We have selected 15 restaurants, which we have divided into five categories: Gourmet, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.
Restaurant prices are subject to 15% VAT (Value Added Tax). In Mexico, it is not common practice to include any service charges in a restaurant bill, so a tip of 10-15%, depending on the quality of the service, is expected. Payment of restaurant bills will usually be expected in Mexican Pesos.
The restaurants below have been classed into four different pricing categories:
$ (up to MS$200)
$$ (MS$200 to MS$300)
$$$ (MS$ 300 to MS$400)
$$$$ (over M$4000)
The prices given are for a three-course meal and a bottle of house wine.
Gourmet Adonis This Lebanese restaurant offers a delicious selection of Middle Eastern and North African. The décor is suitably exotic with music from Thursday to Saturday to add to the atmosphere. The mezze, including stuffed vine leaves, houmus and tabouleh is particularly good as is the Adonis fish in spicy nut sauce.
Calle Homero 424, Polanco
Tel: (55) 5531 6940.
Price: $$$$.
Au Pied de Cochon This fashionable 24-hour bistro in the Hotel Presidente Inter-Continental (see
Hotels) has been a hit with Mexico’s beautiful people since it opened. Modelled closely on the Parisian original, the restaurant offers sumptuous seafood platters, including oysters and lobster, as well as steaks, pigs’ trotters and snails prepared by French chefs. The chocolate profiteroles are delicious. Decor is Art Nouveau and the service is pleasant. An extensive wine list is available.
Hotel Presidente Inter-Continental, Avenida Campos Eliseos 216, Polanco
Tel: (55) 5327 7756.
Website:
www.ichotelsgroup.com Price: $$$$.
Les Moustaches Situated in Cuauhtemoc this restaurant has excellent French cuisine attentively served in understated, elegant surroundings and has been a favorite for more than 25 years. Housed in a European style mansion, the ground floor is an attractive plant-filled patio, while the second floor provides three elegant private rooms for banquets. The food is fresh and sumptuous. They are famous for their mussel soup, duck a l'orange and spectacular pistachio soufflé.
Río Sena 88, Cuauhtemoc
Tel: (55) 5533 3390.
Website:
www.lesmoustaches.com.mx Price: $$$$.
Business Cafe del Bosque With its location overlooking a lake with one of the best views of Chapultepec Forest, its proximity to the business district and excellent menu of international and Mexican dishes it’s not surprising that this is always a popular restaurant with business people. Particularly busy for the morning breakfast and weekend buffet be sure to book for an outside table with a view of the lake.
Chapultepec Park
Tel: (52) 5516 4214.
Price: $$.
Los Naranjos Los Naranjos offers upmarket, nouvelle Mexican cuisine in comfortable and beautifully decorated surroundings. Its location in the Polanco district coupled with the creative take on traditional Mexican cuisine has ensured its popularity. Signature dishes include tequila-marinated shrimps with ancho chilli and prickly pear, chicken rolls with curd cheese, and fried plantain with a red mole sauce, and, for dessert, guava stuffed with guanabana mousse.
Lopez de Vega 334, Polanco
Tel: (55) 5545 0755.
Price: $$.
San Angel Inn This ex-hacienda with its pretty courtyard is one of the city’s most attractive restaurants. Situated in the southern colonial district of San Angel, it serves good Mexican and international food. Signature dishes include the trout, the prawns on a skewer and the
huitlacoche (corn fungus – a Mexican delicacy) crêpes. The wine list is extensive and the margaritas are delicious.
Diego Rivera 50, corner of Altavista, San Angel.
Tel: (55) 5616 1402/2222.
Website:
www.sanangelinn.com Price: $$$$.
Trendy El Blu Located in the upmarket San Angel district in the south of the city,
Blu is frequented by the ‘beautiful people’, who come to enjoy its exceedingly stylish décor, its fresh Mediterranean cuisine and on some nights live jazz. The pasta and seafood are especially recommended. Signature dishes include red snapper in saffron sauce, salmon ravioli and the onion and mushroom focaccia. For dessert, the
Big Mistake chocolate cake will leave you with no regrets.
Avenida de la Paz 57, San Angel
Tel: (55) 5616 4791.
Price: $$.
Ixchel This hip restaurant is a favorite haunt among Mexican media types and artists and is particularly lively on Thursday nights. Situated in a beautiful early 20th century mansion in the heart of bohemian Roma, it houses a terrace bar downstairs, a cool blue velvet lounge and an elegant restaurant upstairs. The food is tasty, fusing Asian and Mediterranean styles. Recommended dishes are the Thai chicken salad, Oriental salmon fillet on bok choy and the crème brûlée.
Medellin 65, Roma
Tel: (55) 5208 4055.
Price: $$$.
Los Danzantes Enjoying a prime location on Coyoacán square, this pleasant, airy restaurant serves inventive nouvelle Mexican and international cuisine. The service is somewhat languid but it is a good place to talk and people-watch. The coconut-wrapped prawns in sweet and sour sauce make a good starter. An interesting main dish is the medallions of beef in mescal and chilli sauce. The bar offers a range of tequila and mescal labels.
Plaza Jardin Centenario 12, Coyoacán
Tel: (55) 5658 6451.
Website:
www.losdanzantes.com.mx Price: $$.
Budget Café Tacuba This Mexican institution in the Centro Histórico,
Café Tacuba has been serving traditional Mexican food since 1913. The restaurant is a feast for the eye, with painted archways, colorful tiles, stained-glass windows and brass lamps. The menu includes tostadas, enchiladas, chiles rellenos, tamales and mole. The popular Mexican rock band of the same name are sponsored by the café.
Tacuba 28, Centro Histórico
Tel: (55) 5521 2048.
Price: $.
Casa de Azulejos The House of Tiles – with its exterior covered in Mexican blue and white tiles, is one of the most eye-catching buildings in the Centro Histórico and is Sanborn’s flagship in Mexico City. This 16th-century former mansion has an impressive spacious interior with a Moorish fountain in an airy courtyard enlivened by frescoes. Food is basic Mexican, with a good range of soups, salads and enchiladas.
Avenida Madero 4, Centro Histórico
Tel: (55) 5518 0152
or 5521 6058.
Price: $.
Saks This rustic vegetarian restaurant on the busy Avenida Insurgentes heading south of the city has vaulted ceilings and medieval paintings on the walls. Exotic fruit juices and enormous portions of healthy food, combining Mexican and international cuisine, are served up in a relaxed atmosphere. The
Saks salad of artichokes, palm hearts, asparagus, portobello mushrooms and feta cheese is excellent, as is the chilli filled with squash flower, nopal cactus and mushrooms.
Avenida Insurgentes Sur 1641, Florida
Tel: (55) 5598 6433
or 5563 3402.
Price: $.
Personal Recommendations Villa Maria A delicious selection of cocktails - the sweet and sour Margarita made from tamarind juice is a house specialty, great Mexican ambiance and excellent Mexican food make this a deservedly popular restaurant. A favorite amongst business people, tourists and locals arrive early to ensure a table. There is Mariachi music in the evenings. The nopal salad and the dish reputed to be served up for Moctezuma are recommended.
Homero 704, Polanco
Tel: (55) 5203 0306
or 5545 8590.
Price: $$.
El Bodeguita del Medio Named after Ernest Hemmingway’s haunt in Cuba and decorated with clients’ signatures covering the walls, a good night out is guaranteed at this characterful bar-restaurant in artistic Roma. The atmosphere is lively, with a Cuban band playing most nights, and the
mojitos (a Cuban cocktail of rum, lime juice, sugar and mint) are the best in town. Specialties of the house include black beans and rice (
moros y cristianos), shredded beef and tomato stew (
vieja ropa) and fried chicken with banana.
Cozumel 37, Roma
Tel: (55) 5553 0246.
Price: $.
Kohinoor Indian restaurants are rare in Mexico City but this gem, in the new business district of Sante Fe in the north, will satisfy any curry craving with its delicious, rich dishes. The decor is bright and clean, with the focal point being the glass window allowing diners to watch chefs at work. The chicken tikka masala is very good, the tandoor-baked nan breads are delicious and there is a good variety of vegetarian options.
Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena 999, Sante Fe
Tel: (55) 5292 1291.
Price: $.
Nightlife:The nightlife in Mexico City is as lively and varied as everything else the city has to offer. From gentle supper clubs with floorshows to loud, brash nightclubs, and from piano bars to
antros (or
disco-
bars) and bars that offer traditional Mexican music - all tastes are catered for. The most popular districts are Polanco, San Angel, Coyoacán and, more recently, Condesa (a residential neighborhood just south of La Zona Rosa). La Zona Rosa is still a popular nightspot but has lost ground to Polanco and Condesa in recent years. The exception is the Centro Histórico, which is surprisingly quiet at night. Nightlife starts late in Mexico and ends late. There are no licensing hours but many bars and nightclubs are closed on Sundays. Prices of drinks and admission vary enormously depending on the area. When drinking alcohol, it is worth remembering that, because of the high altitude, one drink in Mexico City can have the effect of two at lower altitudes. The minimum age for drinking in Mexico is 18 years old. In the popular districts, thieves are rife, so remember to keep your wallet well guarded.
Tiempo Libre (website:
www.tiempolibre.com.mx), published every Thursday, is the weekly listings magazine (in Spanish only) and can be bought at newspaper-stands. The English-language newspaper,
The News, has a brief what’s-on guide at the weekend.
Bars: In the Centro Histórico,
La Opera Bar, Avenida Cinco de Mayo 10, is a late 19th-century establishment with a lively atmosphere. Look out for a bullet hole in the ceiling, said to have come from Pancho Villa’s revolver. For another Mexican specialty, head for
La Casa de las Sirenas, Guatemala 32, a bar and restaurant offering over 250 varieties of tequila.
Rioma, Insurgentes Sur 377, Condesa, is one of the trendiest bars at the moment. There is a very strict entrance policy but if you do get past the doormen expect a mix of electronic lounge music with louder techno sounds as the evening progresses. Another popular bar is the rooftop bar of the
Hotel Habita, Avenida Presidente, Msasaryk 201: this minimalist bar in Polanco is a magnet for young media types. It’s not cheap but the view from over the city makes it worth the price.
Across the way,
Cosmo is a younger and noiser alternative with a DJ and exotic cocktails. Less hip but more relaxed is the
Bar Euro, Avenida Presidente Masaryk 134, with indoor and outdoor seating.
Mezzanote, also located in Plaza Zentro, Avenida Presidente Masaryk 407, is a lively restaurant and bar, with disco music Thursday to Saturday. The nostalgic ex-pat
Shelty, Avenida Campos Eliseos 204 (facing Chapultepec Park), is a wood-panelled English pub in the Nikko Hotel.
In Coyoacán, the popular
Hijo del Cuervo, Jardín del Centenario 17, attracts a youthful mix of Mexicans and foreigners and occasionally features live music.
Barracuda, Nuevo Leon 4, is a hip, chilled bar offering food and cocktails and jazz.
Rexo, Saltillo 1, is another bar/restaurant popular with young professionals, as is
Cinna on Nuevo Leon, below the cinema. In nearby Zona Rosa,
Bar Milan, Milan 18 is ever popular especially on Thursdays and Fridays with an eclectic mix of music from rock to hip hop.
For a more Mexican experience, the
Centenario cantina, Michoacan 42, is always packed and has live musicians, guaranteeing a good night out.
Clubs: The
Colmillo, Versailles 49, in a colonial house in the Juárez district, was founded by two English men and remains one of the hottest clubs in Mexico City, with DJs playing acid jazz upstairs and techno below.
In the bohemian Roma district,
Avant-Garde, Puebla 310, pumps hardcore techno to a devoted crowd, while the
Living Room, Orizaba 146, in a delightful high-ceilinged colonial mansion, is one of the most popular gay clubs in town. Also in Roma is the fun
Mama Rumba, Queretaro 230, an institution with salsa lovers, who groove the night away to live bands.
Mauna Loa, Avenida San Jeronimo 240, is a popular Polynesian nightclub with live music for dancing and a Polynesian floorshow.
Restaurant Chez’ar in Hotel Aristos, Paseo de la Reforma 276, has a band playing live dance music, from the rumba to the fox trot, while
Antillanos, Francisco Pimentel 78, is
the place to go for salsa dancing, with its large dance floor and enthusiastic crowd.
Acanto, Chapultepec Park at El Lago restaurant hosts the city’s most exclusive club overlooking a lake and fountain.
Live Music: Mexico City attracts big-name international rock and pop acts. The main venues are
Auditorio Nacional, Paseo de la Reforma 50,
Teatro Metropólitan, Indepencia 90, and the
Palacio de los Deportes, corner of Avenida Río Churubusco and Añil.
Hard Rock Live, Campos Eliseos, 290 Polanco hosts well known international as well as Spanish-language bands in an intimate state-of-the-art venue.
New Orleans Jazz, Avenida Revolucion 1655, San Angel, is classic jazz bar. For something a bit different
Adonis Homero 424, Polanco, has a club upstairs from the restaurant with belly dancing and a Middle Eastern band.
Bar Jorongo, in the Sheraton Maria Isabel Hotel, Paseo de la Reforma 325, has been one of the city’s popular nightspots for more than 25 years, where big-name
mariachis play Mexican music. Alternatively, visit
Plaza Garibaldi, on Eje Central between Republica de Honduras and Republica de Peru. This square, lined with bars and restaurants, comes alive from about 2000-2400 when the mariachi bands gather, dressed in black, silver-studded suits and large hats.
Café Tenampa is a long-standing institution on the square, where clients are serenaded by mariachis and can test their virility with a popular electric shock game.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related Mexico City Content
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related Mexico Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Mexico Airport Guides:
|
Mexico City Guides:
|
| Mexico Attraction Guides: |
|
|
Available Tours to Mexico:
|
