This is the most subjective list of Mexico City’s best restaurants that you will find on the internet. That said, I am a freak about food, love to eat, and have eaten out a lot in the city. I also get asked all the time by folks visiting where to eat out in Mexico City. Take my suggestions seriously or not, but these are the best restaurants in Mexico City, according to me. (in no particular order) Remember this list doesn’t include street food, which is a completely different category and just as good as these places
++ Updated June 2023 ++
Makan (Centro Historico)
I did say this was no particular order but I have to say that right now Makan is my favorite restaurant in the city. The last time I went every. single. thing. was amazing, from the cocktails to the dessert.
Food – Inspired by Chef Maryann Yong’s Singaporean roots and her time spent in Thailand working at Gaggan. The fish larb is one of the best things I have ever eaten, the candied pork or duck that you can get alongside a flurry of sauces and pillowy jasmine rice is the stuff dreams are made of.
Ambiance – They just moved to a new location in the Centro Historico which is sleek, modern and pretty hip — exposed ceilings, wooden booths in the back for big groups, a cool open kitchen. Right now they are not slammed like they were at their place in Roma so take advantage and get your ass down there.
Price – Mid-range
Esquina Comun (Condesa)
Food – This is probably my second favorite place right now. The food focuses on Mexican flavors and local ingredients with a contemporary presentation. I’ve loved everything I have eaten here. They just won a Michelin star so it might be hard to get in now, just FYI.
Ambiance – Dark Kitchen so reservations only, upstairs terrace hidden behind a coffeeshop in Condesa, casual nice, you’ll see a good bit of tourists here.
Price – Medium
Doña Emi (Roma Sur)
Food – Only the best tamales in the entire city. They are only a morning place, come before 10 for the best selection, my favorite is lomo de cerdo con aceitunas.
Ambiance – There are a few sidewalk tables but it’s mostly a to-go place
Price – high for tamales but super cheap in comparison to anything else (between 25-50p a tamal)
Niddo (Juarez)
Food – A mix of the Canadian, Mexican, and Jewish influences of the two chefs – a mom-and-son duo. Amazing burrata egg dish, great breakfasts
Ambiance – Chic, hip, like a place in New York or Chicago, outdoor and indoor dining
Price – Mid
Rosetta Restaurant (Roma)
Food – Italian-Mexican, really creative but not too crazy, the bone marrow is amazing, young, super talented female chef that sources much of what she offers locally.
Ambiance – gorgeous, in one of those old turn-of-the-century mansions, some people go just for the interior design
Price – High
Mi Compa Chava (Roma)
Food – amazing seafood, Baja-style, they get a shipment of seafood fresh every other day from Baja and don’t freeze anything. The aguachile will set you on fire.
Ambiance – hip, casual, a big warehouse like dining room and a smattering of outdoor seating
Price – Mid
Rosetta Bakery (Roma)
Food – great pastries and breads, although their “famous” guava pastry I think is meh. The campesino bread is tops and the Rosca de Reyes to die for.
Ambiance – cool, casual, you can sit at outside tables at the one in Roma or at the bar or small tables at the one in Juarez.
Price – cheap to mid
Imbiss (Juarez)
Food – Great small plates, lots of experimentation with fermenting and pickled, amazing fried chicken, killer cocktails
Ambiance – Urban bistro, low lighting, great for dinner date or out with friends, small, intimate dining room, but noisy
Price – Medium
Mendl Delicatessen (Condesa)
Food – Classic New York Jewish deli stuff — pastrami and Reuben sandwiches on homemade rye bread, matza ball soup, brisket, salmon and lox on a homemade bagel.
Ambiance – Upscale diner, vinyl booths, swivel chairs, a glassed-in counter
Price – Medium
Nico’s (Azcapotzalco)
Food – traditional Mexican made with love and thoughtfulness, old family recipes, handmade everything
Ambiance – old school, waiters in white button downs and black vests. Out-of-the-way neighborhood that will take you a minute to get to.
Price – High
Barbacoa Renatos (Azcapotzalco)
Food – weekend barbacoa joint, tacos, consomme, really well made — I followed them for the entire process one weekend so I should know.
Ambiance – casual, family-friendly, a small place in an out-of-the-way neighborhood, only open on the weekends.
Price – Cheap
El Cardenal (Centro Historico)
Food – traditional, old school Mexican, love the conchas with nata and hot chocolate, great breakfast
Ambiance – slightly upscale family-friendly, an after-church weekend lunch kind vibe.
Price – Mid
MeRoma (Roma)
Food –Contemporary, a mix of styles and ingredients, Mexican and other cuisines, thoughtful preparation and presentation.
Ambiance – upscale chic, hip, dress a little nice, two floors and also outdoor seating.
Price – Mid to High
Taller Xilotl (Juarez)
Food – Gourmet seafood tacos, a super thoughtful and limited menu, excellent cocktails, lots of personalized service.
Ambiance – Intimate, chic-casual, New York
Price – Mid to High
Maximo Bistrot (Roma)
Food – chef-driven menu sourced and inspired locally with international techniques, Chef Garcia is an ingredient freak and really innovative
Ambiance – high-priced chic/casual (full disclosure I haven’t been to the new location yet)
Price – High
Pat Patz (Juarez)
Food – Middle Eastern – New York food cart style, here I wrote an article about him
Ambiance – casual, Sunday afternoon with pals drinking beers
Price – cheap to mid
Azul Historico / Azul Condesa (Various locations)
Food – Classic Mexican with Yucatan inspiration, Chef Muñoz wrote an encyclopedia about Mexican food that everyone should own.
Ambiance – I haven’t been to the Condesa location but I am just such a sucker for the lit up trees and romance of the downtown location.
Price – Mid to high
Pizza Franca (Roma)
Food – Great pizza joint, Argentine style, nice cheap wines
Ambiance – Tiny, and cozy, with just a handful of outdoor tables
Price – cheap to mid
Delirio (Roma)
Food – Mediterranean and Mexican, a totally classic in the Roma, nice for breakfast, the passionfruit cheesecake and the bread and preserves to go are all favs
Ambiance – bustling, casual, friendly.
Price – cheap to mid
Sartoria (Roma)
Food – Italian with some Mexican inspiration, housemade pasta, well thought out dishes
Ambiance – designer hip, high end, indoor and outdoor seating
Price – High
Fonda Margarita (Narvarte)
Food – classic Mexican breakfast dishes, very hearty, made for locals with no fancy presentation (forget Instagram)
Ambiance – neighborhood hangout, casual, family-style seating, bustling from opening to close (5:30am to 12pm)
Price – cheap
Los Danzantes (Coyoacan)
Food – Oaxacan, well-made, try their own brand of mezcal. I know these guys have been around for a while but I still think they are great and particularly love the…
Ambiance – on the main square in Coyoacan, musicians floating by to offer you a tune, the central garden lit up at night with tourists wandering to and fro. (they also have a location in Oaxaca City, Oaxaca)
Price – mid to high
Expendio de maiz (Roma)
Food – super ingredient-focused no menu kinda place. Seasonally determined vegetable-leaning dishes with a downhome gourmet presentation.
Ambiance – family-style seating, hipster, traditional open-air kitchen, very buzzy since opening a few years back, expect to wait
Price – Cheap to Mid
Paramo (Roma)
Food – Excellent, creative gourmet tacos, Mexican craft beer and cocktails. I love this place.
Ambiance – cool interior patio of an old building, food, eclectic decor, casual vibe – you could take your folks or your pals.
Price – mid
Tortas Robles (Centro Historico)
Food – big ol’ tortas, all your favorite flavors, sodas
Ambiance – tiny local place, a hold in the wall, the grill master swinging like a wild man behind the grill
Price – cheap
Cicatriz (Juarez)
Food – U.S.-inspired classics – fried chicken sandwich, big kale salad, etc, natural wines, fancy cocktails
Ambiance – hipster, tiny, industrial chic, limited seating
Price – Mid
Choza (Roma)
Food – Asian fusion, green mango salad and coconut rice my favs, everybody raves about the whole fried fish but I haven’t tried it yet, the drink selection kinda sucks, go for the mezcal
Ambiance – Too cool for school, hipster weekend crowd both eating and serving, all open air on a rooftop.
Price – mid
Galanga (Roma)
Food – Probably the best Thai in the city, like real Thai recipes and shit
Ambiance – Elegant casual, tables under a lamplit patio, dark little corners
Price – mid to high
Bolero Cafe (Roma)
Food — By far the best pizza in the city. The homemade sourdough crust just makes it. Try the bacon and jalapeños or the grilled veggies or the anchovies… Jesus, they’re all good. Good classic cocktails as well, craft beer, small batch Oaxacan mezcal.
Ambiance – Like a real neighborhood bar, where everybody knows your name. They play all vinyl music and have outdoor seating and a tiny inside space where sometimes there is live music. Lots of regulars come here and they often host large, community meals.
Price – Mid-range
Places I love the food but….
Taverna (Juarez)
Food – A mix of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern, lots of interesting flavors. The bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo with roasted red pepper and parsley sauce are just the right amount of salty and sweet, and smokey and smoked, cause really, who doesn’t like smoke? The pin tonic was a little too perfumed for me but I appreciated the interesting twist on a standard classic like the gin tonic. The pollito turco (Turkish chicken) was buttery and sweet, if maybe a little too crispy in spots, and the pickled veggies underneath had pops of honey and anis and were a nice balance for the chicken. The celery, walnut, and potato sauce(?) was creamy and delicious but is it a dip or a side? I love the fresh, basil flavor of the Alba Rosa.
Ambiance – The place is ridiculously dark, with enough real candles lit that it feels like a seance is about to start. The music selection was discordant but fun – Oliver Cheatham’s Get Down Saturday Night one minute, Pional’s Invisible/amenaza the other. The staff is mostly aloof until the check comes and then they pour it on. Also, I ate alone and they did the classic “you can only sit at the bar” thing even though the place is massive, with room after room of empty tables that were still empty when I left an hour and a half later. Also, they lit a stick of incense about two feet from me (I was the only person in the room!) and when I asked my waitress if she could put it out just until I finished eating she said yes and moved it two feet — which felt similar to sidling up on a bar stool to have a drink and meal at the perfume section of a department store. So service gets a thumbs down from me.
Price – Mid-range ( I spent a little over 50usd on an entree, a main dish, and two cocktails)
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