Undoubtedly, one of the best things to do in Mexico City is eat and drink your way through the city. If you are anything like me, you strategically try to figure out how many spots you can possibly stop at without getting too full! Mexico City is a foodie’s paradise, with a wide variety of restaurants and street food to choose from, serving everything from traditional Mexican cuisine to international fare.
Before I plan a trip to Mexico City, I always research all the incredible places to eat and drink – and trust me there is no shortage of options! Unfortunately, there is never enough time to try it all, so make sure you mark down all the must-try restaurants in Mexico City so you can go on your next visit.
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Go on a food tour with a local
I highly recommend booking a Mexico City street food tour or a Mexican cooking class with a visit to a local food market as part of your trip. The food tour at local markets was one of the best things we did in Mexico City. Your guide will be able to share more about the history and local traditions and show you hidden spots that you may not have otherwise found on your own. Our guide even convinced us to try all sorts of bugs…. (which was an interesting experience, but I wouldn’t do it again!).
Recommended food and cooking tours
- Polanco Food Tour in Mexico City
- Historic Center Food Tour in Mexico City
- Mexican Cooking Class with Food Market Visit in Mexico City
- Authentic Mexican hands-on Cooking Class and Market Tour
Best tacos and street food in Mexico City
The best food in Mexico City isn’t necessarily at sit-down restaurants. I recommend trying any of the numerous street food stalls you see on your walks around Mexico City, or stopping in one of the vibrant food markets. You can usually tell if it’ll be good if there are a lot of locals! Explore the street food stalls, food markets, or quick service spots where you can find incredible molés, tacos, fresh seafood, ceviche, elotes (grilled Mexican street corn), tlacoyas (masa tortillas stuffed with cheese and beans), sopes (fried masa with savory toppings) and more. You can also try many of these foods on a guided food tour in Mexico City.
- Los Cocuyos (Polanco): this unassuming taco stand serves various meats in freshly made tortillas.
- Taqueria Orinoco: a great local taqueria chain and late-night spot after you’re out at the bars!
- Mercado Roma (Roma): upscale food hall in the Roma neighborhood with numerous food stalls and rooftop beer garden.
- Mercado De Jamaica (Jamaica): we visited this market on our guided tour, which was helpful because it’s a bit outside of the main part of the city. Mercado de Jamaica is well known for being a flower market, but there are also various delicious food stalls to check out.
- Mercado de San Juan (Centro): traditional Mexican market in the historic center of Mexico City. This impressive market has every type of gourmet and exotic food you could ever imagine, including bugs and meats like wild boar, armadillo, etc.
- Mercado Coyoacán (Coyoacán): this vibrant marketplace has all sorts of food, apparel and art. It’s close to the Frida Khalo Museum and worth stopping by for a bite after visiting the museum.
Tip: Before you head to Mercado Coyoacán make sure you book tickets at the Frida Khalo museum! It gets booked quickly and is worth visiting. We did this Frida Kahlo Museum VIP: Skip-the-line & Bikes & Churros tour and it was so much fun!
Best restaurants in Mexico City
Mexico City is expansive and there are an endless number of restaurants. Below is a list of must-try restaurants that I have been to myself and can highly recommend during your visit to Mexico City.
- Pujol (Polanco): Pujol is a fine dining restaurant known for its innovative takes on traditional Mexican cuisine. The chef, Enrique Olvera, has various restaurants across North America and this is one next level! Pujol is often ranked as one of the top restaurants in the world, and was featured on Chef’s Table. The tasting menu is a must-try, and the wine list is extensive. Pujol is one of the top restaurants in Mexico City, and it’s tough to get a reservation, so book as early as possible.
- Quintonil (Polanco): incredible fine dining restaurant in a cozy, laid-back setting. Known for its local seasonal ingredients and sustainable agriculture. The tasting menu is a great way to experience the chef’s creativity.
- Paramo (Roma): fun, buzzy Mexican restaurant with a welcoming atmosphere and great food. The cocktails and food are delicious and reasonably priced. We loved the vibe and felt like we were sitting in a greenhouse with the big skylight and greenery everywhere.
- Mi Comps Chava Marisqueria (Roma): traditional seafood in an open industrial-style restaurant. We stumbled into this spot on a walk in Roma. The wait and line were long, but worth it! They have everything from seafood tostadas, devices, oysters and more. The restaurant is loud, buzzy and energetic! Order one of their iconic Señora Torres towers.
- Contramar (Roma): iconic Mexican seafood restaurant and a must-try restaurant in Mexico City, especially if its your first time visiting. The restaurant is massive but yet somehow it is always packed so make a reservation ahead. Contramar is legendary for it’s large seafood-focused menu.
Where to eat breakfast or brunch in Mexico City
There’s nothing better than brunch in Mexico City. There are so many delicious spots to choose from, many of which have outdoor seating amongst the greenery and beautiful tree-lined streets. Check out these top must-try brunch restaurants in Mexico City.
- Lardo (La Condesa): Lardo is a culinary hot spot in Condesa and is in a beautiful, lush Mediterranean setting with delicious brunch options. Make sure you try a few of their freshly baked pastries! They were to die for! Lardo gets crowded so make a reservation, or you can snag a seat at the bar.
- Ciena (La Condesa): this cute Condesa neighborhood spot is always busy and for good reason. The food is fresh and delicious and you can sit outside on the patio for some great people watching. They serve breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but I highly recommend it for brunch!
- Churreria El Moro (Centro, Roma): more of a snack spot, but they do have coffee and they open at 8AM, so if you’re into sweet breakfasts, don’t miss this spot for incredible freshly baked churros.
- Rutas Café Ciclista (Roma): this cute cafe is set in a cycling shop. They have wonderful coffee, quick, simple but delicious breakfast options, and a really friendly staff. There is lots of great seating indoor or out.
- Pandaria Rosetta (Roma): this charming bakery is a must-try stop in Mexico City. Grab a coffee and pastry and walk around Roma.
- Pasteleria Ideal (Centro): This place is insane and worth taking a peek even if you don’t get anything. It has multiple floors and rooms filled with every kind of pastry, baked good, bread, and cakes. Head to the cake showroom to see some of the most intricate cakes you’ve ever laid your eyes on.
Best cocktail bars in Mexico City
Mexico is generally known for its handcrafted, elevated cocktails and Mexico City has some of the best bars in the world. Mexico City bars routinely rank in the list of top 5. There are so many unique cocktail bars and speakeasies to discover. What I love about the cocktails in Mexico is that everything is fresh, including the fruit in the margaritas or mezcalitas. The drinks don’t taste too sugary or fake, and I never end up getting a sugar hangover. Another favorite Mexican cocktail is the Carajillo. A carajillo is a coffee cocktail made with Licor 43 and cold brew. Licor 43 is a unique Spanish liqueur with 43 botanicals that taste like citrus and vanilla. It’s a great brunch or after-dinner drink.
- Licorería Limantour (Roma): – legendary cocktail bar in a 2-story space overlooking the main street. The cocktails are unique and delicious, and this bar was ranked #7 best bars in the world in 2023!
- Caiman (La Condesa): great spot for elevated cocktails and small bites
- Xaman (Juárez): this was one of our favorite cocktail bars. It’s a chic speakeasy-style bar with great music and innovative cocktails in an intimate space. It’s a little hard to find as it’s downstairs behind unassuming metal bars on the street.
- Hanky Panky Cocktail Bar (Juárez): rated #22 of the world’s 50 best bars, this hidden bar (behind a taco vendor) has an incredible cocktail menu.
- Cafe Ocampo (Cuauhtémoc): great indoor/outdoor cocktail bar with fun music and a friendly staff.
- Fifty Mils (Juárez): Sophisticated cocktail bar in the Four Seasons Hotel. Fifty Mils is a good spot for a drink before dinner.
Tequila & mezcal tastings
Mexico is known for its tequila and mezcal. You can do a mezcal/tequila tasting to learn more about the process of making it.
Here are a couple of recommended tours:
These are just a few of the best places to eat and drink in Mexico City that we experienced and highly recommend. Mexico City is constantly changing and opening new spots all the time, so I recommend also doing your research before your trip!
If you loved this list of the Top Must-Try Restaurants in Mexico City, check out my Best Things To Do In Santa Fe, New Mexico for a list of best restaurants and bars. Drop a comment or share your favorite spots below!
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