™ Travel App
Where to Eat and Drink Near Plaza Garibaldi
The restaurants inside the plaza are fine, but the real food is on the surrounding streets and one block over. I ate at the wrong spot night one and paid tourist prices for mediocre birria.
Sit at the bar closest to the stage and order a tequila flight. This place has been open since 1925 and the walls are covered in mariachi history. Skip the food menu though, it's overpriced for what you get.
Salon Ten O Seven
Walk one block north for birria that'll ruin every other birria you ever try. A cab driver told me about this spot and I went back three times. The consomme alone is worth the trip.
PULQUERÍA HERMOSA HORTENSIA
Try pulque here if you've never had it. The mango flavor tastes like a smoothie that quietly gets you drunk. It's a short walk from Garibaldi and the vibe inside is loud, sticky, and perfect.
Las Duelistas
Book a table for a late dinner after the plaza. The mole is incredible and the dining room looks like it hasn't changed since 1912. Bring someone you want to impress because the setting does all the work.
Café De Tacuba
Snag a plate of tacos de suadero from any stall on the left side of the market. For 60 pesos you get a full meal and a front-row seat to the mariachi bands warming up before they head into the plaza.
Mercado San Camilo
Stuff I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before My First Night
Nobody warned me about the altitude headaches, the tipping customs, or the fact that some bands won't play unless you negotiate first. These things would have saved me hours of confusion.
Mexico City sits at 7,350 feet and the altitude plus tequila is a brutal combo. I had a splitting headache by 11 PM my first night. Drinking one of these before heading out made night two completely different.
Liquid I.V. Electrolytes Lemon Lime 16ct
Bring a small notebook to write down song names the bands play. Shazam doesn't work well in a loud plaza and I forgot half the songs I wanted to find later. Old school but it works.
Moleskine Cahiers Lined Notebook Set- Kraft Pocket
For the morning after, when you're recovering in a cafe and don't want screen glare. I read half a novel about Mexican folk music history between espressos. It made the next night at the plaza way more meaningful.
Kindle Paperwhite 11th Generation
Toss this in your jacket pocket. Bathrooms near Garibaldi don't always have paper towels or toilet paper. I learned this the hard way at 1 AM and I'll leave it at that.
Sea to Summit Pocket Towel | REI Co-op
Use one cube just for your Garibaldi night outfit so it stays wrinkle-free in your bag. I pulled out a crumpled shirt my first evening and spent 20 minutes trying to steam it with the hotel shower. Never again.
Ultralight Packing Cube Set