Mexico City hums with an energy that seeps into everything: the architecture, the rhythm of the streets, and above all, the food. Each neighbourhood offers its own flavour and creative interpretations, from rooftop fine dining to hidden taco counters and cocktail bars with stories as rich as their spirits. Exploring the city’s dining scene means surrendering to surprise, where every dish tells a tale of Mexico’s evolving identity. Here are six extraordinary restaurants in Mexico City that reveal the capital’s culinary heartbeat.
Balcón del Zócalo
Perched above the bustle of the Zócalo, Balcón del Zócalo is the sort of restaurant that makes you stop mid-sentence just to stare out at the cathedral glowing in the evening light. Chef Pepe Salinas has carved out a reputation for bold creativity, the kind that fuses artistry with a touch of mischief. When we visited, his tasting menu was an ode to reinvention, featuring a red slice of something mysterious, presented on a bleached bone, that looked for all the world like raw meat (the secret best left unrevealed).
We were also served a playful wafer sandwich evoking a nostalgic street sweet, this one dotted with ants and served near the kitchen laboratory where the magic happens and new creations are bubbling away. Dishes like fried cactus with guajillo harissa and tonnato sauce, duck with roasted apple mole, or fried fish served hanging from skewers, show us a chef unafraid of risk. Our server, Emiliano, guided us through the experience with grace and good humour, pairing an Oregon Pinot Gris so precisely it felt like part of the dish. It’s one of the most memorable restaurants in Mexico City and completely nails being theatrical yet grounded, with a view to match its ambition.
Taco Tasting Room
Behind an unassuming doorway in the Centro Histórico lies Chef Salinas’s more intimate playground, the Taco Tasting Room, where diners perch at a counter before an open kitchen, making conversation with the chefs as they serve a tasting menu comprised entirely of tacos. On arrival, a cleansing ritual of burning herbs sets the tone to shake off the busy day, followed by a cocktail from booze maestro Erik. My favourite of his creations was his own riff on the ancient pineapple fermented drink, tepache. Rodrigo and Katsuko worked side by side at the grill, their tacos an ever-shifting parade of textures and flavours.
We particularly loved a vegetarian taco crowned with white mole and a decadent lobster quesadilla folded with cascabel pepper oil. The quirky details delighted in the form of skull-shaped flans, bespoke skull coasters and ceramic anatomical hearts to rest your utensils on, while the infectious camaraderie of Fabien and Arturo ensured the evening ended with more than one round of mezcal shots. It’s a spirited and highly original entry in the growing constellation of restaurants in Mexico City, blending ritual, revelry, and remarkable food.
Mux
Located in the city’s Roma Norte area, Mux feels like dining inside a love letter to Mexico’s forgotten flavours. Its name, meaning “sacred point” in the Mayan language Mam, hints at the reverence behind every plate. Chef Diana López’s menu draws from years spent travelling across rural communities, collecting recipes in danger of disappearing. The result is a thoughtful and grounded experience, one that tells stories through spice and smoke.
We began with street-food inspired plates of corn, beans and chillies, followed by a mesmerising trio of moles – green, red and black – each linked to a different region and tradition. The wax mole with huaje beans and the pit-roasted barbacoa-style version were particular standouts. Manager Alejandro and server Edwin made us feel part of the family, guiding us through an impressive tasting array of small-batch tequilas and artisan producers. Mux isn’t just one of the most interesting restaurants in Mexico City; it’s a reminder to respect and preserve the wisdom and skill in our past.
Fónico
Step inside Fónico, and the first thing you notice is the height. It’s an airy courtyard enclosed by dark brick and glass, softened with hanging greenery, bubbling with chatting diners and the murmur of cocktails being shaken. The centre-piece at the entrance is a dark and dramatic wrought iron spiral staircase… Like the Roma Norte neighbourhood in which it sits, the atmosphere is effortlessly hip without ever tipping into pretension. We began with server Alejandra’s recommendation for drinks: the Bacanorita, a smoky-savoury twist on a margarita featuring grilled pineapple ash and Bacanora (an agave-based drink from Sonora) and the Cantarero, with Maestro Dobel Diamante, lemon juice, roasted pineapple and grapefruit soda.
The food follows the same rulebook and is Mexican at its heart, but unafraid of global flirtations. A macheca quesadilla arrived looking more like an empanada, rich with Mexico’s delicious dried beef floss; a salad of pumpkin and carrot was balanced between tang with char; and the suckling pig, paired with pistachio mole and tortillas for DIY assembly, was simply outstanding. Cacao churros rounded things off – a perfectly indulgent finale. Fónico stands easily among the most stylish restaurants in Mexico City, proof that cool can still be comforting.
Rayo
Upstairs from Fónico, reached via an old Art Deco lift where your first drink appears before you’ve even arrived, Rayo is a cocktail bar that we suspect has been the setting for many amazing stories. Inspired by Mayahuel, the lightning-struck goddess who created the traditional agave drink, pulque, you can spot little nods to lightning all around the bar. Behind the bar, Erik and Antonio curate an experience that’s as inventive as it is interactive.
Upon arrival, you are not given a menu, but a tiny medicine chest of bottled tasters lets you sample their signature creations before committing. My favourite, Crème de la Crème, mixed mezcal and peanut liqueur into a silken, smoky dessert of a drink, while Charlotte’s Tequilana Pet Nat, with tequila, sake and grape, was refreshingly bright, crowned with a faux agave garnish made from frozen cream cheese and grape pulp. Rayo is among the most creative bars in Mexico City for anyone who believes cocktails deserve centre stage.
Guzina Oaxaca
Even if you don’t make it to Oaxaca itself, Guzina Oaxaca brings its soul right to the capital’s classy Polanco district. Led by Oaxacan chef Carlos Galán, this restaurant acts as an embassy for the region’s vibrant cuisine and culture. The space glows with art and craftsmanship from Oaxaca’s villages, while the bar houses a mezcal collection so extensive it borders on encyclopaedic.
The salsa, made at the table to your chosen spice level, sets the tone for a meal steeped in authenticity. Some of our favourites were the duck taquitos in a luscious red mole, fish ceviche brightened with xoconostle (a citrusy cactus), peanut sauce and creamy queso fresco tying everything together. Each dish tasted like a story shared, and of all the restaurants in Mexico City, this one is a celebration of Oaxaca’s heart – perfect for those of you who don’t have time to venture south.
A Final Tip to Enjoy Restaurants in Mexico City
Mexico City rewards curiosity, but patience, too. With traffic that can unexpectedly rise from out of nowhere, especially when the heavens open, journeys between restaurants can feel almost epic.
Yet each of these destinations is worth the effort and the occasional rain-slicked detour. Together, they tell a story of a city that refuses to stand still: inventive, soulful, and always hungry for what’s next.
Photo Credit for images of Balcón del Zócalo, Fónico, Rayo and Mux (including featured image): Rey Lopez
