25 Best Restaurants in Mexico City: Ultimate CDMX Foodie Guide

If you’re traveling to Mexico City, there’s a good chance you’re going there to eat. And for good reason! As the capital of Mexico, and a sprawling metropolis of almost 9 million people, Mexico City is one of the greatest food cities in the world.

This guide to the 25 best restaurants in Mexico City is here to lead you to the city’s best bites.

I’ve spent a lot of time in Mexico City – both as a traveler and while living there as a digital nomad. And during that time, I searched high and low for the best restaurants in Mexico City – from bakeries and coffee roasteries to al pastor taquerías to fine-dining restaurants to churro shops. This guide covers all of my favorites!

Hungry? Here’s your guide to the best restaurants in Mexico City, complete with 25 different spots to visit during your trip to Mexico City.

Top 25 Restaurants in Mexico City

Out of all the many things to do in Mexico City, my favorite one is to eat. I know you’re going to feel the same!

(And yes, in case you’re wondering, I have personally been to each and every one of the Mexico City restaurants on this list at least once. Some of them 10+ times! I say that because that’s not always the case with the internet these days…)

Mealtimes in Mexico City

First things first, you can’t eat properly in Mexico City if you don’t understand the different mealtimes.

In the USA, we have three meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you arrive in Mexico City expecting the same meal types and times, then you may be shocked.

In Mexico City, there are four main mealtimes: el desayuno, el almuerzo, la comida, and la cena. Below, I’ll cover what you need to know about each meal and the best places to go!

Coffee & Light Breakfast (El Desayuno)

El desayuno is a light breakfast enjoyed first thing in the morning. It usually consists of some coffee or hot chocolate and a pan dulce (sweet bread/pastry).

For this meal, many people simply stop into a coffee shop or grab something to-go from a street cart.

Best Coffee Shops in Mexico City

Mexico City is home to plenty of epic coffee shops, and I’ve been to most of them! Here are my six favorite coffee shops for el desayuno in Mexico City:

• Almanegra Café (Roma Norte): This coffee roastery is my pick for the best oat latte in CDMX.
• Qūentin Café (Hipódromo): Some of the best coffee in the city, plus fabulous pastries. A great place to work online, by the way.
• Lardo (La Condesa): From the coffee window, order a latte and a rol de guayaba (guava roll), and thank me later! You can also sit down for brunch (more on this later!).
• Cucurucho (La Condesa, Roma, Polanco & Juárez): A popular spot for coffee and yummy bagels.
• Panadería Rosetta (Roma Norte): This iconic Mexico City bakery is a must-visit. Grab your favorite French-style pastry and a latte to-go to explore Roma on foot.
• Café Avellaneda (Coyoacán): The best little café in Coyoacán for a grab-and-go coffee and pastry.

If you want a more traditional desayuno, then follow your nose! Look out for the busiest street cart or stall, and go there!

(This is a good rule of thumb for all street food in CDMX. If the locals love it, you know it’s going to be good.)

Breakfast (El Almuerzo)

Next comes el almuerzo, which is a heavier breakfast or brunch, usually consumed sometime between 10 am and noon. Especially on weekends.

This meal often consists of a dish based around tortillas, like chilaquiles or enchiladas, for example.

For el almuerzo, I recommend…

Best Brunch Restaurants in Mexico City

El Cardenal (El Centro Histórico)

Since it opened in 1969, El Cardenal has been something of a Mexico City institution. It’s the place for a traditional brunch in the historic center – complete with a festive atmosphere and warm hospitality.

Start off with El Cardenal’s famous hot chocolate (made tableside!), along with a pastry. Then, go for a classic dish like chilaquiles, gorditas, huevos rancheros, or enchiladas. Plus, order a coffee and fresh juice, for good measure. That’s how Mexican brunch is done!

Honestly, it doesn’t get any more traditional than this. Just prepare to wait a little while for a table on weekends – and to leave stuffed!

Lardo (Condesa)

Judging by how many times I’ve been here, I guess I have to say that Lardo, by chef Elena Reygadas, is my favorite place for brunch in the city.

At Lardo, expect to find Mediterranean-Mexican fusion dishes at their best. The menu features a few dozen types of perfect pastries (get the rol de guayaba); French-inspired dishes like croque madame and quiche; green chilaquiles; croissant, ciabatta, and focaccia sandwiches; and all sorts of egg-forward dishes.

You’ll have to wait a while for a table – but, who cares? Meander La Condesa’s lovely, leafy avenues and pop into a few boutiques while you wait.

Note: Lunch and dinner here are just as delish! Think: tapas, pizza, salads, and other delicious dishes with a Mexican twist.

Café Nin (Juárez)

Café Nin is another stellar brunch spot created by chef Elena Reygadas (A.K.A. The World’s Best Female Chef of 2023).

Very similar to sister café Lardo, you’ll find amazing pastries, Mediterranean-Mexican dishes, great coffee, and friendly service. The main difference is that Café Nin is located in the Juárez neighborhood.

I also love dinner here! Specifically the lasagna and Mexican wine list.

Casa del Fuego (Colonia Cuauhtémoc)

A delight for coffee lovers, come to Casa del Fuego and sit at the bar. That way, you can watch the baristas crafting mad-scientist brews with Mexican beans and all sorts of methods.

Order the specialty espresso with bee honeycomb for a sweet but interesting drinking (and eating!) experience.

Coffee is the main event. But as far as food goes, loaded bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and innovative twists on classics like French toast and avocado toast are on the menu.

San Ángel Inn (San Ángel)

Originally a Carmelite monastery dating back to 1776, the San Ángel Inn transformed into an iconic restaurant and hotel for Mexico’s elite in 1906.

Nowadays, San Ángel Inn’s romantic locale features flower-filled gardens, old fountains, and colonial-style decór.

In true Mexico City form, start with hot chocolate and a pastry. From there, move on to something extra delicious, like huevos con escamoles en salse de frijol negro (eggs with ant larvae – probably my favorite Mexican delicacy, ever! – and black bean sauce). Or go for something like chile ancho relleno de hongos (ancho chili stuffed with mushrooms).

The food is pretty good here… But the unmatched, distinguishably Mexican hospitality and beyond-charming setting are the real reasons why I’ve included San Ángel Inn on my best Mexico City restaurants list.

Just make sure to reserve your table in advance; weekend brunch is a big deal here!

Hot tip: Head to the Saturday Bazaar (El Bazar Sábado) in San Ángel afterward! A must-do while in CDMX.

eno (Roma Norte)

eno is chef Enrique Olvera’s casual all-day concept serving traditional Mexican cuisine with a very Olvera-esque touch. When I first went here, I had no idea this was his restaurant, but after one bite of my flavor-bomb huevos rancheros with hoja santa, I was sure.

This is a perfect spot for a long, leisurely brunch in Roma (because in my experience, the service is SLOW – the very opposite of spectacular). However, from enfrijoladas to enchiladas to egg and chorizo tortas, you’re in for a delicious meal.

There are a few locations around the city, but I’ve only been to the one in Roma Norte (one of the best Mexico City neighborhoods to explore).

Main Meal (La Comida)

La comida is the main meal of the day, generally enjoyed between 2 and 4 pm.

As businesses in Spain shut down for siesta, the same sometimes goes for la comida in Mexico City, so that employees can enjoy lunch at home with family. You can often find eateries serving 3 or 4-course meals around this time.

La comida is usually a leisurely affair, consisting of a few courses and lots of chatting.

For la comida, I recommend…

Best Lunch Restaurants in Mexico City

Molino “El Pujol” (Hipódromo)

Molino “El Pujol” is chef Enrique Olvera’s casual tortillería restaurant concept in Hipódromo. Almost everything on the menu is maíz-based (corn-based) and vegetarian. But in my experience, everything on the menu drops a flavor bomb – without breaking the bank.

Make sure to try the avocado taco (the tortilla is pressed with an aromatic hoja santa leaf!), elote con chicatanas (street corn with ants), at least one of the many kinds of tamales, and an atole de temporada (a corn-based drink infused with seasonal fruits).

Open 8 am to 6 pm daily, Molino “El Pujol” is perfect for a quick and delicious meal as you explore Hipódromo and La Condesa.

Azul Histórico

Right in the middle of the historic city center, you’ll find a gem called Azul Histórico. Set in a stunning 17th-century, tree-filled courtyard the atmosphere here is elegant and tranquil, with a little dash of whimsy.

Created by chef and Mexican food historian Ricardo Muñoz Zurita, the menu here focuses on traditional Mexican recipes, executed perfectly, with local ingredients – alongside mezcales and margaritas. There are even ladies making fresh tortillas on a hot comal in one corner.

During my last visit, I was obligated by walnut season to order the chiles en nogada – the gloriously creamy walnut sauce and flavor-packed picadillo did not disappoint.

The tortilla soup and the “legendary mole negro” are also musts, along with a flight of mezcal… But whichever authentic classic Mexican dishes you choose, you can’t go wrong.

Contramar

As seemingly everyone’s favorite restaurant in Mexico City, you might be wondering if Contramar is worth the hype… So I’ll give it to you straight: it is. You won’t find fresher seafood in CDMX.

Contramar is worth a visit alone for the tostadas de atún (marinated ahi tuna) with chipotle mayo, avocado, and crispy leeks. The kingfish al pastor sopes with refried black beans send the experience over the top. Oh, and the seafood soups are also insanely delicious.

Ready for a long, leisurely lunch? Grab a table outside, sip on a mezcalita, and people-watch as you order one perfect dish after another.

The service here is top-notch. But as one of the world’s best seafood restaurants, it better be!

Floating Gardens of Xochimilco

Okay, so this technically isn’t a restaurant – but it is one of Mexico City’s best food experiences. Guaranteed, you’ve never had a lunch like this one!

Boating along the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco, while eating all of your favorite Mexican dishes and dancing to live mariachi music, is one of the best things to do in Mexico City.

When you arrive (ideally, with your favorite drinks at the ready – there’ll be a cooler on board!), you’ll hire a captain and a boat (called a trajinera) for a fixed price. You can also click here to book your experience online.

Then, as you float along, food vendors will glide by in their own kitchen-boats, selling freshly-made tacos, quesadillas, chicken with mole, carne asada, esquites, elotes, sopes, tamales, beans, rice, and more.

Order whatever looks good, and enjoy it on your boat’s built-in table!

Xochimilco is a giant party of food, beer, music, and good times. You won’t find an experience like this anywhere else in the world, so enjoy it!

Click here to book your Xochimilco experience, which includes unlimited beer, tequila, and mezcal.

Dinner (La Cena)

The last meal of the day, la cena, is usually enjoyed sometime between 7 and 10 pm.

Since la comida (lunch) is a heavier meal, la cena is usually much lighter and consists of something like soup or tacos, or maybe just some bread and a hot drink.

However, if you’re going out, la cena is a chance to head to a nice restaurant, or maybe hit up a cool taco joint.

Best Dinner Restaurants in Mexico City

Pujol (Polanco)

As of 2023, Pujol is the 13th-best restaurant in the world. So of course, it deserves a place on my list of Mexico City’s best restaurants.

Famed chef, Enrique Olvera, is the creator of Pujol and the culinary genius who elevated Mexican food to a level that no chef ever had before.

At Pujol, Mexican street food is transformed into a true fine-dining experience. I’ve been to Pujol twice for the tasting menu, which usually features a glorious appetizer of street snacks like wagyu beef sopes and baby corn charred to perfection inside of a pumpkin.

Some of the other dishes I’ve loved include succulent octopus, Mediterranean sea bass ceviche, softshell crab, and tender wagyu beef with peppers and herbed guacamole. That said, the menu changes seasonally.

Except for one constant. Pujol’s iconic dish: Mole Madre, Mole Nuevo.

It’s two concentric rings of mole, and one dramatic show of contrast. The first ring is a freshly made mole sauce. The second, a mole that’s been aged for 2,500+ days!

And, you ask, “What was served with the mole?” Nothing. Nothing but tortillas with hoja santa.

Bold, right? But Olvera’s moles are so good, they deserve to be the stars of the show. This is Pujol’s most legendary dish for a reason.

Make a reservation a few months in advance, because you don’t want to miss this.

Quintonil (Polanco)

For years, Quintonil trailed behind Pujol on the World’s 50 Best List. But in 2023, it pulled ahead, into the 9th spot. And I couldn’t agree more!

This is the best restaurant in Mexico City – and probably my favorite restaurant in the world.

Chef Jorge Vallejo owns and operates Quintonil with his wife Alejandra Flores – and the entire experience they’ve curated is nothing short of fantastic.

The restaurant’s concept is based on undying creativity and innovation, centering vegetables, greens, and local, seasonal, Mexican ingredients. “Quintonil” is a Mexican herb, after all!

Same as Pujol, I’ve had the sensational tasting menu here twice.

Some of the highlights have been cactus ceviche with beet and orange juice; tartar of avocado, escamoles (ant larvae), and greens; and duck confit in achiote, purée of bitter almonds and habanero, and red onion.

But beyond the food, what I love is how unpretentious and relaxed, yet how refined and elegant, the atmosphere here is.

Plus, during my first visit, the restaurant manager invited me back into the kitchen to meet Chef Jorge and the rest of his team. So cool.

Make your reservation a few months in advance. And request a seat at the counter so you can watch the kitchen at work!

La Casa de Toño (Many Locations)

La Casa de Toño is another Mexico City institution, with a few locations throughout the city.

If you’re looking for some classic Mexican comfort food, without having to think about it too much, then come here.

La Casa de Toño is known for its pozole, and it is very good. So if I were you, I’d just order that!

However, I’ve also feasted on flautas, sopes, and tacos here, and they were all delish. Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.

This restaurant is perfect for those times when you don’t want anything fancy and you just want to chow down! There are also lots of vegetarian options.

El Progreso (Tabacalera)

I stumbled upon El Progreso while staying in this beautiful hotel nearby.

El Progreso is a small hole-in-the-wall taco joint with a continuous line of hungry patrons, day or night!

This taquería made my best restaurants in Mexico City list for their tacos de chorizo con queso and bistec con queso, best topped off with some frijoles de olla and their spicy salsas.

Simple, cheap, and of course, delicious!

El Tizoncito Cholula (Hipódromo)

You’re bound to see 100 different al pastor taquerías while you’re in Mexico City. But El Tizoncito is the so-called creator of the legendary tacos al pastor!

And no dish represents Mexico City better.

Created by Lebanese immigrants in the 1930s, al pastor tacos are essentially the Mexican version of shawarma. These tacos feature liberally marinated pork, skewered onto a spit/rotisserie and slowly roasted into succulent, smoky perfection. Next, it’s thinly sliced off of the spit and into a corn tortilla, and topped with pineapple, onion, and cilantro.

Spoon on your favorite salsa, squeeze over some lime juice, and you’re in for one of the best bites of your life!

Sweet, spicy, salty, crispy, and bold. So good.

Make sure to also try gringas – al pastor in a flour tortilla with melted cheese. My favorite!

El Vilsito (Narvarte)

Featured on Netflix’s Taco Chronicles, El Vilsito is a car repair shop by day, and a taco stand by night. Some say this is the best al pastor taquería in the city.

There are also plenty of vegetarian options if al pastor is not your thing!

Taquería El Califa (Roma Norte)

Vegetarians and vegans, this one’s specifically for you! Because no one should leave Mexico City without savoring at least one al pastor taco.

Head to Taquería El Califa for a plant-based version. Order the tacos de “Pastor Irreal” which are made with vegan soy-gluten “meat.”

Or better yet, go for a vegetarian “gringa” which is an al pastor taco, but with a flour tortilla and melted cheese.

Nudo Negro (Roma Norte)

After traveling through Asia, chef Daniel Ovadia aimed to combine typical Mexican dishes with the cooking styles and flavors he discovered in China, Japan, Korea, and beyond. Now, Nudo Negro offers up an innovative and mesmerizing fusion of Asia and CDMX.

I couldn’t resist the 10-dish tasting menu, which included interesting dishes like pozole xiao long bao, jerk pork ribs, duck dumplings, and green tea flan.

What a wild, but incredibly satisfying combination of flavors and cuisines! Don’t miss it.

Note: This is the only restaurant I haven’t been to recently. Hopefully, the quality hasn’t slipped since my last visit; Google Reviews seem to support my opinion, so it’s staying on my list.

Best Dessert Spots in Mexico City

I couldn’t leave a couple of dessert spots off of my guide to the best Mexico City restaurants.

So here are the two most iconic ones not to miss:

• Nevería Roxy (Condesa): A Mexico City ice cream institution since 1964. A must.
• Churrería El Moro (Hipódromo): Who doesn’t love churros? Chilangos have been loving these churros since 1935 – you will too. Head for the Parque México location; this park is such a vibe!

Bonus! Don’t miss a speakeasy called Hanky Panky! Good luck finding it.

Mexico City Travel: Quick Tips

• HOTEL: I use this website for scoring amazing deals on accommodation worldwide. There are some incredible hotel options in Mexico City, go for Agata Hotel Boutique & Spa in Coyoacán and Felix Boutique Apartments in Condesa.
• HOSTELWORLD: If you’re traveling on a budget, this is the best website to score cheap hostel deals.
• VACATION RENTAL: I use this site to find the perfect vacation rental for an unforgettable getaway.
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: Never go on a trip without travel insurance! SafetyWing has an awesome monthly subscription for digital nomad insurance (I currently use SafetyWing).
• GUIDED TOURS & EXCURSIONS: Many of the tours I recommend are hosted with Viator, which also works with local tour operators. In Mexico City you absolutely have to book a trajinera in the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco for an epic boat party, Mexico City style.
• CHEAP FLIGHTS: Mexico City airport is the obvious choice if you are flying straight in. Get great deals on flights using my favorite flight fare aggregator.
• TRAVEL GEAR: A collection of all of my must-have travel gear is listed here. But most important to remember is bug spray, and suncream, nobody needs bites and burns while on vacation.
• CAR RENTAL: It’s unlikely you will need a car if you are staying in Mexico City but if you are using this as a starting point for a road trip and need a rental car book in advance here for the best deals.

Mexico City Foodie Guide:
25 Best Restaurants in Mexico City

So there you have it! That’s my ultimate foodie guide to the best Mexico City restaurants!

After traveling to Mexico City as a tourist, and living there as a digital nomad, I’ve done all of the delicious research for you. I’m confident that each and every one of these Mexico City restaurants will be a winner in your book!

Have you been to any of these restaurants? Do you have any favorites that didn’t make it onto our best Mexico City restaurants guide? If so, let us know in the comments!