Mexico City Restaurants 13 of the Best

Flavour, Culture & Design of Mexico City Restaurants

The first time I ate in a Mexico City restaurant, I cried. Not a dramatic, cinematic cry—but rather a quiet, stunned moment over a tuna tostada in Condesa. I’d just landed, jet-lagged and hungry, in the middle of a trip researching the city’s remarkable creative scene for IRK’s Cultural Capital feature on design in CDMX. And then suddenly, I was tasting something so precise, so balanced, so alive that I forgot where I was for a second. I looked around, thinking, Is all the food in CDMX like this?

Spoiler alert: It is.

From that single bite onward, I realized Mexico City’s culinary scene is a beautiful contradiction—simultaneously deeply traditional and fiercely modern, often high-concept but always grounded in flavor. Whether you’re in the mood for heirloom corn, ancient moles, or Mediterranean-meets-Mexico wine bars, one thing remains constant: CDMX delivers.

To help you navigate this feast of a city, we curated 13 of the best restaurants in Mexico City right now—drawn from Condé Nast Traveler’s trusted list, plus a couple of essential additions. From world-famous chefs to neighbourhood legends, this is where to eat in CDMX in 2025.

1. Pujol – Polanco

Chef: Enrique Olvera

No list of Mexico City restaurants is complete without Pujol. It’s more than a restaurant—it’s a benchmark.

Chef Enrique Olvera’s signature spot has redefined Mexican gastronomy with meticulous technique, inventive plating, and reverent use of local ingredients. The tasting menu honors the old and celebrates the new, balancing tradition with creativity in every bite.

The legendary Mole Madre, aged for over 3,000 days and paired with a fresh mole of the day, is the heart of the experience. But even the amuse-bouches—like baby corn smoked inside a gourd and served with chicatana ant mayo—feel poetic.

Atmosphere: Elegant but not intimidating. Service is smooth, and the space is modern and serene.

Book it: Months in advance. The bar tasting is a great option if you prefer a slightly more casual setting.

2. Maizajo – Condessa

Founders: Santiago Muñoz Moctezuma

To understand Mexican cuisine, you have to start with corn. And to understand corn, you go to Maizajo.

Part molino, part research lab, and part eatery, Maizajo is where tradition meets traceability. Here, heritage corn varieties from across Mexico are nixtamalized daily—using ancient techniques that unlock flavor, nutrition, and soul.

While Maizajo began as a masa producer for top chefs, its onsite Comedor now welcomes diners for tamales, tortillas, tetelas, and other masa-based dishes. Everything is made fresh, slow, and with reverence. You don’t just taste the corn—you taste the soil, the story, the centuries behind it.

Why go: To learn, to taste, and to honor the backbone of Mexican cuisine.

Extra bite: They also offer workshops and CDMX tours for anyone curious about nixtamalization.

3. Rosetta – Roma Norte

Chef: Elena Reygadas

Housed in a beautifully restored mansion in Roma Norte, Rosetta feels like a romantic evening in 1920s Mexico City—if the food was cooked in Tuscany.

Chef Elena Reygadas—named the World’s Best Female Chef in 2023—seamlessly fuses Italian sensibility with Mexican ingredients. Her house-made pastas often include regional herbs like hoja santa or epazote, and her signature guava and ricotta pastry is practically religion.

Reygadas is a master of quiet complexity. Even a sourdough roll or a salad of wild greens becomes a moment of discovery under her care.

Ambience: Candlelit tables, climbing vines, soft music. Ideal for date nights and slow meals.

Don’t miss: The bakery next door—Panadería Rosetta—is just as worthy of your appetite.

4. Máximo Bistrot – Roma Norte

Chef: Eduardo “Lalo” García

At Máximo Bistrot, farm-to-table is not a trend—it’s a commitment.

Chef Eduardo García, who trained at Manhattan’s Le Bernardin, combines French technique with a fierce dedication to Mexican produce. The menu changes daily and might include anything from grilled octopus with black garlic to a tender lamb shoulder glazed in chile.

What makes Máximo special is how grounded it feels. It’s fine dining without fuss—every plate has intention, every garnish has purpose.

Design: Warm wood, open kitchen, and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with light.

Story worth telling: García’s rise—from migrant farmworker to elite chef—is one of CDMX’s most inspiring.

5. Contramar – Condesa

Chef: Gabriela Cámara

If CDMX had a culinary heart, Contramar would be pulsing right at its center.

Chef Gabriela Cámara’s seafood-focused eatery is an institution. It’s where you go for a long lunch that turns into a leisurely dessert and maybe a second round of wine. The vibe is electric, the crowd is stylish, and the pescado a la talla—grilled red snapper served half with red adobo, half with green parsley—is unforgettable.

Scene: Lively, chic, and social Mexican City Restaurants. Expect to see art dealers, creatives, and lots of sunglasses indoors.

Only open for lunch: And that’s by design—it gives every meal a sun-drenched, special-occasion feel.

6. Sud 777 – Jardines del Pedregal

Chef: Edgar Núñez

For those willing to explore beyond the central neighborhoods, Sud 777 is a reward worth the ride.

Chef Edgar Núñez is known for championing local ingredients and contemporary Mexican cuisine. The tasting menu is thoughtful and precise, weaving fermentation, fire, and foraged elements into plates that feel like modern art with a soul.

Think fermented carrot purée, huitlacoche tamales, or scallops in floral broth. It’s ambitious, refined, and fully its own thing.

Space: An architectural dream—wood, glass, and greenery blend the indoor and outdoor experience.

Pro tip: Arrive early for a drink in the lush outdoor lounge.

7. Nicos – Clavería

Chef: Gerardo Vázquez Lugo

Away from the trendy neighborhoods lies Nicos, a culinary time capsule. Open since 1957, it’s a place where tradition reigns.

Chef Gerardo Vázquez Lugo approaches classic dishes with scholarly precision. He’s a champion of Mexican heritage and terroir, preserving recipes that might otherwise be lost. Handmade tortillas, aged moles, and traditional techniques are the stars here.

Order the tableside guacamole, then move into mole poblano or chiles en nogada when in season.

Vibe: Old-school, warm, and filled with locals who’ve been coming here for generations.

History note: Nicos is part restaurant, part culinary archive.

8. Meroma – Roma Norte

Chefs: Mercedes Bernal & Rodney Cusic

Meroma is for the aesthetes and the ingredient obsessives. This Roma Norte favorite blurs the line between casual and refined.

The husband-wife team crafts seasonal dishes that are as thoughtful as they are beautiful—like kampachi crudo, grilled squash blossoms with ricotta, or slow-roasted lamb with earthy adobo.

The space flows like a modernist home—open kitchen, curved staircase, terrazzo floors, and plants cascading from the ceiling.

Pair with: Their curated cocktail menu or a glass of Mexican natural wine.

Best seat: Snag a spot on the patio under the twinkling lights.

9. Expendio de Maíz Sin Nombre – Juárez

Jesús Salas Tornés

No menu, no pretense, no reservations, just heirloom masa, heart, and whatever the kitchen dreams up that day.

Expendio de Maíz is a tribute to Mexico’s most sacred ingredient: corn. The team uses heirloom varieties and prepares everything from scratch—think blue corn tlacoyos, corn broth with chiltepin, and hand-shaped tortillas grilled on the comal.

It’s communal, soulful, and deeply rooted in Indigenous cooking traditions. Perfectly reflecting the spirit of Mexico City.

Tip: Let go of expectations and trust the kitchen. Every bite has a story.

Bonus: It’s shockingly affordable for how revelatory it is.

10. Lardo – Condesa

Chef: Elena Reygadas

Light-filled, design-forward, and delicious all day, Lardo is your go-to for brunch, lunch, dinner—or all three.

With wood-fired breads, Spanish-Mediterranean flavors, and a relaxed but polished vibe, Reygadas (yes, again) proves she can do casual just as well as fine dining. The burrata with tomato jam, wood-fired flatbreads, and perfectly poached eggs are crowd favorites.

Go for: A weekday brunch with friends and a glass of rosé.

Baked goods tip: Take something home—you’ll regret it if you don’t.

11. Hugo – Roma Norte

Chef: Michael Crespo

Hugo isn’t just a wine bar—it’s a vibe.

With natural wines from Latin America and Europe, a breezy open-kitchen layout, and a menu that leans Mediterranean, Hugo feels like the cool kid who’s somehow still warm and welcoming. Roasted carrots with labneh, fish crudo, and warm focaccia are just the beginning.

Chef Crespo is a rising star known for subtle, layered flavors and effortlessly stylish plates.

Best time to go: Golden hour, when the whole place glows.

Sip tip: Ask for something orange or pét-nat—they’ll guide you well.

12. Agüita Fría – Juárez

Chef: Alejandro López

Tucked into a quiet street in Juárez, Agüita Fría offers seasonal, minimalist dishes that feel both personal and poetic.

Chef Alejandro López builds his evolving menu around them, creating dishes that are subtle but striking—like roasted cauliflower in almond mole or a rabbit carnitas taco that’s both tender and unexpected.

Ambiance: Quiet, intimate, and chic—a space for reflection and conversation.

Why go: For a calm, thoughtful meal where every ingredient has a reason to be on the plate.

13. Quintonil – Polanco

Chef: Jorge Vallejo

This restaurant is located just blocks from Pujol, Quintonil offers an entirely different experience—less conceptual, more intimate, and deeply rooted in seasonal ingredients.

Chef Jorge Vallejo, a Pujol alum, focuses on produce-forward cooking that’s intensely flavorful yet light on its feet. His dishes are poetic in their restraint, like cactus ceviche with avocado and lime, or a deceptively simple tomato salad elevated with a smoky chile dressing.

The 10-course tasting menu is both innovative and grounded in Mexican culinary traditions. Vallejo lets the ingredients speak, never shouting over them.

Vibe: Understated elegance. Think earthy ceramics, low lighting, and a soft-spoken confidence.

Pair it: Opt for the juice or cocktail pairing for a twist on the traditional wine route.

Final Bite: Mexico City restaurants Endless Table

To eat in a Mexico City Restaurant is to fall in love—over and over, meal after meal. This city serves complexity without pretension, creativity without ego, and heritage without nostalgia.

Whether you’re tasting ancient mole or sipping natural wine in a tucked-away bar, CDMX invites you to slow down and savor. And if you’re lucky, maybe cry over a tostada too.

For more on Mexico City design check out Cultural Capital curated by Marcos Jassan for Dunes Design.