Mexico City - What to Order

• Tamal de esquite (the standout)
• Mole tlayuda (the "mole pizza")
• Silver Rush cocktail (tequila, fermented honey)

Olvera's dark sequel to Pujol, in the old Pujol space. Reserve; great late-night mezcal stop too.

• Tomahawk for two (dry-aged showpiece)
• Bone marrow
• Beef tartare

The city's most formal steakhouse. Splurge, book ahead, ask for tableside martini service.

• Mesquite-smoked aged ribeye (the rave)
• Empanada de quesos (roquefort-walnut)
• Provoleta

Argentine charcoal grill, livelier than Harry's. Dinner; service can run slow when busy.

• Tuna tostadas (Contramar's famous dish)
• Butterflied grilled fish (a la talla)
• Strawberry meringue cake

Contramar's Polanco sister, none of the hour wait. Ask for the upstairs terrace.

• Tortilla de patatas
• Croquetas de jamon serrano
• Pulpo a la gallega; Sunday paella

Called the best Spanish in CDMX. Reserve, it's full most nights.

• Ravioli caprino (goat cheese)
• Lasagna Napolitana
• Seasonal seafood pasta special

Handmade pasta at fair prices, rare for Polanco. Relaxed weeknight spot.

• Cachetada de picaña (the signature)
• Spicy tuna tostada
• Mango sorbetto

Polanco's see-and-be-seen taco spot. No res, 20-30min wait, free beer while you stand.

• Catch of the day
• Torta de higos (fig)
• Pastries with coffee

Olvera's casual all-day cafe. Weekday for calmer service.

• 5-course omakase (the reason to go)
• Toro nigiri with caviar
• Eel with foie gras

Tiny 16-seat counter, itamae Roberto Sasaki. Reserve well ahead.

• The Kilt (Hendrick's, Drambuie, rose)
• Mezcal negroni

Hidden basement speakeasy, door behind the freezer. Live jazz Tuesdays. Reserve.

• Wagyu A4 taco (the flex, ~$335)
• Ribeye en costra (cheese crust, melts)
• Trompo picaña taco + salsa negra
• Spicy tuna tostada; tres leches to finish

1 Michelin. Wait 30-60min, go early or sit at the counter.

• Pescado a la talla (half green / half red adobo, whole fish)
• Tuna tostadas (started the whole craze)

Lunch is the loud, festive scene. Reserve ahead.

• Daily tasting menu (Lalo Garcia's market run)
• Abalone tostada
• Onion with comte cruffin; asparagus hollandaise

1 Michelin. Book ahead.

• Charred avocado tartare with escamoles
• Smoked baby corn, chicatana-ant mayo
• Creme fraiche sorbet, Melipona honey & caviar

No.3 World's 50 Best, 2 Michelin stars. Book ~2-3 months out.

• Mole madre / mole nuevo (the icon)
• Baby corn, coffee mayo, chile costeno
• Taco omakase bar (soft-shell crab, wagyu memela)

2 Michelin. Hardest res in the city; try the taco bar for walk-ups.

• Chiles en nogada (in season Jul-Sep)
• Maria va a la floreria (the dessert)
• Huauzontle tart, pasilla-cinnamon

Martha Ortiz. Theatrical, photogenic, works with kids too.

• Corn tamale, celeriac, white mole
• Lechon with pink mole, hibiscus, hoja santa
• Cabbage tacos, pistachio puree

Elena Reygadas, 1 Michelin. The sit-down spot vs your bakery pin.

• Escamole croquettes, serrano
• Grilled corvina, spinach, garlic foam
• Mamey dessert trio

Lucho Martinez, 1 Michelin Mexican-Japanese. Date night.

• Suadero or potato samosas, pepitas
• Veracruz prawns, vanilla butter
• Chocolate tamal, avocado mousse

1 Michelin African-Indian-Mexican. Easier res, great value.

• Crispy corn infladita, octopus, green mole
• Suckling pig, build-your-own tacos
• Soft-shell crab, surf-and-turf mayo

1 Michelin garden-to-table. A touch more relaxed than Pujol/Quintonil.

• Sopa seca de natas (the must-order)
• Chilaquiles parranderos
• Chicken in almond mole

Lifetime Achievement (LatAm 50 Best). Warm, kid-friendly. ~20min ride.

• Omakase at the counter (the move here)
• Flamed kampachi nigiri; maguro / toro / chu toro
• Fresh oysters; otoro

Tiny 16-seat bar, no reservations, arrive early. Fridays get special fish flown from Japan.

• Tuna flight (a must)
• Tiger roll; truffle sashimi
• Robata short rib / wagyu

Izakaya + robata. Order off the grill, not just rolls.

• If Tori Tori: marinated tuna rice bowl
• "Sushi cake" (crispy rice); Alaska roll

Your pin's name looks like a street. Confirm it's Tori Tori (upscale Japanese).

• House micheviche (ceviche)
• Red shrimp aguachile
• Smoked marlin taco (Culichi); micheladas rated best-ever

Go at peak hours for the freshest fish.

• Guava roll (the famous one)
• Cardamom roll
• Chocolate concha

Sells out; go before 9am weekends. Mostly to-go.

• Fried chicken sandwich (the favorite)
• Short rib sandwich
• Grilled cheese with tomato soup

Bread & pickles in-house. Daytime only, closes 6pm.

• Gold Taco (veg), Lord Buddha (dosa/tikka)
• Empanaderia, Camarones Cajun

Graze 2-3 stalls, then the rooftop beer garden.

• Chocolate-hazelnut croissant (huge)
• Raspberry tarte; date croissant

Pastry + coffee stop, not sandwiches (slow service).

• Prosciutto-and-egg croissant sandwich
• Yogurt, fruit & house granola
• Hot chocolate from the shop next door

Monica Patino institution. Weekday before 10am.

• Guava croffin (the signature)
• Dark chocolate croissant; almond croissant

Speakeasy bakery, ring the bell at Tonala 143. Go early.

• Plain butter croissant (best-in-city talk)
• Ham-and-cheese croissant; the fougasse bread

Quiet French-leaning cafe, short walk from home.

• Tonkotsu (2 free noodle refills)
• Spicy Chinese-style ramen (the star)
• Gyoza

Customize noodle thickness. Small, go off-peak.

• Pho tai (rare beef)
• Pork belly bao; fried spring rolls
• Vietnamese iced coffee

Good, not transcendent, and pricey. Skip the bun cha.

• Prosciutto al vino tinto
• Beef bolognese ravioli
• Shrimp in white wine; tiramisu

Build-your-own pasta counter. Go for the house picks above.

• Chicken (malai) tikka
• Dal makhani; paneer makhni
• Tikka masala

Not the downtown "Swagat", different place.

• Trompo Negro Fuego (signature)
• Trompo mixta; gringa / costra
• Flautas

Michelin Bib. Real wait, no res, go off-peak.

• Al pastor
• Suadero (the standout)
• Longaniza

Cash only, street stand, ~16 pesos each. Order several.

• Flor de calabaza; huitlacoche
• Picadillo; nopales

Blue-corn masa. Fillings rotate daily, ask what's fresh.

• Gaonera (ribeye + marrow fat, invented here)
• Bistec taco; chuleta

The only Michelin-starred taco stand on earth. Cash, standing, 4 items.

• Suadero (house specialty)
• Campechano (suadero + longaniza)
• Tripa

Bourdain's spot, 24/7 since the 80s. Best late-night.

• Original al pastor, tortilla dipped in drippings
• Order it "con todo"

Birthplace of modern al pastor (1959).

• Gringa de pastor (the signature)
• Al pastor "con todo," extra pineapple

Mechanic's garage by day, legendary pastor by night (~9pm-3am).

• 4-pack cinnamon-sugar churros + Mexican hot chocolate
• Consuelo (churro ice-cream sandwich)

Open very late, fast turnover. Post-dinner or post-taco stop.

• Paloma Blanca (clarified grapefruit)
• Tascalate Sour
• Bites: tuna tostada, Oaxaca-cheese "burrata"

No.3 North America's 50 Best Bars. Standing room, go with a group.

• Mexi-Thai (the signature)
• Matcha Yuzu; Olive Oil Gimlet

World's No.1 Bar (2024 & 2025). Res-only, unmarked door, 90-min seating.

• Margarita al Pastor (the signature)
• Jamaica Mezcal; Mango Enchilado

Birthplace of CDMX's craft-cocktail scene. Weeknights calmer.

• Pepe el Toro (whiskey, Nixta corn liqueur)
• Soldado Medina (tequila, cactus sorbet)
• Regional mezcal flight

Top-5 North America's 50 Best, surrealist mansion.

• Grilled octopus (the standout)
• Salmon risotto

Sunset & Sunday-brunch spot, rotating guest chef. Reserve for golden hour.

• Margarita clasica
• Oaxacan hot chocolate; ham-cheese torta

More bar than food. Go for the vibe and live music at night.

• Crepe Lilou (the signature)
• Tuna tostadas
• Ribeye with frites; short rib in Cabernet

Brunch inside the InterContinental. Go earlier in the day.