Mexico Anniversary

First Wedding Anniversary
Dec 25, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026
10 days - Dive certification - NYE in the city
Cozumel Dec 25-29 CDMX Dec 29 - Jan 4

Book Before Dec 24

Diving

ScubaTony
All 3 Agree
Marina Fonatur - 6 divers max - 7:30am departure beats crowds
Small boats, permanent crew (Miguel, Cris, Israel), valet service. Dec 28 request: "First dive together as newly certified couple - Palancar Gardens + Columbia Shallows."
Email Adam
Underwater Photographer
Worth It
$180 via ScubaTony - Or GoPro rental $45
For Dec 28 "first dive together" milestone. Professional captures the moment.

Top Restaurant Picks

K'ooben Laab
All 3 AgreeDec 27
Av. 30 - Hidden rooftop - Only 20 seats - $$
"Laboratorio de cocina creativa" - Owner Antonia makes pasta, bread, even sodas from scratch. ScubaBoard: "One of the best meals I've had anywhere."
Call +52 987 100 4726
Buccanos at Night
All 3 AgreeDec 28
North hotel zone - Oceanfront - $$$
Cozumel's most romantic dinner. Torches, candlelight, sunset. Almond-crusted mahi, seafood bolognese. Request outdoor patio.
WhatsApp to Reserve
La Perlita
Dec 26
Family-owned - Cash only - $ - Walk-in
They show you the fresh catch before cooking. Coconut-breaded fish, ceviche. Thursdays: 2-for-1 lionfish.
La Cocay - Mediterranean-Mexican garden settingAll 3
Locals' special occasion spot. Backup if K'ooben full. Walk-in or call.
Guido's - Waterfront institutionAll 3
Lush courtyard, fresh fish. Walk-in only. Thu-Sat 2-11pm.
El Pique - Tacos al PastorAll 3
Local artery on Av 30. Opens 6pm. Beloved by locals.
COZ Coffee - Early breakfastAll 3
Opens 6:30am. Own-roasted beans. Famous peanut butter coffee.
Casa Mission - Colonial haciendaGemini
Historic, live music, incredibly romantic but more touristy.
Fuego - Chef Sergio TurrizaClaude
Farm-to-table, some say "best on island." Less romantic setting.
La Conchita del Caribe - Casual mariscosGPT
South of Centro. Ceviche, big portions. Kitchen closes 7:30pm. $
Bajau - Baja-Med fusionGemini
Steak and seafood, not spring break vibe. Night 1 option.
Los Seras - Tacos al PastorGemini
El Pique's rival. Endless local debate about which is better.
El Sazon del Camaron - Shrimp TacosClaude
Transversal road. Breaded shrimp tortas.
Pescaderia San Carlos - Fish market + eateryGPT
Hidden gem. Ceviche, whole fish. Closes mid-afternoon.
Blue Angel - Diver's OmeletClaude
Opens early. The full works breakfast. Dec 28 morning.
Ix Kool - Mayan gastronomyGemini
Ancestral techniques. Royal Village location. Unique.

Sunset & Experiences

El Palomar
1903 Governor's House
5 min from ferry - "Best mezcal in Mexico" - $5-12 drinks
Wrap-around porches, art exhibitions, old Havana vibe. Arrive 30 min before sunset. Pre-dinner spot Dec 27 & 28.
Private El Cielo Boat
Optional Splurge
$200-350 for two - Book 1+ week ahead
"The Heaven" - sandbar, crystal-blue water, starfish. Private trip for two (not group catamaran).
Cozumel Pearl Farm - Only active pearl farm in CaribbeanAll 3
Secluded beach, pearl jewelry. $79-99 pp. Book ahead.
Nachi Cocom - Exclusive beach clubAll 3
Max 100-130 guests. $65 all-inclusive. Book weeks ahead for holiday.
Playa Palancar - "Feels like private beach"All 3
Peaceful, rustic. $20 with lounger. 30 min from downtown. Bring water shoes.
Malecon Walk - Waterfront boardwalkAll 3
Free. Locals strolling, wade into water at sunset. Simple romantic.
Mayan Essence Massage - Couples massageClaude
Therapists Lupita & Ivan. "12/10" reviews. In-room option. $60-80/hr pp. WhatsApp 24h ahead.
Night SUP with LED Lights - Paddleboard after darkClaude
Underwater lights, watch marine life glow. $50-70 pp. DeLille Sports (Hotel Barracuda).
Kaokao Chocolate Factory - Artisanal chocolateGemini
Small maker, Mayan history, downtown. ~$30-50. 1 hour.
Money Bar at Dzul-Ha - Snorkeling + sunsetClaude
10 min south. No entry fee, pay for food/drinks. Relaxed, locals/divers.
No Name Bar - Relaxed oceansideGPT
One drink, watch boats. Post-dive exhale. Open until 11pm.

Plan B: If Norte Winds Cancel Diving

Jade Cavern "Cenote Chempita" - Cave cenote ON Cozumel, no ferry (~$109)
Punta Sur Eco Beach Park - Lighthouse, lagoons, massage by the sea ($24)
San Gervasio Mayan Ruins - Temple to Ixchel (goddess of fertility!) ($12)
East Coast Loop - Chen Rio, Coconuts bar, wild waves. Rent Jeep ~$45/day

Restaurants

Rosetta
All 4 AgreeAnniversary
Roma Norte - Italian-Mexican - $$$$ - Dec 30
18th-c mansion. Chef Elena Reygadas (World's Best Female Chef 2023). Seasonal Italian-Mexican. Matches your Almanac sensibility.
Email to Reserve
Contramar
All 4 Agree
Roma Norte - Seafood - $$$ - Walk-in only
Chef Gabriela Camara's 25-year institution. Red/green grilled fish is iconic. Tuna tostadas. Arrive 12:30 PM sharp.
Expendio de Maiz
All 4 AgreeEssential
Roma Norte - Heirloom Masa - $$ - Cash only
No sign, no menu, four tables. Heirloom corn, tortillas made in front of you. "How hungry? Allergies? Cravings?" Expect 1-2 hr wait.
Maximo Bistrot - Farm-to-tableAll 4
Eduardo Garcia. No pretense, daily changing. Backup if Rosetta full. OpenTable.
Pujol - World #6All 4
Enrique Olvera. "Mole Madre." Probably can't get reservation.
Quintonil - Tasting menuAll 4
Jorge Vallejo. Garden setting. Book on Tock.
Los Cocuyos - Tacos de SuaderoAll
Greasy, authentic, cheap. Centro.
Panaderia Rosetta - Elena's bakeryAll
Guava pastries. Walk-in.
Grana - Hidden 16th-c buildingClaude
Reservation-only. Chef Jorge Diez (F&W 2024). NYE dinner option. Call directly.
Salazar - 8th floor ReformaGemini
Angel de la Independencia views. NYE backup with great vantage. OpenTable.
Azul Historico - Colonial courtyardGPT
Centro. Traditional Mexican. Safe backup, easy walk-in.
Limosneros - Historic housePerplexity
Centro, refined Mexican.
Nicos - 65-year heritageGemini
Claveria neighborhood. Generational recipes. Far from Centro (30 min).
Sud 777 - Volcanic stone settingPerplexity
Edgar Nunez. Pedregal. Contemporary. OpenTable.
Caracol de Mar - Olvera's casual seafoodGPT
Walk-in. Less formal.
El Hidalguense - Lamb barbacoaGemini
Specialist. Walk-in.
Taqueria Orinoco - Monterrey-styleClaude
Roma/Condesa. Flour tortillas. Walk-in.
El Vilsito - Mechanic shop by day, tacos by nightClaude
Narvarte. Walk-in 9pm+. Authentic late-night.
Tacos El Califa de Leon - New Michelin starPerplexity
Walk-in.
El Huequito - Original pastor since 1959GPT
Centro. Walk-in.
Lardo - BrunchClaude
Perfect Roma brunch. Walk-in.
Cafe de Tacuba - Since 1912GPT
Centro. Traditional. Beautiful tiles.

Culture

Casa Luis Barragan
All 4 Agree#1 Priority
Tacubaya - UNESCO World Heritage - $400 MXN
Only individual Latin American building with UNESCO status. Light becomes material. Book 2+ weeks ahead - only 12 per tour.
Book Tour
Templo Mayor
All 4 Agree
Centro Historico - Aztec Ruins - $100 MXN
Aztec temple foundations under colonial cathedral. 500 years coexisting. The "historical layering" you love.
Palacio de Bellas Artes - Art Deco + muralsAll 4
Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros. Free murals. Walk-in. Centro.
Anahuacalli - Diego Rivera pyramid museumAll 4
Volcanic stone, pre-Hispanic collection. Coyoacan. 45 min from Centro.
Casa Gilardi - Last Barragan residentialAll
Pool room is iconic. casagilardi.mx to book.
UNAM Campus - UNESCO siteAll
Murals, volcanic gardens. Free, self-guided. Jan 2-3.
Mercado de Medellin - Real marketAll 4
South American vendors. Resisted gentrification. Roma.
SEP Murals - Hidden Diego RiveraClaude
Courtyard, FREE, no crowds. Just walk in. Centro.
Biblioteca Vasconcelos - "Megabiblioteca"Claude
Suspended shelves. Free. Buenavista.
Soumaya Museum - Slim collectionPerplexity
Wild architecture. Free. Polanco.
Museo Jumex - ContemporaryClaude
David Chipperfield building. Polanco.
Palacio Nacional - Diego Rivera muralsGPT
Free. Centro.
Xochimilco sunset trajinera - Private boatGemini
Colorful boats. Bring wine. 45 min from Centro.
Mercado de San Juan - GourmetGPT
Exotic meats, high quality. Centro.
San Angel Bazar Sabado - Artisan marketGemini
Saturday only. Crafts.

NYE Flow (Dec 31)

Recommended Flow

5:00 PM🚶Walk Centro (Zocalo lit for holidays)
7:00 PM🥃Bosforo - mezcal dive, no sign
9:00 PM🍽Grana - hidden, reserve ahead
11:30 PM🚕Taxi to Angel de la Independencia
12:00 AM🎉Midnight at the Angel
12:30 AM🎷Zinco Jazz or Midnight Monkey

Bars

Handshake Speakeasy
#1 N. America
Juarez - Cocktails - ~$300 MXN/drink
Best Bar in the World 2024. 34 seats behind door marked "13." Book 2 weeks ahead.
OpenTable
Tlecan
All 4 Agree
Roma Norte - Mezcal education - #3 N. America
"Place of fire." Former Pujol beverage director. Only artisanal spirits, focus on female distillers. Best for learning.
Zinco Jazz Club
All 4 Agree
Centro - Former bank vault - $290 MXN cover
Underground jazz. Call to confirm Dec 31: +52 55 5512 3369
Parker & Lenox - Jazz speakeasyAll
Condesa. Jazz + food. Less intimate than Zinco.
La Clandestina - Rustic mezcalAll
Condesa. Walk-in. Good casual.
Licoreria Limantour - CocktailsAll
Roma. Walk-in. More cocktail than mezcal.
Hanky Panky - SpeakeasyAll
Through fake phone booth behind Oaxacan restaurant. Reservation-only.
Bosforo - Mezcal dive, no signClaude
Centro. Walk-in 7pm. Authentic unmarked door.
Midnight Monkey - NYE confirmedClaude
$2,800 MXN. Open bar, live jazz, countdown. Roma.
Jules Basement - Modern jazzClaude
Under taco spot. Roma.
Tokyo Music Bar - Audiophile listeningGemini
Hi-fi vinyl, Japanese whisky. Roma.
Baltra Bar - Tropical cocktailsClaude
Roma. Walk-in. Island vibe.
Fifty Mils - Four SeasonsPerplexity
Polanco. Upscale hotel bar.
Eno - Natural wineGemini
Roma. Wine-forward.
Salon Los Angeles - Salsa/cumbiaGPT
Guerrero. Historic dance hall.
Mama Rumba - Salsa dancingPerplexity
Roma. Live bands.

10-Day Overview

🤿

Cozumel

Dec 25-29 - Dive certification
Dec 25
Thu - Arrival
Ferry in - Check in Coralia - Verify ScubaTony - Malecon sunset - Guido's
Dec 26
Fri - Dive 1
Kamya: OW 1-2 / You: Refresher - La Perlita - La Cocay dinner
Dec 27
Sat - CERTIFIED!
Kamya: OW 3-4 DONE! - Tacos - El Palomar sunset - K'ooben Laab
Dec 28
Sun - Together
First dive together - East Side loop - El Palomar - Buccanos
Dec 29
Mon - Travel
Breakfast - Flight to MEX 1:15pm - Domingo Santo - Centro walk - Azul Historico
🎺

Mexico City

Dec 29 - Jan 4 - NYE celebration
Dec 30
Tue - Anniversary
Templo Mayor - Expendio de Maiz - Bellas Artes - Rosetta 🎉
Dec 31
Wed - NYE
Casa Barragan - Rest - Bosforo - Grana - Angel midnight - Zinco
Jan 1
Thu - Recovery
Late checkout - Brunch Roma - Roma Airbnb - Parque Mexico - Tlecan
Jan 2
Fri - Peak
Casa Barragan (if not 31) - Contramar 12:30 - Anahuacalli - Handshake
Jan 3
Sat - Final
Mercado Medellin - SEP murals / UNAM - Pack - Maximo Bistrot
Jan 4
Sun - Home
Checkout - Light lunch - MEX airport - Flight to SFO 5pm

Action Checklist

Book This Week

Decisions Together

Quick Contacts

K'ooben Laab
+52 987 100 4726
Buccanos
+52 1 987 114 5607
ScubaTony
adam@scubatony.com
Domingo Santo
+52 55 5521 0688
Rosetta
+52 55 5533 7000
Zinco Jazz
+52 55 5512 3369
US Embassy
+52 55 5080 2000
Emergency
911