Mexico City offers eateries both fancy and humble, ranging from traditional regional fare to contemporary cuisine fused with Mexican ingredients. No matter your pick, you’re in for a culinary adventure in the Mexican capital.
Restaurante Pujol
Rated one of the best restaurants in the world, Pujol offers a contemporary take on classic Mexican dishes. Internationally acclaimed chef Enrique Olvera presents a tasting menu as beautifully plated as it is delicious. Be sure to try this signature dish: fresh baby corn, still connected to their husks, smoked in a dried gourd and coated in a creamy sauce made from coffee and red ants.
El Hidalguense
The charming fmily-run El Hidalguense hosts the ultimate barbacoa every weekend. Start off with the rich chile-and-lime spiked consommé before sampling the city’s best barbocoa: fresh lamb slow-cooked over aged oak in an underground pit, served in charred agave leaves. Wash it all down with a glass of pulque, an alcoholic agave drink.
Contramar
Sample the city’s best seafood at Contramar, a stylish dining hall renowned for its fresh lunch menu. The Roma eatery is constantly packed at lunch with locals and foreigners alike. Its tuna tostadas, with chipotle mayo, caramelized onions, and avocado, have been copied across the city, and for good reason. Also make sure to try their signature tuna fillet, split, swabbed with red chili and parsley, and grilled to perfection.
Hostería de Santo Domingo
Hostería de Santo Domingo, Mexico City’s oldest restaurant, serves up classic Mexican fare with a charming festive ambiance. No visit is complete without an order of chile en nogada, a giant poblano stuffed with ground meat and dried fruit, bathed in a creamy walnut sauce.
Bravo Loncheria
For an easy gourmet lunch, stop by Bravo Loncheria, a modern take on the classic tortería. With a walk-up counter and a bar with high stools, this chic luncheonette features a constantly rotating menu of artisanal yet traditional tortas served on house-made bolillo rolls.