Monterrey - City of Steel and Glass

Many friends had recommended Pacifica, which sits on the second floor on a small mall (Plaza Real San Agustin) not too far from Hotel Camino Real, where we were staying.

The restaurant's ambiance imitates a beach bistro, lots of ocean paraphernalia (fishnet, surf board, ship items and paintings, etc) with a rustic wood finish. The entrance is marked by a surf board at the parking lot level. After that you climb to the upper level and find lots of tables, some at the terrace. Lots of nice details.

In the "nice" part of the city -Valle Oriente- prices are very high when you visit a restaurant, so you would expect an above the average service. I was somehow disappointed as the service was slow and with errors. Food quality was ok, fresh sea food is normal in Monterrey as the Gulf Coast is a mere 4 hours drive. But I was not impressed by the chef nor the size of the portions.
We ordered a tuna tostada for starter and what arrived was a nice looking but very skimpy little square of toasted tortilla with a very transparent thin "slice" of fish on top. I don't like nouvea cuissine, it just means that portions are smaller and prices higher. After that it took a loooooooong time for the main dish to arrive due to some mistakes with the order taking (or so the waiter told us), the place was not even 1/3 full, so I can't understand why the service was not efficient, we didn't ordered anything really fancy.

My friends ordered the langostinos and said were good, but not spectacular, bummer. I ordered BBQ shrimps but wasn't very happy with them, I felt like I could get something better at Popeye's which I really dislike, it was like having breaded shirmps with a very salty ketchup dressing. Maybe a bad day, others friends have spoken very highly of this place, but I don't think I will return due to the prices and meager portions.

My recommendation would be to try La Anacua, very laid back ambiance, excellent simple dishes and prices you can't bet. I have yet to write a review of them, meanwhile you can also try La Pesca, look at my review La Pesca at IgoUgo

First, there is no category for candy store here in IgoUgo, so I had to put this review here.

When you are strolling at the pedestrian street near Macroplaza you can see lots of little stands with local candy, very tasty and made with walnuts, honey, caramel, etc. All very good, BUT... it may be a bit hard-old. To get the best "Glorias" you need to go to the source, and I found it thanks to a great local friend. He insisted I go with him as the place was not very far (5-10 min by car) from Cintermex.

So we went to a part of the city that tourist will never visit on a regular tour of the city. Give the taxi driver the address, it's just two blocks from the "Y" Subway station.

When we got off the car the first thing that knocked me (besides the heat) was the mind blogging aroma of freshly baked cookies and other sweets. I really had a hard time concentrating in my way in to the store, all I had in my head was an irresistible urge to find the source of the wonderful smell, I quickly located the huge ovens (3 or 4 wow) on my right just before crossing the entrance of the store. Once inside, everywhere I looked, it was packed with candies of all shapes, textures, colors and wrappings.

In Monterrey they have a candy called "Gloria" literally "Glory" and it's totally appropriate, it is some sort of nougat made with goat milk, walnuts and I don't know what else, but is amazingly good. Those sold at the airport stores has been on storage so long that are rock hard, but here at the source, it is very smooth and silky, they sell it wrapped or -I couldn't believe it- by the pound, they serve it with a big spoon.

The prices are not dirty cheap, but you get what you pay for, I spend like 40usd and bought 4-5 different kinds of candy as gifts for my family and friends and a large stock for me (sadly they didn't last long after arriving back at home) and that made me very popular for the week, but now I'm in trouble because next time I travel to Monterrey I'm required not to come home empty-handed. ;)

This city is full of hardworking people, a very entrepreneur kind who fight against the climate and adversity of modern life.

I GO to Monterrey now and then and stay in nice hotels because of my job, so I can describe the facilities for busy business guys, and this city has a lot of things to offer when U GO there.

Being close to Texas has a lot of benefits for the English-speaking tourist/businessman. Monterrey has lots of people that will understand what you say, and even if they don't speak a single drop, they will try to help you in more than one way.

Be careful, as weather is very extreme. You can get heat stroke or freeze to death depending on the time of year you visit.

There are many interesting touristy spots in the surrounding areas: caverns with amazing stalactite/stalagmites, refreshing waterfalls, sites for trekking and camping, etc., so the official nickname of Monterrey is the City of Mountains.

The ambience is very similar to Texas, but with a Mexican flavour. One of the biggest industries here was a beer company. They developed their brewery to such an extent that they needed to establish a steel mill, glass factory, and enormous polytechnic university, thus they renovated lots of businesses that way.

Quick Tips:

Places to enjoy in Monterrey:

Macroplaza - The main plaza with fountains, parks, museums, theaters, and the cathedral, all on huge rectangle

Barrio Viejo - Old Neighborhood is the translation, it is 1 block from the Macroplaza and houses several restaurants and nightclubs

Parque Fundidora - This used to be a steel reprocessing plant, but instead of tearing it down, it became a park, and the main machinery was restored to serve as decoration. In the park there are three auditoriums, Arena Monterrey, Auditorio CocaCola, and Auditorio Elizondo, where you can enjoy great concerts and shows. The park also serves as a racing strip for the Cart Serial. Inside the park limits there is Plaza Sesamo (Sesame Street) theme park, which includes a water park.

Planetario Alfa - A planetarium, interactive science museum, and IMAX theater

And that is just a little list of what is INSIDE the city, and the surrounding areas are full of outdoor activities.

In the nearby area (1 or 2 hours afar):
Grutas de Garcia: Garcia grottoes, very impressive and well developed for tourism, there is a cable gondola that takes you to the entrance in a high part of a mountain, the whole cave system is inside a mountain!!!!

Cascada Cola de Caballo: Horse tail fall, a very refreshing water fall and nearby area for holding picnics.

Presa de la boca: a water reservoir where you can practice water sports and enjoy a nice day at the beach.

Best Way To Get Around:

There are two subway lines linking some important areas of the city, but they are not enough for the business traveler and the bus system is not developed enough, so stick to taxis or rent a car. Driving here requires a highly skilled driver with enough courage to deal with the other fast drivers and interesting turning options.

This hotel is the best option if you have business to do at Cintermex, the exposition center just a few steps from the hotel. It is so convenient that if the weather is not cooperating (extreme heat or hard rain), there is a direct covered bridge linking the two buildings. You can't beat that!

I stayed on the second floor in a double-bed room. It's very spacious for two people. There is cable TV, and you get a small, round table with a couple chairs if you need to do some work and use your computer. For Internet, you need to dial up, as there is no high-speed internet, but you have the option of wireless coverage in the lobby area.

My room cost came with a buffet breakfast. You get the usual fare: eggs different styles, hot cakes, fruit, cereal, etc., but being in Mexico, you also get chilaquiles, refried beans, huevos en salsa verde, menudo soup, and pozole (the corn and beef soup). Another Mexican extra is that you get about eight different kind of juice options (papaya, grapefruit, cactus and pineapple, carrot, etc.). The waiters and waitresses do a good job and are very friendly and helpful. I noticed that there were a lot of non-guests having breakfast, as this is the nearest place to the expo centre, but also because of the good service/quality.

After 2pm, you have the option of a great sushi bar with excellent service and a variety of food. Rolls are very fresh and tasty, but they tend to put a little bit too much rice on them (the girls in our group had some trouble fitting one whole piece in their mouths). They are still very good. The place closes at 11pm, or midnight if there are lots of groups in house.

I never had to use room service, but there are pizzas available for about $10, delivered from the hotel's kitchen to your room until midnight. This is good to know in case you are kept busy working all day long.

The atmosphere of the hotel is in between casual and business, as this city has very hot weather and people seldom wear a suit. See Holiday Inn Fundidora.

This is a great place to stay. It is very comfy and in a great location. I go to this place on business trips, as it is very centrally located, a couple blocks from the Macroplaza (main plaza of Monterrey) and close to restaurants and shops.

For us Internet-aholics, there is free Internet access in the lobby via wireless coverage, and all the rooms get free high-speed wall plugs, so for business or leisure, you have it covered.

The hotel has an indoor pool and fitness center with a sauna (separate genders). The only complaint about the pool is that it always has a lot of chlorine; you can even smell it when standing a few meters from it. The indoor factor is important, as the heat in Monterrey is a big issue in spring and summer, but the cold weather in winter makes it imperative to have a roof to make it enjoyable.

The restaurant is my favorite place in this hotel, as it's divided into little shops: one for Italian pasta, one for Mexican specialties, another for the grilled meat, and the last for the ice cream and desserts. Additionally, you have the salad bar and fruit bar. All the food is available in a buffet style, but with much better quality, as they prepare your order on the spot the moment you ask for it, so you don't get food that has being waiting for many hours on heaters. Instead, you get to wait a few minutes, but it is completely worth it, as they make it to your specific taste and the portions you desire. It's open 24 hours a day. There is also a á la carte restaurant, but I never tried it, as it looks more snobby, pricey, and deserted. In the lobby area, you can also find a coffee shop and a sushi bar conveniently located.

The lobby of the restaurant offers bar service and entertainment every night (stops around 1 or 2am), but don't worry, your room has double doors and double seals, so if you want to sleep instead of hanging at the bar, you can do it easily.

BUT, there is something special about sleeping in this hotel. They provide a list of tips that help you sleep easier, faster, and better, they also provide a curtain clip to make the windows light-proof if you need to sleep late into the day. And to top all that, they provide seven different pillows in different sizes and softness for you to choose, which is just amazing.

Their website

This place is just across Cintermex, the huge Convention-Expo center in Parque Fundidora. It's a little bit farther than the Holiday Inn but has a bridge to bypass the busy Ave. Fundidora--only very brave tourists or locals would think of trying to cross the avenue at the corner, even with a traffic light right there. People in Monterrey drive like they'll score a point for every pedestrian they hit!

This hotel suite is small but comfortable and a little bit more affordable in the long run (Rates per night $99-120 Dlls single or double) than the other hotels nearby. If you are staying a long period, say 5-8 nights, you will fill a little bit more at home here as you get a small living room and mini-kitchenette (mini fridge, microwave oven and a sink, you can ask the maid to get you some plates and silverware) separated from your bedroom so you can have guests or visitors for business purposes and still have your personal belongins siting in privacy.

The place has Internet computers available for rent; you have to buy a card to get access on a per-day basis behind the reception. With the other hotels offering free internet access via wireless coverage in their lobbies or with a wall plug in the rooms, the manager should start thinking of it more seriously.

There is a small outdoor swiming pool at the roof wich is very quiet and great for suntanning if you happen to get a few hours free. There is a telephone available in case you want bar and snacks service over there. Which leads me to talk about their restaurant, the service is okay--nothing to write home about, but with good selections on their menu, as people in Monterrey like to eat well. Also there is a bar that stays open until late in the morning, the offer some snacks in case you missed dinner, order the tostadas de marlin, they are really good and extremely cheap and filling, but also they have some seafood and steak options in case you want a herthier meal. Prices are very reasonable.

The staff is very friendly and helpful; in my 4-week stay, I can't remember any bad attitude or lack of helpfulness, so kudos to them all.

I only spent a night at this hotel on a business trip, but what an incredible experience! This is an old hotel with all the elegance and tradition of those catering to wealthy and demanding customers.

One thing that you can't avoid is the mahogany - it is all over the place: in the walls, in the stairs in the doors, in the corridors… hey, this place is worth 1 million just in wood. The decoration is in very good taste, with magnificent chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and old oil paintings in the walls, nice carpets, and super-comfortable sofas in the lobby.

The service is something to talk about and, in one simple word, excellent. I had no complains I can think of, from the maids to the bellboys to the waiters at the excellent restaurant, all of them were cheerful and attentive to your needs, and fast!!!

The location is very good, just in the center of town, and you can reach the touristy spots in no time.

You need to try the restaurant, which is unbelievably good, from the quality of the food to the variety, but the thing that made me even happier was that the service was excellent. They know their job and do it with a smile, and at the same time, don't make you wait any more than absolutely necessary and always have a helpful recommendation. Great job, guys!!!!

Finishing line: If you can afford this hotel (or your boss sends you there, like in my case), don't hesitate for a millisecond.

The food in this place is great. It’s Mexican country with style.

The ambience is a little bit snobby, the decorations are made of dark wood, and there are small chandeliers, but even after all those negative points, I enjoyed the place, service, and food. Fortunately, I was not paying, as it is a little bit on the expensive side, but worth it. The restaurant is located in the Del Valle neighborhood, which is the nice area of the city.
As we were a large group of 12, we ordered some snacks to share, which included atropellado (shredded cabrito with a tomato sauce), cabrito, chicharron, guacamole, garlic mushrooms, etc., all of them accompanied by hot tortillas, some crunchy tostadas, some big molcajetes (stone mortars to blend the ingredients into fresh salsa - not too spicy fortunately), and small dishes with chilies (be very careful, as they are smaller than a peanut but stronger than the jalapeños you are used to).

Drink service was a little slow all night, even with the tequila and coffee. Other than that, they have a nice selection of wines and spirits to please the connoisseur.

Most of the people in our group ordered meat in several variations, ranging from fillet mignon to cabrito al horno (tender goat baked in the oven), pollo en mole (chicken with mole sauce made with chocolate, several varieties of chilies, cinnamon, lot of species, fried banana, etc), and arrachera (very tender, slim beef fillet), but there is a large selection of seafood and sushi besides offering ostrich, duck, and other birds. The food was good to excellent, the only one lacking flavor being the pollo en mole.
Our waiters were very friendly, joked a little with us, and made our visit a very enjoyable one. When the dessert time came, it was a great feast for the eye and the palate. Here is the sampler tray, and the cakes were so tempting that we had to share again and order several different cakes to taste them all, from mango mousse to Arabian layered cake, a cheesecake with strawberry sauce, dark chocolate cake, and apple strudel. All of them were very good.


To finish off a great meal and accompany the desserts, we had cafe de olla, which is made the way Mexican families serve coffee on ranches. They boil the coffee with unrefined dark sugar and cinnamon. It's strong and sweet. Other guys in our party asked for stronger liquors to go along their cigars.

Overall, it was a great dinning experience.
Their website, El Granero Grill, is only in Spanish, but you will be able to check out their menu and some pictures of their dishes.

This is a very traditional place to eat, very Monterrey, and cheap. This restaurant has been open since 1963 and is very well-known for its huge tostadas.

A tostada is a deep-fried tortilla that is completely flat and crunchy. In Maderos, they make them big. The normal size of tostadas in central Mexico is about the size of your clenched fist, but in Monterrey, they are about twice that size. They will put shredded chicken to cover it, not sparsely but generously, and then add sour cream, cheese, and another tostada as a lid in case you want to eat it like a sandwich. But most probably, you won't be able to fit that enormous tostada in your mouth. It is not an easy task, so they wisely provide you with a fork.

The price for the normal tostada is less than $1.50 (May 2005), and for the special one, it is $3, which by all means is extremely cheap. I almost wasn't able to finish my special one and a soda, but it was so good that I had to make the extra effort.

The also have tacos de pollo and tacos de papa, again, in the huge tortilla they like in this city. For a more complete meal, they have caldo de pollo (chicken soup) with rice and veggies and pollo en mole (mole is a spicy salsa made with several different varieties of chiles, chocolate, cinnamon, fried banana, lots of different species, and chicken broth. It has to be fried and blended in a lengthy and laborious process).

In other restaurants, they call the big tostada a Siberia, because of the topped cream in reference to the "snow" in that part of Russia.

How to get there: it's very easy, Madero is a long wide avenue that comes from downtown and goes on the side of Parque Fundidora, just one block after the park you will find a pedestrian bridge and Madero's is located at it's foot on the right. There is a big sign from the restaurant on the side of the bridge, so it's difficult to miss it.

Bear with me on this. Follow directions and you won't be disappointed. This only works before 11 in the morning.

Starting at Cintermex Expo center, cross the pedestrian bridge towards AntariSuits and go toward Carl's Jr. - but you won't be eating there - and past the restaurant and before you cross the street and get into Popeye's (seafood, supposed to be Cajun-style, but I have my doubts - big ones), turn left. You will see two pick-up trucks selling food (pictures to come after August, I promise) the first one says "Tacos al Vapor", and the second one has "Tacos Remy" on top of it, on the back door you will find signs with all the tacos available (they take down the ones that are not available).

Here you will find a Mom-and-Pop little cart that is extremely clean and well kept. The husband will take care of the sodas and is the cashier, the wife will prepare the tacos and tortas. They both are very friendly and and nice people to talk with. Their tacos are excellent--you can choose from beans, potato, deshebrada (shreaded beef); machacado con huevo (egg and dried beef); rib (Mexican-style, not Tony Roma's); steak; chilorio (pork cooked in a tomatoe and mild chile guajillo), etc. They are formidable, and they are so convenient that you can try different ones every time you go, but you need to go early, as supplies begin to run out by mid-morning, and if you have a favorite, chances are that it will be gone before you can order a second order.

Prices are extremely cheap at about $0.55 per taco (June 2004, but coming back in 2005).

The restaurant is not located in a nice neighborhood, nor is it on a really wide, busy street, so we didn't pay much attention to it, but our local friends recommended we meet there, so we went for lunch.

The inside is not richly decorated, but it has all the sea paraphernalia: nets, dissected fish, shells, palm paintings, seagulls, etc. The chairs were comfortable, and it seemed like an average place to eat. The good side of it is in the kitchen!

I'm not a big fan of seafood, but this place has very good dishes and combinations, the cooks really take care of you, and everybody was so satisfied, we had to repeat the visit one week later.

First visit I had the fish fillet with cilantro sauce. The flavor was excellent and not too "fishy" nor too bland. The cook did a perfect job at the cost of having to wait for what seemed a long time, but every minute was worth it, so be prepared to order an appetizer, because the salsa and chips at the table won't be enough.

On my last visit I ordered Filete Gratinado -melted cheese covered fish fillet- and it was really good, fish flavor was not strong and it wasn't as greasy as I have had in other lesser restaurants, again, cheers to the cook. This is a place I will come back every time I´m in Monterrey.

My friends ordered ceviche, which is raw fish, shrimps, or oysters "cooked" chemically with lime juice and tomatoes, cilantro, onion, some Tabasco sauce, and other species. It may sound gross to some of you, but it is much better that it sounds. It is not like eating sushi or sashimi. Here the fish flavor changes radically, as it's not raw anymore. I had empanadas de cazon, which are fried variations of tacos stuffed with shark meat. All of them are very good, and you wish you had more room in your stomach to order another round, but we had ordered the main dish already.

For dessert, as Monterrey is so hot, we ordered frozen oranges filled with orange sherbet. It's so good and refreshing, and it won't seem too heavy after an incredible meal.

The prices are very reasonable, and the portions are huge and the cooks really know their job and like it. Examples: Shrimps $7 - $11; catfish fillet $6 - $11; whole fish $7; ceviche $3.50 small - $12 jumbo. All prices as May 2007.

There are some mariachi and Jarocho bands playing live music for you, but we opted for a secluded corner in the last room to enjoy our chat between friends.

There is another location I have never tried at Matamoros #318 Poniente, between Pino Suarez and Cuauhtemoc. Phone: 8342-9523

Very popular, all guys love it as they are Beef Tacos Sonora Style. What makes them different from Tacos de Asada? Simple, the meat may be the same but the flavor and the toppings make the difference, like having cucumbers, cabbage and aluminium wrapped onions to go with your taco, it makes a different experience.

The names also change, you have , Caramelos, grilled meat with melted cheese; Lorenzas which is only a Tostada with cheese but don´t be confused by that simple detail.

Price per taco goes from 16 to 20 Mexican pesos (Feb 2008) depending if you want the melted cheese (highly recommended) or not. All the toppings are available at the central salsa bar, from the grilled onions and potatoes to the cucumber (great and refreshing idea, plus is healthy) and red onion in vinaigrette. Don´t forget the salsas: green with avocado, spicy red or sliced jalapeños. And lastly, if you don't put some limón (lime in the USA) you are not having a real Mexican taco.

Side orders, yes of course, they will be a nice addition to your meal. Ask for frijoles charros (beans with tomato, onion, chile and bacon) or a stuffed potatoe with cheese or even with more meat.

Service is not exactly fast, but considering the amount of tacos each customer ask, I forgive them because the food is wonderful, but wish that they would put more attention on grabbing orders.

One last thing you should notice, we Mexicans love to put lime on our food, especially on tacos, try it, you won´t go back!!!!

There are two locations for Rincon Sonorense, one in Centrito Valle and the second near Tec de Monterrey, just ask any cabbie and they will know.

Really great and fast, fast yummy food!This guy took lessons from Henry Ford in the way of mechanized chain production methods. They have established a way to make really good tacos de arrachera in a very speedy way, faster than eating at McD! and much much tastier.Even with mass production tactics, they don´t leave the traditional flavor, they make the orders on the spot and the tortillas are freshly made on site, no plastic bagged ones are used here, and everybody loves it, they are richer in flavor and texture.You may order your tacos in different sizes and combos, with melted Asadero Cheese or with Avocado. Try them with all the options, you won´t regret it, after eating beef with Asadero Cheese you would wonder why they put the cheddar cheese on hamburgers!They close late for Monterrey standards, and also the neighbourhood. No credit cards are accepted but there is an ATM across the street on the gas station.

El Rey del Taco (King of taco), was recommended by many locals and as I was in the area I gave them a try, very worth it.

The place was not far from my hotel at Plaza Fiesta San Agustin (a small cab fare of around us$3 one way), and I was lucky because I was on the expensive side of town, but just crossing the tunnel north I was in the normal people area and just a few blocks and six minutes from this taco place.

There are other tacos in the area, but my friends directed me to El Rey, and I'm glad, the meat is very fresh (they have no leftovers because the high flow of customers) and the cooks are experts at preparing the plates.

I tried both the beef and the "trompo - al pastor" just for comparison. My verdict: Monterrey is king at beef, and "trompo" is just an excuse to have pork meat, nothing very special, but enjoyable. On the side I recommend the frijoles -complimentary- or a stuffed potato (they are huge, be aware).

In other places I have to order two or three drinks to satisfy my thirst, but here the glasses are very tall and one was enough to last me for my whole meal.

El Rey is one of the places that are open all night, so is going to be highly on my future visits to Monterrey as my job ends very late, sometimes way after midnight and we are always scouting for places that are open so late, that are affordable and more important: tasty. This place runs high in all those areas, I just need to be near the area, depending on the hotel I get to stay at next time.

Prices, I was nicely surprised: an order of five tacos is just 35 pesos (less than $3); tortas are 25 pesos; dishes (like alambre or bisteck encebollado) are just 50 pesos and are huge; a stuffed potato just 40 pesos; a tall glass of Jamaica water is 15 pesos. And the taco de arrachera are the most expensive ones at 10 pesos apiece. You can stuff your mouth for a long hour with less than us$15, wow!

This nightclub is one of the most "chic" in Monterrey, and here you will find famous artists from Mexico and some international ones when they come to play at the city.

Being in Colonia Del Valle means the average guy/gal is from the high society of Monterrey, or at least a wannabe. Here is a place to see and be seen. There are gorgeous girls, most of them in their teens, pretending to be used to partying all night. The place closes around 2 or 3 in the morning, as city laws are strict, especially on weekends.

The place is so popular that you need to know the guy at the entrance, as space inside is limited and the ambience is very hot. There are long crowds outside the entrance, waiting for a chance to rub elbows with the "pretty people". The music is loud enough to prevent conversations, but then, what would you expect from a nightclub devoted to dancing and specializing in modern music.

A nice surprise is that the food being offered is extremely good; we came to this place to celebrate a successful business day and were very hungry after skipping dinner, so we took a long look at their menu. As the name implies, they have Cuban roots and rhythms, but the food is also very tropical, with offerings like fish and seafood, some very Cuban high-cuisine dishes, and also comfort food like quesadillas and hamburgers, fish and chips, club sandwich, pita bread with chicken salad, etc.

Along with the good food, they also have nice wines, being that this is one of the trendiest clubs in town.

As you may notice, I didn't come here to party, but the music was good, the food great, and the girls where smoking hot. My only complaint is that the place is packed to the nose, and except for the little tables, it was a nighmare trying to walk around a bit. If you are twenty-something or even in your lower 30s, you will definitely enjoy this place--it's the sensation in town.

This was a very refreshing side of Monterrey, a city mostly known for its arid and hot weather. Here you arrive at paradise and lots of water, so much in fact that it creates a huge waterfall known as the Cola de Caballo (Horsetail) because of the shape it makes on the way down (and also because of the fact that the guys in this region are famous cowboys and love horses). The entrance is a bit touristy, and you can avoid the walk by hiring some little horse-drawn carts.

Along the way up to the waterfall, you can have a picnic. Just bring the food and charcoal, as the grills are here for you to use, so you can eat on the side of the small creek formed by the waterfall.

This is one of the landmarks of the city, it reflects the origins of its wealth and the hardworking courage the people of this area posses.

At the beginning of the 20th century the "Fundidora" (melting plant) was opened and inaugurated the first high oven of Latin America, the company was very successful but after some time the union's demands and thefts brought it to it's knees and it became bankrupt. After the government overtook the plant, it was decided to convert it into a public park.
The result has become fantastic!
There is a shallow pond, a sports Arena, concerts venue, skating ring, steel museum, convention center, Holiday Inn hotel and a Cart Serial racing track. The melting plant was so huge!!!

In 2007 the city held the World Forum of Cultures and ran a party 3 months long, with all kind of shows and cultural performances, form circus to theater, from painting and dancing to Botero sculptures. Lots of the performances and exhibitions took place at the park and the city remodeled it in a big way.
Mainly the Paseo de Santa Lucia became the symbol of the new Monterrey, the spring where the city was founded at Santa Lucia was extended with an artificial river that ends at the park making a very pleasing boat trip in the afternoons. You can also walk all the way to downtown along the river walk and have a cold one in a romantic cafe.
The park also got the high oven remodeled and now is the Steel Museum and you can get inside the main oven, yes, inside!!!

Overall, Parque Fundidora has become a big magnet to attract tourism to the city, I highly recommend it.