Mexico’s Most Underrated Social Spaces
For many visitors, the word “cantina” doesn’t really ring any bells.
But for Mexico City, a cantina is not just a bar. It’s a social moment; a place built as much around food and conversation as drinking itself.
And while some have changed with the city, the role they play stays surprisingly present.
Cantinas have never been only about alcohol
Historically, cantinas functioned as extensions of social life.
People met there after work, during long lunches, before heading home, or simply to spend time without needing a specific reason. Politics, business, friendships, arguments, celebrations, dates everything moved through these spaces.
Food became part of that rhythm from the begining.
In many traditional cantinas, ordering drinks also means receiving small plates throughout the meal. Not as a promotion, but as part of the experience.
Unlike cocktail bars designed around novelty or nightlife, cantinas are built around long stays. Regulars return weekly, sometimes daily, often sitting in the same areas each visit.
There is no single type of cantina
Most remain almost unchanged, holding onto dark wood interiors, old signages, and multi-generational clientele.
But lately newer versions have appeared, a format that’s mixing traditional elements with contemporary food, natural wine, and mostly younger crowds.
Places like Cantina el mirador and Cantina Tío Pepe preserve older rhythms of the city, while newer spaces like Cananea interpret the cantina format more loosely.
The point is not authenticity in a strict sense but a casual ambiance.
Food matters as much as the drinks
For visitors, one of the biggest surprises is often the food.
A cantina meal can move from simple botanas to full plates that rival standalone restaurants. Seafood, stews, grilled meats, tacos, and seasonal dishes all appear depending on the place.
In many ways, cantinas reveal how closely eating and socializing remain connected in Mexico.
You don’t just stop for a drink. You settle in for a good and looong time.
Even as Mexico City changes, cantinas continue functioning as social meeting points.
Office workers, artists, older regulars, younger crowds, entire groups move through them at different hours of the day. Some arrive for lunch, others for late afternoons that slowly become evenings.
How to approach a cantina as a visitor
Observe the rules of your selected cantina. Do you have to order a small plate every time you get a drink? Do you have to commit to 4 drinks if you order from their menu? or is it free order and comes with a bunch of snacks?
Please get a “bandera” which literal meaning is flag. You’ll get a small glass with tequila, one with lime juice and one with “sangrita” (little blood) a mix of fruit juices with a red hue. A green, a white and a red glass, just like our Mexican flag. Get it?
Some of my favorite cantinas in the city
For classic spots:
- Cantina el Mirador
- Cantina Del Bosque (we visit this in one of our food tours)
- Cantina Los Cuates
- Cantina Tio Pepe
- La Mascota
- Cantina el León de Oro
- Cantina Centenario
- Cantina 5 Caudillos
- Faena
New-school Cantinas:
- Cananea
- El Maldito de Jalisco
- El Tigre Silencioso
- Salon Rios
