Maybe it's different at night time but during the day it seemed to be for the homeless and didn't feel like a great place to be.
I was traveling solo as a woman and was able to strike up a conversation with a member of a mariachi band (there was one band with a female singer, but they are rare.) I eventually hired a band to sing to me (about 100 pesos) and it was a great experience. Just watching the roaming mariachi bands is a lot of fun though. One note, stick to the largest and brightest streets when leaving the area if late at night (or take a taxi.) It's not located in the best area of town.
I would like to recommend first to hire a driver for your stay in DF if you can. That way you can avoid a lot of misunderstandings or being taken advantage of. Usually you can get a decent one at your hotel. They will wait for you and guide you and protect you. This is handy at plaza garibaldi where there is a lot of drinking going on.
Better to go early to late afternoon. At night there are too many people if all walks of life. Your guide will tell you this. And will stay with you and get you out at the right time.
Food is great, mariachi are lovely, drinks are good. Beware of your bill. Check twice. Leave all empty bottles on the table for your final tally.
A must see when in Mexico. Many groups of Mariachi all dressed up in their finery all singing at the same time for small groups or couples who pay large sums for a song. This is quintessential mexicaness. As the evening progresses you will see people singing along, tears streaming with emotion - it's just so gorgeous. If you can it is worth it to venture into some of the long bars in the neighborhood. You will feel like a character in a Western. This place always brings out the romantic in me. Perhaps in these times best to hire a tour guide to take you but well worth the trouble and expense.
We had a good time at Tenampa and were treated well by staff.
It was the going back to hotel where we had Major problems.
We were led to a "secure" taxi by a security guard on the plaza and agreed on a price with the driver.
When we got to the hotel he demanded twice the amount. I told my daughter to get out on the sidewalk as trouble was brewing. I looked through my purse and told the driver I didn't have enough pesos. I'd already paid 1600 pesos for Garibaldi to Zona Rosa, an ample amount and the pre-arranged amount. He grabbed my purse and started rummaging through it! I grabbed it back and exited, telling him I'd go up and look for more money, just so he'd let me go.
Once we were safely in the lobby I told the staff and they told me not to worry. That driver was outside the hotel doors trying to get me to come back out. Wow. And this was presented as a secure taxi !!. Forget Garibaldi Plaza. Never again for us. Tenampa was a fun place but the taxi ride back was too dangerous for these girls!
