Monterrey/Outer Monterrey

Outer Monterrey refers to the parts of the city of Monterrey beyond the Centro district. This is a very large area and includes areas north and west of el Centro (including Cumbres and Anahuac) and areas to the south and east of el Centro (including Tecnologico and Contry).

Get in

See the main article for details about getting to Monterrey.

Get around

In addition to city buses, taxis, and rideshares (see Monterrey), the Tec campus operates its own bus service, called Expreso Tec, between the main campus in Colonia Tecnologico (south of downtown/centro) and most residential areas throughout the Monterrey metropolitan area. The service includes nine regular routes that operate all year, and additional routes that operate limited schedules during the semester. The service is for Tec students, staff, and affiliates, but if you are coming to Monterrey for academic purposes, that might be you. A bus pass costs about US$200 per semester.

• Expreso Tec, Avenida Junco de La Vega 2523, 25.65419°, -100.29034°. 2023-03-30

See

North of el Centro

• Cerveceria Cuahtemoc, 25.693984°, -100.317297°, +52 81 8328 5355. Av. Alfonso Reyes #2202 Nte. Monterrey is a historic beer brewing center, whose beers are household names around the world. The historic 19th-century brewery is now used primarily for offices, with actual production happening in the modern plant across Avenida Cuahtemoc. Their outdoor beer garden is open daily to welcome visitors to sit down under the towering oak trees while enjoying free samples of Carta Blanca, Dos Equis, Bohemia, Sol, or one of the other beers brewed here. Tours of the brewery are available only by advance appointment.

• Museo del Vidrio, Esq. Ignacio Zaragoza Magallanes 517, 25.687191°, -100.307872°, +52 81 8863 1052. Inside a bustling commercial glass works is a fascinating museum that features stunningly beautiful works of hand-spun glass. Some craft glass pieces are also for sale in the gift shop.

• Obispado, Calle Fray Rafael Verger, Colonia Obispado, 25.676469°, -100.346510°. Historical site, originally home of the Bishop de Monterrey, with excellent views of the city. Home to a small regional history museum with a clerical bent. The Obispado can be easily spotted by virtue of its enormous Mexican flag, flying proudly beside it. The neighborhood over and around the hill (Colonia Obispado) used to be home of the local high-class, and if you wander through it, you may spot some old mansions and colonial era houses. It's a steep 25 minute walk from the nearest bus stop to the top: Uber might be a better way to get there.

Do

• Estadio Mobil Super (Palacio Sultanes), Av. Manuel Barragán S/N, Niños Héroes, Regina, 25.721365°, -100.309231°, +52 81 2270 2000. Home of the Sultanes de Monterrey, the local Mexican League hometown favorites. Built in 1990 to seat over 40,000 the stadium is today configured for a crowd of about 21,000. 2023-02-07

• Estadio Universitario (University Stadium), Niños Héroes s/n, Ciudad Universitaria (metrorrey to Niños Héroes station), 25.722771°, -100.311561°, +52 81 8158 6450. Home of the Tigres professional soccer team. A new stadium is under construction, also on the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León campus. 2023-02-07

• Arena Monterrey, Ave. Madero 2500 Oriente, 25.68093°, -100.28827°. Large, modern indoor arena that serves as a venue for shows and exhibitions, concerts, and indoor sports such as arena football and indoor soccer.

• Parque Plaza Sesamo, 25.67865°, -100.27639°. Popular theme park featuring all your favorite Sesame Street characters, from Elmo to Big Bird. There's rides for the kids, shows, and an impressive array of water slides to help you cool off during the hottest summer afternoons.

• La Estanzuela, Camino, Antiguo Camino a Valle Alto S/N, La Estanzuela (Located southeast of Monterrey on National Highway 85), 25.550020°, -100.270664°, +52 81 2020-4718. W-Su 08:00-17:30. A large park within the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park. Known for rock climbing, rappelling, and beautiful (steep) hikes. MX$5

Buy

North (and west) of el Centro

• Galerias Monterrey, Av. Insurgentes 2500, Col. Vista Hermosa, 25.681389°, -100.362387°. 11:00-21:00. Large, modern mall in the heart of Monterrey. 2022-10-16

South (and east) of el Centro

• Galerías Valle Oriente, Lázaro Cárdenas 1000, Valle del Mirador (Rio Nazas), 25.63830°, -100.31505°. A huge mall with many different stores and a large foodcourt. See the website for a complete listing. On the North side of the mall is a large Cinepolis movie theater including some "VIP" theaters (triple the price with large comfy seats and waiters).
• Esfera Monterrey, Av. la Rioja 245, Residencial la Rioja, Monterrey (Carreterra Nacional (MEX 85), south), 25.578209°, -100.239039°, +52 8121340200. 11ː00 - 21ː00. Large modern mall anchored by Liverpool, Cinepolis theatres. South end of Monterrey near La Estanzuela. 2023-02-13

Eat

North (and west) of el Centro

• El Gran Pastor, Av. Gonzalitos 702 Sur, 8333, 25.676863°, -100.352770°, +52 81 8129 4453. Norteño cuisine. This is one of the better known places to try cabrito al pastor.
• Mon Paris, Av. Anillo Periferico 1300, San Jéronimo (in Plaza Platino), 25.686822°, -100.375804°, +52 81 81 43 91 90. 08:30 - 23:00. French-inspired coffee shop known for its crepes. (There is another location nearby in Cumbres.) 2022-11-15
• Parrillada Cumbres, Cristóbal Guerra 700, Cumbres 5o. Sector, 25.722915°, -100.392865°, +52 81 8310 3519. 12ː00 - 01ː00. Popular restaurant serving northern Mexican grilled meats. Steaks, arracherra, huaraches and big drinks. Outdoor seating area. 2023-02-08
• La Nacional, Av San Jerónimo 1106, Miravalle, 25.674838°, -100.365142°, +52 81 8347 9205. 13ː00 - 01ː00. High end steakhouse with other grilled meats. A Monterrey tradition with several locations. 2023-02-08
• Los Legendarios Carnes el Carbon, Av Raúl Rangel Frías 470, Burócratas, 25.713916°, -100.359305°, +52 81 8371 4590. 12ː00 - 23ː00. As the name says, they specialize in charcoal-grilled meats. Very popular and very Mexican. The arracheras are always excellent and the frijoles charros are some of the tastiest in the city. 2023-02-08

South (and east) of el Centro

• Las Pampas, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2401, Col. Tecnologico, 25.655165°, -100.293485°, +52 81 8358-2127. Argentinian beef.
• Tacos Fenix, Calle Filosofos 203, Col. Tecnologico, 25.6475560473166°, -100.29096479588168°. 24 hours. Clean, modern diner atmosphere serving up good, cheap tacos 24-hours per day. A location close to the TEC campus assures its popularity when late night munchies strike.
• Frida Chilaquiles Contry, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada Sur 2408, Col. Tecnologico, 25.653419°, -100.294327°, +52 81 2169 2201. 08:00 - 16:00. Fun breakfast/brunch place, bright and colorful decor. 2022-11-13

Drink

• Unicornio Azul, Paseo de los Leones #2329, Cumbres (Sector 2), 25.711851°, -100.372742°, +52 818 300-1140. 20:30 - 02:00, Thursday through Saturday. Monterrey's most popular comedy club. Draws well-known comedians featured on TV (and Netflix) like Pablo Escamilla and has a regular lineup of local professional comedians. Occasional Open Mic nights for budding comedians. Light bar fare (wings, fries, tacos). 2022-11-15

Sleep

North (and west) of el Centro

• Antaris Cintermex (Antarisuites), Av. Fundidora 400, Obrera (directly across the street from Cintermex), 25.677885°, -100.289864°, +52 81 8318-0444. Flashy and pretentious, but clean. Often more affordable rates than nearby Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express. Chili's restaurant on lower level. Free parking. 2022-11-30
• Four Points by Sheraton Galerias Monterrey, Av. Insurgentes 3961, 25.6832671°, -100.3574405°, +52 81 8389-1600. New, corporate-style hotel next to the Galerias Monterrey shopping mall. Somewhat small pool. Spacious, clean, very modern rooms.

South (and east) of el Centro

• Fiesta Inn Monterrey Tecnologico, Av. Eugene Garza Sada 2411, 25.623438873458955°, -100.27327849329433°, +52 81 1677 0200. 201-room hotel in modern tower next door to campus. Onsite gym and small outdoor pool.
• One Monterrey Tecnologico, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2408, 25.653745178287426°, -100.29375173852779°, +52 81 2525 0070. Budget chain hotel, clean, modern rooms. Free breakfast. Close to Tec campus.
• Holiday Inn Express Tecnologico Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 3680, 25.636859999665926°, -100.28346228848817°, +52 81 8329 6000. Modern, clean property. Gym and pool onsite. Free breakfast. Free parking.
• Hotel Boutique de Firma, Av. Revolución 312, Col. Buenos Aires, 25.667742005793325°, -100.2842542498553°, +52 81 1405 6117. Small, independent hotel in the northern part of this district, close to Parque Fundidora. 21 rooms, modern decor, low prices.
• Econosuites Monterrey, Av Revolucion 1060 Sur, Contry, 25.628122°, -100.272762°, +52 81 8349 3681. Barebones no-frills motel, very low rates. 2022-10-20

Connect

See the main article.

Go next

If you're in the southern part of Monterrey, you're already well on your way to the nearby town of Santiago, which has been designated by the Mexican government as a "Pueblo Magico". Santiago is about 32 km southeast of Monterrey on Carreterra Nacional (MEX 85). It is a popular weekend destination for people in the city. The town sits atop a hill above the highway and has a pleasant zocalo with an old church and an excellent restaurant called Las Palomas. Shop the myriad vendors along the Carreterra for a uniquely regional shopping experience, visit the Cascadas Cola de Caballo (Horsetail Falls), do a caving trip (maybe even visit the "Bat Cave" (Cueva de Murcielagos) where millions of bats fly out of their cave at dusk), or maybe kayak on the Presa de Boca. There are also myriad opportunities for outdoor adventures into the adjacent Parque Nacional Cumbres de Monterrey (everything from extreme canyoneering to backcountry horseback rides).