Must-see restaurants in Mexico

  • El Presidio

    Mazatlán

    Dining in the greenery-festooned courtyard or the pared-down, industrial-chic dining room of this beautifully restored 19th-century estate building takes…

  • Nicos

    Mexico City

    Hit this longtime favorite for traditional Mexican food done right. Among chef Gerardo Vazquez's signature dishes are the sopa seca de natas, a 19th…

  • Ostionería El Rinconcito

    Tapachula

    Take a taxi to this popular, cheap and cheerful seafood spot and try to choose between the 17 different shrimp dishes, a freshly cooked róbalo (snook) and…

  • Super Tacos Chupacabras

    Coyoacán & San Ángel

    Named after Mexico's mythical ‘goat sucker’ (a vampire-like creature), this famous taquería with seating under a freeway overpass slings wonderful beef…

  • Taquería El Turix

    Polanco & Bosque de Chapultepec

    This old-school taquería is a welcome sight in a neighborhood known for its pricey eats. With a recipe that's been in the family for 45 years, Turix does…

  • El Marlin de Tepic

    Central Pacific Coast

    Head a few blocks east of Plaza Constituyentes, then one south to find this spacious seafood joint. True to the name, smoked marlin is one of its…

  • Zibu

    Acapulco

    This thatch-roofed clifftop restaurant is one of Acapulco's – and Mexico's – finest; a happy marriage of stupendous sea and sunset views and Mexican-Thai…

  • Tacos Tumbras

    Acapulco

    A long-time favorite of the carnivorously inclined, this local taquería chain has been around forever and it's still the pre- or post-clubbing stop for…

  • Todos Santos

    Mazatlán

    This breezy open-air place is popular with young mazatleco couples for a date, offering a surf theme and a cheeky, good-time vibe, though staff show…

  • Maria Mitotes

    Guadalajara

    This festive open-air restaurant serves up delicious Mexican antojitos (snacks), prepared homestyle and served on traditional clay dishes. Come here for…

  • Cuish Cocina

    Morelia

    A charming restaurant with stone walls, folk art and repurposed tables, Cuish cooks up traditional dishes from Michoacan and Oaxaca: sopa Tarasca (spicy…

  • Fonda Doña Licha

    Zihuatanejo

    This place near the market is renowned for its down-home Mexican cooking and casual atmosphere (complete with blaring TV). There are always several…

  • Rosa Mexicano

    Isla Holbox

    Set on a spacious deck, Rosa Mexicano specializes in Mexican-inspired author cuisine, with innovative dishes such as pollo molito (chicken stuffed with…

  • El Rey Sol

    Ensenada

    Set within an elegant building's sumptuous interior, replete with flocked wallpaper, chandeliers and stained glass, this landmark restaurant dates from…

  • La Jícara

    Oaxaca City

    The mellow Jícara is not just a restaurant but also an alternative cultural center, with films, live music and a bookstore selling titles from independent…

  • El Asador Vasco

    Oaxaca City

    Perched like a theater box overlooking the twilight entertainment in the Zócalo, the Asador Vasco lays on good Oaxacan, international, and – as the name…

  • La Veladora

    Tepoztlán

    A splendid grassy garden makes a wonderful evening out of the already artful meals at this boutique-hotel restaurant in the quiet backstreets of Tepoztlán…

  • Casa Hidalgo

    Cuernavaca

    Directly opposite the Palacio de Cortés, with a great terrace and upstairs balcony, this popular restaurant attracts a well-heeled crowd of local…

  • Roof Garden Restaurant

    Veracruz

    Offering creatively crafted and presented contemporary Mexican cooking with flashes of inspiration from a sun-soaked Mediterranean, this plant-filled and…

  • Hostería Bar El Adobe

    Taxco

    This place doesn’t have the zócalo views, but the interior is charmingly decorated with B&W photos of everyone from Pancho Villa to Elvis, and the cute…

  • Los Norteñitos

    Central Pacific Coast

    Totally authentic and genuinely welcoming, this taquería in the center of town is run by an affable local family. Delicious cecina (cured beef) tacos are…

  • El Punto

    Valle de Bravo

    Dishes at sleek Punto are so stylish they are hardly recognisable. The enchiladas include stuffed tortillas but they go easy on the mole and artfully…

  • El Barracuda

    Puerto Vallarta

    This breezy open shack on the beach makes a top venue for a seafood lunch with ocean views. Grilled-shrimp tacos are famous; the tuna sashimi is more a…

  • Mercado Benito Juárez

    Puerto Escondido

    For local flavors and the true PE atmosphere, head to the main market in the upper part of town, where dozens of comedores serve fresh fish and shrimp,…

  • Gaspachos La Cerrada

    Morelia

    Gaspacho – not a cold tomato soup in Mexico but a 'salad’ of diced mango, pineapple and jicama (Mexican 'turnip') drowned in orange and lime juice and…

  • Soleado

    Valle de Bravo

    Soleado calls itself cocina del mundo and indeed there is a dish and a dessert from many a 'kitchen of the world' on offer. Admittedly, most dishes, from…

  • Meson de Garcia

    The Copper Canyon & Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacífico

    If you can get over the fact that it's in the Best Western, this is a lively spot for a meal. The restaurant serves good Mexican fare, steaks and thin…

  • Fonda Marceva

    Morelia

    Specializing in the cuisine of the Tierra Caliente (Hot Land) region of Michoacán’s southeast corner, this lovely courtyard restaurant spread over three…

  • Cenaduría la Copita

    Mazatlán

    This family-run evening-only eatery that's been in business for decades is a step back in time, its walls decorated with characterful photos of Old…

  • Acqua e Farina da Mario

    Tulum

    A taste of real Italy on the streets of central Tulum. This cafe is cramped (luckily there are some alfresco tables outside) but somehow Mario makes it…

  • El Cabrito

    Acapulco

    This beloved and brightly decorated restaurant has some of the city’s finest traditional Mexican food, such as Oaxaca-style black mole (a dark and…

  • La Vaquita Negra del Portal

    Toluca

    On the northwest corner of the arcades, smoked hams and huge green-and-red sausages hanging over the deli counter signal first-rate tortas. Try a messy…

  • Taquería de la Union

    Mérida

    The sharp minds behind this superb taquería combine the flavors and variety found on taco carts all over town, but in a pristine, air-conditioned…

  • La Eufemia

    Tulum

    Odd for a casual beachside taco joint, there's valet parking at La Eufemia, where you can gorge on great cheap food (think 'In your face, pricey Zona…

  • Las Mercedes

    Morelia

    This astonishingly decorated restaurant is spread over various rooms in an erstwhile colonial mansion. The rich decor could pass for a museum with…

  • La Olivia

    Mazatlán

    Helmed by Chihuahua chef Barbara, this cafe lives up to its motto: 'great mood, great food'. Piano music tinkles gently in the background as you order…

  • Manjar Blanco

    Mérida

    This modernised colonial building with contemporary local art on the walls puts a gourmet twist on regional favorites and makes a good downtown lunch spot…

  • La Leña

    Guadalajara Region

    Get away from the rather sanitized restaurants around the malecón and try a slice of local life at this semi-open-air place a flight above Chapala’s main…

  • El Sabor de Oaxaca

    Bahías de Huatulco

    Sit amid the sound of roosting birds and whirring fans and let friendly servers bring you classic Oaxacan food. Lots of local specialties are on show here…

  • Restaurante Las Monjas

    Querétaro

    You can almost feel the history in this deeply traditional Querétaro establishment, where charming and smartly dressed waiters attend the tables with…

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