Our Favorite Restaurants in Mexico City Right Now

Indulge

Apr 27

Written By Editor

Mexico City or CDMX is having a major moment right now and for so many great reasons. From its epic street food to its chef-driven, pilgrimage-worthy restaurants, Mexico City is arguably the most exciting food city in the world right now. We've always loved the tacos and the incredible street food that you can find on practically any corner, but now chefs like Enrique Olvera at Pujol and Jorge Vallejo at Quintonil are deconstructing classic recipes and taking them to the next level. With so many amazing options, in arguably the biggest city in this side of the hemisphere, it is difficult to narrow the list down, but below you will find our top choices for restaurants you should not miss on your next visit!

Contramar 

With a high-ceilinged, whitewashed, airy space, Contramar attracts a fashionable, well-heeled crowd that comes here to see and be seen. Apart from being perpetually chic, it also has a top-quality menu that adds novel twists to customary Mexican seafood dishes. Among its standouts are raw tuna tostadas with chipotle mayonnaise, sautéed soft-shell crabs, pescado a la talla Contramar (a split snapper, half with a dry red spice rub, the other half with green), and mussels in a spicy chipotle broth.

Pujol

Over the years, the celebrated tasting and omakase menus at Pujol have evolved into fine dining multicourse experiences focusing mostly on vegetarian or pescatarian items. That’s still true under the direction of chef de cuisine Jesus Duron, who honed his perfect execution during his formative years while cooking in France’s top restaurants before accepting the baton from Enrique Olvera at Pujol. In Duron’s hands, each dish on the seasonal menus speaks to the restaurant’s values: sustainability, respect for traditional Mexican cooking and local ingredients, and innovation. Book at least two months in advance.

Dulce Patria 

Located just behind Hotel Las Alcobas, Dulce Patria is the always-busy (reservations essential) restaurant of Chef Martha Ortiz Chapa, who is endlessly inspired by regional Mexican cooking traditions, which she inflects with contemporary techniques and touches. Ortiz is often celebrated for her creative plating and presentations, which include "alegrias" (bon bons and other candies, served after dessert) that appear at your table in wooden airplanes or on hand-painted shelves and chairs, all made by Mexican artisans. The food itself though, is just as praiseworthy, as are her artisanal cocktails and her menus, which change regularly, and are typically devised around a subtle cultural, culinary, artistic, or literary theme.

Quintonil

Currently ranked No. 9 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List, Jorge Vallejo’s renowned restaurant in Polanco is a fixture of fine dining itineraries among visitors to the city. Quintonil serves a fixed, multi-course menu and a la carte options representing the best of Mexican cuisine. Opt for a seat at the bar for the best view of the action during dinner service.

Expendio de Maiz 

Expendio de Maiz is an unprecedented experiment, composed of an impressive open kitchen, a “fonda” (inn) and a meeting place where you can learn all about the origin of corn. Chef Ana Dolores will just ask you how hungry you are to get the experience started. A very friendly, informal and warm atmosphere. Surrounded by authentic Mexican food and design. There’s a distinctly Roma vibe and at the same time, you’re mingling with guests from all around the world.

Botanico

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Condesa, and we’re not alone—it’s very popular and hard to get a table. But once you’re in, you’re guaranteed great food and people-watching. The design is exceptional, with beautiful Art Deco touches and a secret-garden-esque patio with a 50-year-old cactus at the center of it. It’s a modern bistro with a menu that changes constantly, but everything I’ve tried is fresh and exciting— definitely get the rib-eye burger if it’s available.

Marmota

Run by a lovely Mexican American couple, this place makes some of the heartiest (and best) food in CDMX right now. Most of their produce comes from local farms and their meats are all farm-raised. You can also bet that pretty much everything you order (like the smashed baby potatoes with homemade hoja santa yogurt and caviar or the free-range chicken with radicchio salad) will be wood oven cooked, smokey, and incredibly delicious. Their cocktail menu is impressive, but we always go for one of the many hard cider options here. They go great with anything charred on the menu, which basically means everything.