Even though I mention this every year, it was extraordinarily hard to come up with this 2024 list, so much that I’m just daring to write it in the beginning of June, 6 months after my usual date. And here’s why.
As you might know, Mexico City has become the it place to work remotely or simply to relocate, maybe due to our year-round mild weather, our friendliness and openness, or maybe because of the always-evolving food scene.
Whatever the reason might be, it’s easier than ever to get all the so-called insider’s advice.
It won’t take you more than a few clicks to find more than one list with the City’s recommendations, and there are some incredibly cool lists out there from the biggest travel outlets, such as the always-in-the-know Eater’s 38 Essential Restaurants or like the list that every friend who’s been to Mexico City already has and is more than happy to share, almost always with the trendiest and newest spots around.
I even got lucky enough to be a part of the panel who put together The 25 essentials dishes in Mexico City by the New York Times, in which we focused mostly on the city’s staples and some of the new-classics that have emerged in recent years (Please feel free to check it out and weigh in on our choices, I know some of them are quite polemic).
Even Michelin brought for the first time ever their team of experts to rate the country’s best spots (more on this in a different post).
So then why would I come up with yet another list you may ask.
Well, what’s been happening is that almost everyone who come visit, ends up at the exact same spots, and their experience feels more and more like a standardized version an incredibly diverse city. Also, maybe due to the influx of expats most lists focus on amount of restaurants and food spots with European inspiration, like Italian, French, Pizza parlors or anything else except Mexican.
So this selection of spots is carefully designed as a second layer list, for you to discover some of my favorite food projects that showcase Mexico’s ingredients, regions, techniques and culinary diversity and overall places that you would very hardly find anywhere else in the world.
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This year I’m also giving you the option to buy a more comprehensive guide with lots more restaurants, taco spots, hotels and neighborhoods to visit. Click here to download it.
And as usual, we know way more about the street food and market stalls than I can put into any list, so if you feel the need for a professional taco eater to hold your hand and show you around, please head down to my website dedicated only to food experiences: Devoured!
Each and every person that works there is not only involved in the food business somehow but they live their lives planning their next bite.
Or if you’re looking into someone who can help you plan out your food-inspired Mexican holiday and get those resos ready, feel free to use my newly launched Culinary Concierge Services.
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Hope you enjoy!
**Al addresses and locations are in the map found at the bottom of the page.**
What you’ll find in this this:
- Casual & Very Casual Eating.
- Tacos & Street Food.
- Non-Mexican Spots.
- Coffee & Breakfast.
- Wine, cocktails & beer.
Casual & Very Casual Eating
- Paradero Conocido: Sofia, previously known for the amazing food of now extinct Sin Nombre restaurant has opened a new venue with equally delicious and creative dishes. Perfect for a delicious quick meal or good mezcal after a day of exploring the Centro Historico. (Instagram)
- Fugaz: With a new location on Orizaba street but sticking to a small menu, perfectly curated with interesting yet simple and delicious dishes full of seasonal veggies and fresh fish. To make it simpler they have carta blanca beer, mezcal and couple of desserts. (Instagram).
- Expendio de Maíz sin Nombre: Still at the head of my list and my heart, the ultimate Mexican Omakase, sit down, let them know food restrictions and be surprised by each dish that comes out of their beautiful, open kitchen. Remember they only take cash, there will most likely be a long line and of course there is no menu. If you want to beat the long waiting lines come here as soon as they open. (Instagram)
- Coyota: Located in a cute little park in the Santa Maria la Ribera neighborhood. Chef and owners are really into research and gastronomic anthropology so their menu is always full of interesting techniques, ingredients and ideas. New dishes are put out every month to keep you interested as well as different traditional beverages and ferments from all over the country. Remember as a statement they don’t speak any other language other than Spanish so whip out the google translate. (Instagram)
- Fonda Margarita: One of the spots I was able to squeeze into New York Times’ Essential Dishes. Get here early as they run out of most options by 9:30am. Get their world famous scrambled eggs with beans (huevos tirados), a cafe de olla and finish with a churro while enjoying the traditional mexican music from the sweetest vendors in town.
- Comal Oculto: San Miguel Chapultepec may be know for the crazy amount of galleries around and the famous Barragan house, but should also be known for the biggest flautas ahogadas that I’ve ever tried. Courtesy of Comal Oculto. Great corn, great salsas, only 3 tables. Delicious! (Instagram)
- Tierra Adentro Cocina: This amazing spot is open for breakfast and lunch. Their food is inspired in traditional Mexican recipes from all over the country, presented in a beautiful, fancy and elevated way but without losing its soul. The cute little spot is located in the Portales neighborhood, which makes it a perfect stop when you’re on your way to Frida Kahlo’s museum or the southern part of the city in general. (Instagram)
- Esquina Común: This reservation only, secret rooftop in Condesa, available on weekends is the lovechild of Ana Dolores and Carlos Perez. Their inspiration comes from Spanish, Peruvian and Mexican cuisine beautifully crafted with the freshest ingredients shaped into a menu that makes you feel like you are eating at a friend’s home. All of it paired with Natural wines at a very reasonable price and the most amazingly kind service. Update: They just won their first ever Michelin Star!!! (Instagram)
- Mari Gold: I could’ve easily wrote about Masala y Maíz, but the place is so good and so small that’s quite hard to get a reso. But the next best thing, is just as good. Hidden away in San Miguel Chapultepec, this breakfast and lunch spot follows the same direction of combining Indian, Africanand Mexican techniques and ways of using ingredients. Please don’t call it fusion, it does no justice to the ammount of research the chefs Norma and Saquib went to to come up with one of my favorite concepts in town. (Instagram)
Tacos & Street Food
- Mariscos Orizaba: A tin stand on Liverpool street with incredibly goooood tostadas (and seafood dishes in general). Veracruz style dishes are served from 11am to sometime around 6pm. Their seafood tostadas are one of the best stops on our Juarez Highlights.
- Mixiote Tacos: Been there since 1986 and still going strong. This street stand is only open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and and it’s a must when visiting Juarez neighborhood. Mixiotes are sheep meat seasoned with a mix of spices, avocado leaf, cinnamon and are steamed inside a parchment paper sachet. Please top these with nopales (cactus), pineapple, lime, salt and salsa. Beware of the red pickled onions as they’re mixed with habanero. (No Insta).
- Tizne Tacomotora: This all smoke, all charred taqueria uses some of the best quality tortillas in town, their fillings are all surprising yet comforting, and they are always accompanied with a nice variety of salsas. Get their charred avocado. (Also included in the New-School Taquerias list). (Instagram)
- Tacos El Chícharo: Right outside Maren Bakery, this tin stand with 2 taqueros per shift serves low-key some of the best 3-bite, simple-yet-satisfyingly good suadero tacos in the neighborhood. (No Insta of course).
- El Califa del León: This taco institution can be very easily missed among the leggings vendors and the multiple nail artists. But if you follow your nose you’ll get to the most amazing beef tacos around. Get the gaonera, the most tender part of the beef, cooked with a bit of lime juice and a pinch of salt, served on a thick, freshly made tortilla. Top with both salsas (as instructed by the cooks) and enjoy! (Please do not confuse this with the awful Califa chain. It has absolutely nothing to do with this amazing taco place). Update: They now have a Michelin star so the line is incredibly long and I only recommend if you are on a quest and you’re collecting stars).
- Caldos Don Luis: Open 24 hours, this very classic restaurant specializes in one thing: hen broth, not chicken, hen. This decision makes their broth richer and with an extra deep layer of flavor, that pairs perfectly with their freshly made, extra big corn tortillas and their smoky red salsa. (Instagram).
- Maizajo: The new cool kid in town. One of the pioneers in making tortillas out of heirloom corn only, from small producers and nixtamalizing ir themsleves every single day. They haev a taqueria downstairs and a proper sit-down restaurant at the top floor. Get here early as they tend to have a huge line. (Instagram).
- Esquites at Reforma 222: right outside a busy mall, lies a small street corn stand. Lines can get quite long but totally worth it. Try topping your cup of these cooked corn kernels with their crunchy salsa macha.
- La Tonina: A time machine hidden in the San Rafael neighborhood specializing northern style tacos. Their flour tortillas are some of the best in the city and their sweet gorditas are the perfect follow-up to the chilorio taco.
- Tacos El Betín: This quaint little corner in San Rafael is popular among policeman, so you know it’s good. Their suadero, their tripa and their head tacos are to die for. (No Insta).
Non-Mexican spots
Disclaimer: I would strongly encourage you to try out Mexican food spots during your first and even second trip to the city, after all, you ARE in Mexico and we excel at Mexican food.
If you already live here or it’s your third visit then go ahead and enjoy this part of the list.
- Viasol: One of the coolest spots in the Escandón neighborhood. Specialising in dumplings and an incredible selection of wines. They also have classes every now and the so stay tunes to their social media. (Instagram)
- Somsaa: A tea room, with excellent southeast asian food and a collection of bubbles from all around the world. Prosecco, pet nat, franciarossa, you name it, they’ve got it. Located in a beautiful mansion and they sometimes have dim sum or special brunches. Also my absolute favorite por desserts. (Instagram)
- Gin Chan: Often I’m asked about the best sushi in town and for me this is it. Come sit at the bar to watch them work on your incredibly fresh food. The eel and foie nigiri is unmissable. (Instagram)
- Canton Mexicalli: When Chinese immigrants were left out without a job after finishing railroads in the US, the ended up settling in Northern Mexico. They coined a new type of cuisine called Cachanilla, which is a mix of Chinese elements made with Mexican ingredients and techniques. This is the best spot in the city to get closer to this style of food. (Instagram)
- Entonces, entonces: From the creators of Jametaro, came this cute little corner in Roma. Their ramen is rich, meaty, comforting and simply delicious in a very casual spot. They also have a cute shop with clothing and other cool stuff.(Instagram)
- Choza: One of the spots closest to my heart. This hidden rooftop eatery is Chef Tyler’s playground, where he gets to show off his wicked culinary skills (mostly inspired in Thai and Asian street food) with local, seasonal ingredients. Add an original Daiquiri machine brought all the way from New Orleans, an exquisite vinyl record collection, an extremely sophisticated high fidelity sound system and with a rowdy but good-natured crowd to result in the place you’ll never get tired of. (Be aware that there might be a really long waiting time on weekends and there are no reservations) (Instagram)
- Vacaciones: Easily my favorite find this year. Somewhat Italian, but make it fresh and new. The uber cool ambiance and their perfectly selected wine list might give you the idea of an expensice place, but you couldn’t be more wrong. The prices here are incredibly affordable and almost unbelievable. Truly an understated gem (Instagram)
Coffee, PASTRIES & Breakfast
- Mise en Print: New favorite cafe in Roma. Not only do they have perfectly brewed coffee, and sumptuous cakes but they also they have a library and bookstore with the best culinary literature in just one place. Their chocolate cake with olive oil and yuzu is a must. (Instagram)
- Gala Panadería: A speakeasy but make it pastries. Hidden in a cool apartment in Roma and filled with the always comforting smell of freshly made pastries, lies this butter and laminated dough palace. They are suppliers of the Maximo group (as in the Maximo Bistrot restaurant you guessed it) so you know they are top quality. Show up, ring the bell, enjoy a pastry over a latte, you may repeat. (Instagram)
- Farmacia Internacional Condesa: The exact thing that Juarez neighborhood needed. A casual spot in which you could hang out practically all day. Arrive early to indulge in their great coffee and pastries and hang a little longer with a glass of natural wine and a small beetroot and goat cheese platter. (Instagram)
- Forte Bread & Coffee: Great place for Mexican coffee and some of the most delicious pastries I’ve had in the city. Ask for their concha and the tascalate, a cacao & corn based drink from Chiapas mixed with cold brew. They also have incredible pizza and an amazing selection of natural wines to drink with. (Instagram)
- Cafe Trucha: With an unbeatable location, right next to the Rio de Janeiro park, this cute coffee spot has some of the best cakes and baked goods around. Come here, grab a coffee, eat their carrot cake, perfect start of the day if you ask me. (Instagram)
- Casa del Fuego: Located in Cuauhtemoc neighborhood not only do they have their roasted and coffee shop called Cucurucho, but they also play with amazing breakfast foods in their spot next door. Their tomato stuffed with goat cheese and egg is out of this world. And their sandwiches are perfect for an easy Sunday morning. (Instagram)
- Buendia Pan y Café: Go-to brekkie spot in Narvarte. Freshly baked pastries both sweet and savory every morning, and with the cutest hidden backyard, making it the best option around. Try their beat root hummus. (Instagram)
- Costra: Another Narvarte institution. Every pastry here is guarantee, BUT the garibaldi is enough reason to make the trip. Same as their almost extinct matcha cookie. (Instagram)
- Marne: Wether you want a takeaway or you want to have breakfast aat the spot, this is the place in San Miguel Chapultepec. Their chilaquiles, sandwiches and wine list are impeccable. (Instagram)
- Fuzz and Brew: Their interiors have a Japanese flair, their top quality sound system gets them to stand out, but their perfectly brewed coffee will make you come back over and over. Yet another reason to visit San Rafael. (Instagram)
Ice cream & Sweets
- La Especial de Paris: One of the oldest ice cream parlors in the city. With a killer tobacco ice cream and a float called double ginger shot with ginger sorbet served on a ginger ale. De-li-cious. (No instragram of course)
- Joe Gelato: Not a week goes by without me stepping into this small place in Juarez to be surprised (yet again) by Joe’s amazing gelato flavors. Savory and herbal options are always available but their olive oil gelato and water-based cacao are unmissable. (Instagram)
- Chocolatería La Rifa: If you want to try cacao based drinks this is definitely your spot. Perfectly frothy drinks whether mixed with water or milk are being poured all day long. You could also try any of their chocolate bars, all 70% of cacao and made with Mexican beans from small producers mostly from the state of Chiapas. Easily my favorite project in the whole city. (Instagram)
- La Florida: A very very old-school spot in Santa Maria la Ribera with some of the desserts that most Mexican grandmas would serve at the end of any meal. The star here is the beautiful cup of fresh chopped strawberries with a mix of crema and sugar but every single thing is as delicious as indulgent. As a side-note, if you happen to go to Limantour, this new memu features their mosaic jelly turned into a fancy cocktail (No Instagram)
- Helados Cometa: Whether they’re dairy or water based, all their options are elaborated with natural and fresh ingredients. Try their seasonal flavors, always surprising and always a delight. (Instagram)
Wine, Cocktails & Beer
- Tlecan Mezcaleria: If you’re looking for an amazing Mezcal selection, great spirits like sotol and raicilla, traditional drinks like pulque and incredible cocktails along with a great atmosphere that’s somewhere between a bar and a club, this is definitely your spot. This place is also included in our “Where to find mezcal” list.
- Plonk: One of the best menus carefully made to pair perfectly with wine. The cute interiors and cool atmosphere make of this a perfect place for a date. (Instagram)
- Cafe de Nadie: A listening bar with some of the best quality sound you’ll find in the city, along with amazing cocktails and the most delicious menu curated by the Maximo Bistrot group. They always have a guest DJ’s during weekends and different pop-ups. Their dry martini is on point (Instagram)
- Oropel: One of my absolute favorite spots to hang. A cosy little spot in Roma, great vermouth, amazing wine selection, good music, simple and small bites and overall a very cool vibe. Sit at the bar and hang out. (Instagram)
- Escorpio: If there is natural wine mecca in the city this has to be it. Bottles from all over the world and at all different price ranges. Whether you like to sip on incredibly funky wines or not, there is a bottle for you here. They also have a fridge to keep libations at perfect temperature and ready to go. Keep an eye on them as they sometime have Meet the brewer sessions and different tastings. (included in my list of wine places you can check out here) (Instagram)
- Bósforo: A Mexico City staple in Centro Historico and still the best place to try different agave product from all over the country. Arrive early as it tends to be packed during the weekends. Their grasshopper quesadilla is to die for. Absolutely no pictures allowed and of course no Instagram. (Also included in my list of Best places to drink mezcal)
- Rimessa: A Natural wine shop with bottles from all over the world including some of the best pick from Mexico. Talk to Veronica, the manager, she’ll help you choose the best option for your taste, and if you ask nicely she might even let you open your bottle and let you drink it right there at the spot. (Instagram)
- Kaito del Valle: Lead by one of the coolest bartenders in town, Claudia has been comming up with exquisite libations for the southern borough of Del Valle. Talk to the bartenders, they won’t steer you wrong. (Instagram)
- Lagerbar: Finally Hercules brewery, has brought their taps and goodies from Queretaro to the city. They’re known for their light, crisp beers so you can’t go wrong. Their food is also a perfect companion for their beer. Get the veil sausage. (Instagram)
- Manada: Full Disclaimer, this is my bar, but what’s a little bit of self-promotion? We designed this to be the relaxed neighborhood bar. All spirits, bitters and liquors are exclusively Mexican and all wines are natural. We also serve small bites and we close quite early, so basically we have the old-lady bar we always wanted. Mention this list and you’ll get a free mezcal shot (Instagram)
As always, here’s the map for you to download it to your phone.
Let me know if you end up going to any of the spots.
