The Top 10 Restaurants in Mexico City

The Centro Histórico's grand dame of traditional Mexican breakfast — house-baked conchas split and slathered with natas (clotted cream) from their own dairy, Doña Oliva hot chocolate, and serious classics like escamoles and chiles en nogada in season. Family-run since 1969, beloved by locals and politicians alike. Expect a weekend brunch line; it closes by early evening.

A grand Belle Époque–style restaurant in Centro Histórico serving traditional Mexican cuisine with impeccable old-school service—waiters in white jackets, formal table settings, and live musicians. The mole and enchiladas suizas are standouts, and the ornate 1800s atmosphere (including a bullet hole allegedly from Pancho Villa) makes it memorable. Note that the formal, somewhat aloof service style won't suit everyone looking for a relaxed meal.

A hole-in-the-wall on Bolívar with a bubbling vat of slow-braised beef that produces the Centro's most famous suadero and campechano tacos — Anthony Bourdain ate here, Michelin lists it, and cabbies always knew. Open from morning until nearly dawn. It's greasy, glorious, standing-room street food; the adventurous can try tripa, ojo, or lengua.

A 1912 institution in a former convent — Talavera tiles, brass lamps, waitresses in traditional dress, and estudiantina musicians serenading tables. The enchiladas, tamales, and famous hot chocolate are good, not transcendent; you're paying for one of the most atmospheric dining rooms in Mexico. Open daily 8am-11:30pm. Skip if you want cutting-edge food.

A curated gourmet market hall that brings together some of the best small food producers and chefs in Mexico City under one roof — think artisanal tacos, craft beer, excellent coffee, Japanese-Mexican fusion, and much more. It's ideal for grazing and sampling widely rather than sitting down to a single meal. It skews slightly touristy and can get crowded on weekends, but the quality of individual vendors is genuinely high.

Open since 1957, Nicos is a pilgrimage destination for traditional Mexican cuisine — chef Gerardo Vázquez Lugo has spent decades preserving and researching recipes from across Mexico's regions. The mole de olla, chiles en nogada (in season), and bacalao a la vizcaína are benchmarks of their kind. It's far from the tourist trail in Azcapotzalco, which is precisely the point; take a taxi and plan for a long, leisurely lunch.

Gabriela Cámara's Roma seafood temple, running since 1998 — the tuna tostadas and the half-red, half-green grilled fish are modern Mexico City classics, served in a big sunlit room that turns weekend lunch into a party. Lunch-focused hours (closes 8pm). Book days ahead or show up at opening; it's expensive by CDMX standards and worth it.

The original 'little hole in the wall' that's been carving tacos al pastor on Ayuntamiento since 1959 — a founding shrine of the pastor style, where the meat comes off the trompo already sauced, no pineapple. The tiny standing-room original is the pilgrimage; the sit-down branches nearby are comfier but less magic. Open daily 9am-10pm.

Chef Jorge Vallejo's restaurant is a perennial World's 50 Best fixture and a more ingredient-forward, vegetable-centric counterpoint to Pujol. Dishes like hoja santa with chicatana ants and seasonal herb-driven plates showcase Mexico's biodiversity with technical precision. It's slightly easier to book than Pujol but still requires advance reservations; the à la carte menu offers more flexibility than the tasting menu.

Chef Edgar Núñez's restaurant in the southern suburbs is a benchmark for contemporary Mexican cooking with a strong focus on local and seasonal ingredients from small producers. The tasting menu is inventive without being gimmicky, and the garden setting amid volcanic rock is genuinely beautiful. It's a trek from Roma or Condesa but absolutely worth it; the lunch tasting menu offers excellent value.

A tiny, standing-room-only Yucatecan taquería that has been serving cochinita pibil tacos and panuchos to Polanco residents for decades. The cochinita — slow-roasted achiote pork — is some of the best in the city, and the habanero salsa is ferocious. It's a hole-in-the-wall with no seating and a perpetual line; come before 2pm or risk them selling out.

Orinoco is the gold standard for norteño-style tacos in Mexico City — think perfectly charred carne asada, costilla, and chorizo cooked over mesquite on a massive parrilla. The flour tortillas are made fresh and the salsas are excellent. It's a small chain with several locations but maintains consistent quality; the Roma Norte branch on Insurgentes is the most convenient for most visitors.

A hole-in-the-wall spot in Roma Sur serving authentic Guadalajara-style home cooking—think carne en su jugo, chilaquiles, and burritos with seared cheese. The portions are generous, prices are fair, and the family-run atmosphere feels genuinely welcoming. One heads-up: reviewers don't mention it explicitly, but the small, casual setup suggests limited seating and no reservations, so expect a wait during peak hours.

A sprawling historic restaurant in a stunning colonial building in Centro Histórico, famous for its architecture, tiles, and city views from upper-level balconies. Go for solid Mexican classics like Enchiladas Suizas Verdes, Pechuga de Pollo con Mole Poblano, and fresh fruit drinks—the salsa macha is exceptional. Fair warning: the place gets crowded with long waits, and food quality can be inconsistent (some find it underwhelming, others excellent).

A Guadalajara-born oyster bar and mariscos restaurant that has become one of the most popular spots in Condesa for fresh seafood. The raw bar is excellent — oysters, aguachile, and ceviche are the stars — and the grilled fish and shrimp dishes are equally reliable. It's loud, festive, and perpetually packed; expect a wait on weekends even with a reservation.

Lardo is a bright, plant-filled restaurant in Condesa serving French-influenced brunch and dinner with Mexican touches. Standouts include black rice with crab croquettes, roasted chicken, tomato burrata salad, and pastries like croissants and guava rolls. Fair warning: execution can be inconsistent—some reviewers found pastries flat or underseasoned, and waits can be significant without a reservation.

Gardela is an upscale Argentine steakhouse in Roma Norte known for high-quality beef cuts, creative cocktails, and polished service. Order the picanha, beef short rib, lamb chops, or carpaccio de res—the fillet and potatoes are also standouts. One note: the food can be uneven, so while many dishes excel, some appetizers like the portobello mushroom may disappoint.

This unmarked, reservation-only spot in a crumbling Centro building is one of the most singular dining experiences in the city — a set menu of ancient corn preparations cooked over wood fire by a family collective. There is no sign, no printed menu, and no phone; reservations are made via Instagram DM. It's not for everyone, but for those who seek it out, it's a profound encounter with pre-Hispanic Mexican foodways.

A lively Mexican restaurant in Roma Norte known for tableside guacamole preparation and well-executed cocktails. Order the Caramelo dish, shrimp tacos, or ceviche, and don't miss the mezcalitas. Note that the restaurant gets very crowded—reservations are essential, especially on busy nights.

A garden restaurant in Condesa that feels like a hidden forest oasis despite its unassuming street entrance. Order the grilled octopus, pork milanesa, short ribs, or the unique Brie cheesecake—dishes are beautifully plated with careful flavor composition. The main caveat: it's popular and hyped, so expect it to draw crowds and may need reservations.