Must-see restaurants in Mexico

  • Merkava

    Condesa

    If you get a hankering for authentic Israeli food while in Mexico City, head to Merkava. Be sure to try the hummus; it’s always packed with flavor and…

  • Ficelle Boulangerie Patisserie

    Condesa

    For an afternoon pick-me-up, grab a coffee and a pastry from this French-style bakery. Choose from a selection of pastelitos (little pastries) so you can…

  • Mercado Barrio Antiguo

    Monterrey

    Monterrey's new culinary destination is a photogenic food hall with communal tables ringed by over a dozen vendors selling street food and desserts. There…

  • Nonsolo

    Roma

    Roma residents head here for late-night pizza, midday wine offers and huge portions of pasta. There's a brick pizza oven, cheap beer, and plenty of…

  • La Cueva del Pescador

    Akumal

    Near the town's entrance, this popular foreigners' hangout does good grilled fish dishes and shrimp tacos in a casual atmosphere with outdoor seating…

  • El Rey del Suadero

    Polanco & Bosque de Chapultepec

    A one-stop chomp to try two of Mexico City's most iconic tacos: suadero (beef) and al pastor (spit-cooked marinated pork). Suadero tacos can be combined…

  • El Galeón del Caribe

    Cancún

    Famed for its pescadillas (fried tortillas stuffed with fish), this low-key seafood palapa has an outdoor kitchen and lagoonside setting. It’s near the…

  • Sud 777

    Ciudad Universitaria & Tlalpan

    If you find yourself on the city's south side, don't miss the contemporary Mexican cuisine of Edgar Nuñez, one of the capital's top chefs. Signature…

  • Pasillo de Humo

    Condesa

    If you can't make it to culinary capital Oaxaca, here's your chance to delve into authentic traditional cuisine from the region. You might try the sopa…

  • Lalo!

    Roma

    A popular breakfast spot in the trendy Roma neighborhood, Lalo refers to the nickname of owner and acclaimed chef Eduardo Garcia of Maximo Bistrot Local…

  • El Rey de las Ahogadas

    Mexico City

    Deep-fried rolled tacos, aka flautas, are filled with your choice of refried beans, cheese, shredded beef, chicken, potato or marinated pork. They're…

  • La Palapa Belga

    Cancún

    One of Cancún’s tastiest and most peaceful fine-dining restaurants – if you can find it. Tucked away within the Hotel Imperial Laguna's garden, this…

  • Fonda Fina

    Condesa

    The fonda concept of ordering a three-course meal off a set menu does not apply here; instead you select a main with your choice of sauce and side dish…

  • La Abuela

    Zona Rosa & Reforma

    There's certainly no shortage of tacos de canasta (steamed tacos in a basket) in Mexico City, but La Abuela has been doing it for three decades – and it…

  • La Perla de la Roma

    Roma

    The true perla (pearl) at this superpopular family-style seafood restaurant is the mojarra frita (fried whole tilapia). The generously served dish comes…

  • Los Loosers

    Condesa

    Vegan food done right. Reporter-turned-chef Mariana Blanco cooks up something a little different each day for a daily changing menu inspired by Mexican…

  • La Playita

    Cancún

    The covered terrace at this bar and restaurant affords views of the nearby bullring and towering residential buildings. Multi-flavored mojitos are great…

  • Chuchito Perez

    Cancún

    The palapa-covered terrace of this trendy restaurant is wrapped in panoramic views, overlooking the nightclub strip, Nichupté Lagoon and the Caribbean Sea…

  • Tacos Manolo

    Mexico City

    Famous for its 'taco manolo' (finely chopped beef, bacon and onion on a corn tortilla), you can chow down these tasty treats at the restaurant or the…

  • El Tizoncito

    Condesa

    This Condesa institution claims to be the creator of the taco al pastor (spit-roasted marinated pork). Whether it's true or not, it is certainly one of…

  • El Faraón

    Condesa

    Thanks to its long hours and proximity to the clubs around the lively Fuente de Cibeles, this spacious taco restaurant is busiest around 3am, but the…

  • Carnitas El Azul

    Zona Rosa & Reforma

    Blink an eye and you'll walk right past this nondescript carnitas joint. El Azul (real name Rubén) has been slinging tacos de carnitas (pork simmered in…

  • San Agustín

    San Miguel de Allende

    This is a 'don't leave San Miguel without…' experience. This sweet-tooth's paradise is the best place in the region for chocolate and churros (doughnut…

  • Bawa Bawa

    Roma

    Mexico City loves a barbecue and the Texas-style grub here ranks among the city's best. The pork belly and short rib reign supreme and can be ordered in…

  • Jeanie's

    Isla Cozumel

    The views of the water are great from the outdoor patio here. Jeanie’s serves waffles, hash browns, eggs, sandwiches and other tidbits including…

  • Chamicos

    Riviera Maya

    Fresh-caught fish and seafood done up in simple preparations right on the beach. You may not have white linen and fine china, but you can't ask for a…

  • La Fonda de la Noche

    Guadalajara

    Set in a rambling art nouveau house, this restaurant is a stunner in every way. The cuisine is largely from the Durango region and it would be fair to say…

  • Mercado Roma

    Roma

    Weekends at this gourmet food hall resemble a red-carpet event of well-to-do families and the best dressed (it has featured in top fashion mags). It is…

  • La Biznaga

    Oaxaca City

    Locals and visitors alike jam the large colonial courtyard for well-rendered nouveau-Oaxacan fusion dishes. The choices are chalked on blackboards: you…

  • Mercado Pino Suárez

    Mazatlán

    Old Mazatlán’s central market offers a classic Mexican experience, with pungent stalls selling slabs of marlin, machaca (Sinaloan dried beef), fruit,…

  • Truchas Los Comales

    West of Mexico City

    Pick fresh trucha (trout) from the tank at this family restaurant, or fish it yourself at the nearby criadero (fish farm) for cooking here. Then have your…

  • Desayunos Lupita

    East of Mexico City

    This ultra-popular breakfast and lunch spot serves quintessential tlaxcalteca food, like huaraches (an oblong, fried corn base with a variety of toppings)…

  • Codornejas Restaurante

    Yucatán State & the Maya Heartland

    Located 6km southeast of Oxkutzcab, and 21km northwest of Tekax, this is a great stopover lunch spot. It's definitely for carnivores and here's why: it…

  • Los Mirasoles

    Morelia

    Morelian and Michoacán pride oozes from the kitchen at Los Mirasoles, where you'll dine in a fine Unesco-quality house bedecked (among other quirks) with…

  • Mercado Principal

    Campeche

    Campeche’s bustling Mercado Principal, across the street from the Baluarte de San Pedro, offers some good snacks – if you can handle the 'rustic hygiene.'

  • Roberto’s Bistro

    Troncones

    Catering to the carnivorously inclined, this Argentine-style beachfront grill, 1km south of the T-intersection, is all meat and heat and smoke from the…

  • Onix

    Morelia

    All the restaurants around Plaza de Armas are excellent for eavesdropping and people-watching, but some come unstuck with the food. Not Onix, locally…

  • Cenaduría Julia

    Western Central Highlands

    This institution in the northern suburb of Villa de Álvarez is one of the area's best-loved restaurants. The dishes to try here are the sopitos (small…

  • Karne Garibaldi

    Guadalajara

    This branch of a large and bright local cantina chain is wildly popular with Mexican families and has two specialties: carne en su jugo (‘meat in its…

  • Restaurante Xel-Ha

    Chetumal

    In a palapa (thatched-roof) restaurant right by the lagoon, Xel-Ha serves some of the best fresh fish around. Head about 8km north of Chetumal to the…

More destinations you need to see