The best restaurants in Mexico City

Romantic courtyard with candle-lit trees and retractable roof

Specialty: Renowned mole negro and traditional regional dishes

Pro tip: Reserve ahead for dinner; watch fresh tortillas being made tableside

Contemporary seafood spot, Michelin Bib Gourmand, sharing-focused menu

Specialty: Fresh coastal ingredients, contemporary Mexican seafood dishes

Pro tip: Tostada de coco and shrimp tacos are must-orders. Book ahead

Elegant Porfiriato cantina. Warm, artisanal, deeply Mexican — all day long

Specialty: Traditional Mexican — huevos rancheros con cecina, mole poblano, quesabirria

Pro tip: Try the sopecito azul de chapulines. Coffee is house-roasted arabica from Chiapas

Iconic coastal Mexican. Bright, buzzy, packed at lunch — impossible not to love

Specialty: Pescado a la talla, tostadas de atún, pulpo a la gallega. Michelin Bib Gourmand

Pro tip: Lunch only (12-6pm). Book weeks ahead — this place is always full

Timeless Mexican institution in a French Porfirian building. White tablecloths, pianist

Specialty: Pan dulce with nata, tableside hot chocolate, chile en nogada in season

Pro tip: Go for breakfast — arrive early on weekends or expect a wait

Parisian bistro in 19th-century mansion; romantic, intimate setting

Specialty: French classics: burger, onion soup, oysters, duck confit

Pro tip: Reserve ahead; request outdoor balcony overlooking Havre street

No-frills neighbourhood birriería. Unpretentious, local, the real thing

Specialty: Birria tacos, quesabirria, consomé — straight-up Mexican comfort food

Pro tip: Dip your taco in the consomé. Non-negotiable

Upscale taquería meets club. Loud music, suits, packed every night

Specialty: Premium tacos — cachetada de picaña, spicy tuna tostada

Pro tip: No reservations. Arrive early or wait 20–30 min — they'll bring you a free beer

CDMX's most hyped taquería — gourmet cuts, fresh blue & yellow corn tortillas, electric energy

Specialty: Rib Eye taco & black Angus picaña trompo. Black salsa is legendary

Pro tip: No reservations — arrive early or expect 30-45 min wait. Order everything en costra

17th-century colonial hacienda. Manicured courtyards, live trio, old Mexico magic

Specialty: Classic Mexican & international — steak tacos, margaritas shaken tableside

Pro tip: Saturday brunch is iconic — pairs perfectly with the Bazar Sábado art market next door

Casual Japanese bar; open kitchen, watch chefs prepare sushi

Specialty: Hand rolls, otoro sashimi, hamachi with truffle, miso soup

Pro tip: Sit at bar to watch preparation; try tuna varieties and hand rolls

Old-money Japanese institution since 1970. Kimono-clad staff, teppanyaki at your table

Specialty: Authentic Japanese — teppanyaki, shabu-shabu, sashimi, Alaskan king crab

Pro tip: Request teppanyaki at your table — insist on it cooked live, not pre-made in the kitchen

Upscale taquería, vibrant late-night scene with sidewalk seating. There are x8 restaurants in the city

Specialty: Al pastor with pineapple, gaonas, chicharrón de queso

Pro tip: Try the costra de queso and tamarind-chipotle salsa combo

Hidden gem inside Mercado Coyoacán. Ancestral techniques, artisan ceramics, zero pretension

Specialty: Authentic Mexican — pork belly tacos, squash blossom quesadillas, guac with chapulines

Pro tip: Arrive early — they close at 5:30pm and sell out. Queue moves fast

Cult smash burger spot, organic ingredients, Roma Norte favorite

Specialty: Smash burgers with 100% organic beef and housemade sauces

Pro tip: Bacon-wrapped fries are a must. Order the double smash

Warm, colorful cebichería. Latin coastal vibes, open kitchen

Specialty: Latin American ceviches — Peru, Mexico, Caribbean coast

Pro tip: Book ahead. Live sax on Fridays. Try the shrimp aguachile

Casual Pacific coast marisquería in the heart of Polanquito. Terrace, lively

Specialty: Fresh seafood — pulpo al grill, aguachile, taco de chile güero con marlín

Pro tip: Ask for the tostada de pulpo jalapeño — house favourite. Book ahead

Modern Spanish-Med on Masaryk. Plant-lined terrace, DJ on weekends

Specialty: Spanish-Mediterranean — jamón ibérico croquetas, arroz de rabo de toro

Pro tip: Sit on the terrace — best spot on Masaryk. Book ahead for weekend nights

Cult taquería, tiny space, always packed — worth every minute of the wait

Specialty: Certified Angus sirloin trompo — tacos, gringas, volcanes, costras

Pro tip: Expect 1h wait. Go early or late — never peak hour

40-year-old Egyptian institution in Coyoacán. Cozy, authentic, family vibes

Specialty: Egyptian & Lebanese — kibbe, hummus, hojas de vid, pay de dátil

Pro tip: Weekend buffet with belly dance show is unmissable. Try the Turkish coffee

Upscale-casual seafood, beautiful terrace, premium Grupo Fisher's concept

Specialty: Robalo Pekín & camarones petroleros. Mexican-oriental fusion fish cuts

Pro tip: Weekend oyster bar from 10am. Drinks are pricey — stick to the food

Classic Mexican restaurant-bar since 1984. Art deco interior, cozy terrace with fireplace

Specialty: Contemporary Mexican — escamoles, tacos de rib eye, queso Guadiana

Pro tip: Book ahead and request a terrace table. Don't skip the pastel de cajeta

Relaxed Japanese bar; authentic izakaya with private rooms available

Specialty: Sashimi del día, ramen, smoked avocado, sake (60+ types)

Pro tip: Order small plates to share; try smoked avocado (15 min wait)

Upscale taquería, fresh tortillas, lively cocktail bar, date-night energy

Specialty: Gaonera de Rib Eye taco + costras mixtas on fresh-made tortillas

Pro tip: Book ahead — it fills up fast on weekends. Ask for all the salsas

Contemporary Mexican tavern. Cosmopolitan, lively, different spaces for every mood

Specialty: Land & sea — rib eye tacos, grilled fish, northern & Pacific coastal cuisine

Pro tip: Book ahead. Open until 2am Tue–Sat — great for a late dinner in Polanco

Intimate, theatrical. 18th-century restored mansion with craft gallery at the entrance

Specialty: Tasting menu with mezcal pairing — insects, hoja santa, seasonal Mexican ingredients

Pro tip: Order the degustación con maridaje. Owned by the same family as Café de Tacuba

25-year-old Argentine institution, massive terrace, lush trees, long lunches

Specialty: Vacío & bife de chorizo from the parrilla. Generous portions to share

Pro tip: Thursday nights they host live tango from 22:00. Book the terrace in advance

Rooftop terrace, vibrant & social. Korean BBQ cooked at your table

Specialty: Parrillada mixta + Ramyeon kimchi cerdo. Bingsu de taro to finish

Pro tip: Founded by a Korean-Mexican couple. Order the Trilogía SSAM cocktails with your BBQ

Northern-style charcoal taquería by the creators of the Guía Domingo de Tacos. Michelin listed. There is another restaurant in the city

Specialty: Charcoal tacos — chuleta, asada, costilla. Tortillas from Maizajo. Order the volcán

Pro tip: Don't skip the cebollitas or the Crepa Domingo dessert — cajeta, nuez, gloria tortilla

Casual neighborhood taquería, relaxed vibe, loyal local crowd

Specialty: Campechano & La Maja tacos. Ask for the salsa Don Manolito

Pro tip: Breakfast and lunch are the sweet spot — open from 9am daily

Iconic northern-style taquería, loud, packed, and worth every minute of the queue. There are x4 restaurants in the city

Specialty: Trompo (al pastor), res, and chicharrón tacos — Monterrey-style with flour tortillas

Pro tip: Open till 5am on weekends. Best decision you'll make after a night out

Hidden cave restaurant inside a Luis Barragán building, volcanic rock floors, art & books

Specialty: Tlayuda Alfonsina (mole, quesillo, cecina, chapulines). 70% organic ingredients

Pro tip: Built on the old stables of a Barragán house — walk the volcanic rock floors under the glass. Book ahead

Classic Mexican institution. Colorful, loud, mariachi live every night

Specialty: Traditional Mexican — cochinita pibil, carnitas de huachinango, famous margaritas

Pro tip: 80+ tequilas and 60+ mezcales on the menu. Book a table — it fills up fast

Intimate terrace, dog-friendly, authentic Neapolitan — no ketchup, no shortcuts

Specialty: Pizza Ardente & Bufalina. Wood-fired oven imported from Italy. AVPN certified

Pro tip: #12 in 50 Top Pizza Latin America. Try the alcachofa con queso as starter

Tiny pin-up themed burger joint in Narvarte. Casual, local, no-frills

Specialty: Artisan burgers — La Bardot, La Kat Von D, papas AliOli

Pro tip: Order the papas AliOli and a milkshake — the real hidden gems here

Classic all-day diner since 1948. Open 7am to 4am. Long bar, bright lights, old-school charm

Specialty: Enchiladas, tacos, roast chicken — local Mexican classics at local prices

Pro tip: Open nearly 24h. The go-to for Centro locals before or after anything. Cash preferred

Open since 1912 in a 17th-century casona. Talavera tiles, colonial paintings, live music

Specialty: Mole enchiladas, pozole, cochinita panuchos, café de olla. Inspired the band name

Pro tip: Go for breakfast — the musicians serenade you and it's the most authentic hour

Classic Mexican institution in a restored Porfirian building. Timeless and elegant. There are 2 more restaurants in the city

Specialty: Pan dulce with nata, tableside hot chocolate, chile en nogada in season

Pro tip: Go for breakfast — iconic. Expect a wait, reserve ahead on weekends

No-frills neighborhood fonda. Homey, warm, and full of regulars

Specialty: Enchiladas de mole rojo, caldo de pollo, classic Mexican comfort food

Pro tip: Cash-friendly, tiny space — go for lunch, not dinner