972 Best Restaurants in Mexico

For a hearty meal after a day at the aquarium, pop around the corner to this casual yet elegant Argentine restaurant. Select your cut of rib eye, tenderloin, or strip steak from the selection that's brought to your table, and tell your bow-tied waiter how you'd like it cooked. While it sizzles, nibble one of the flaky empanadas topped with chimichurri (sauce made with olive oil and parsley). Try the house cocktail, Rosita (made with anise).

Frequented in its heyday by Hollywood luminaries and the who's who of PV, this downtown restaurant still has a loyal following. The casual patio ambience is simple, but the wholesome food is satisfying, and the portions are generous. House specialties include fajitas and Yucatan-style pork. You can’t leave without trying their killer handcrafted margaritas.

This peculiar restaurant name (for this latitude) is thanks to the Midwestern owner who started making delicious burgers on a cart from the back of his bike. These gratuitous-in-every-way burgers quickly became well-recognized across the city and its San Rafael location has become one of the busiest restaurants in the neighborhood. Stop in for a beer on the patio, catch a gringo game on the TV, and see if it lives up to the hype.  

Chilaquiles are by far the top draw at this friendly brunch spot a block from Avenida Amsterdam; it also offers up a nice selection of other all-day dishes, from fruit-yogurt bowls and avocado toast with eggs and goat cheese to molletes topped with butter, beans, Oaxacan and manchego cheeses, and pico de gallo. The chilaquiles are build-your-own: you choose your sauce (chipotle, habanero, and more), protein (eggs, chicken breast, cecina steak, vegan chorizo), and other ingredients (anything from asparagus to panela cheese)---with enough toppings, this can be a dish to last you the entire day. 

For a refreshing caffeine pick-me-up in the southern reaches of Condesa, pop into this cute and cozy third-wave espresso bar that serves delicious breakfasts and sandwiches, too. Students and freelancers work away on their laptops in the triangular white-brick interior space, while you're more likely to spy friends gabbing at the sidewalk tables. There are a couple of additional locations around town.

Follow your nose to this dessert café, where the aromas of French pastries and rich cocoa waft into Campeche's narrow streets. Tucked inside a stone-walled colonial building are small wooden tables and a collection of antiques, like a vintage cash register still used for ringing up transactions. Drink recipes originated from the owner's research into Mayan traditions and her time spent with local families; prepared with the purest form of organic cocoa, they're infused with mint, chile, and more. Not a chocolate lover? You’ll enjoy all-natural fruit juices made with jicama and piña. Crepes and cookies make nice accompaniments. A small gift shop sells locally made products and blocks of dark chocolate.

This trendy, San Francisco--based restaurant decided that Cabo was missing out on quality Asian comfort food, and, honestly, they were right. The clientele is an interesting mix of hip locals and families alike, and it's the perfect spot for a hearty bowl of noodles and a refreshing cocktail, both of which will fuel you up nicely after a long day on the water. However, this place can be loud, so plan accordingly if you want to have a meaningful conversation. 

A branch of the historic churro restaurant in Centro Historico, this is a great place to stop and take a break on the eastern edge of Polanco. Delicious churros, hot chocolate, milk shakes, and coffee will satisfy your sweet tooth here

Depending on when you visit, this hip hangout can serve as a cheerful breakfast nook for chia pudding and egg sandwiches, an afternoon coffee or teahouse with light salads and a delicious smoked-eggplant-harissa dip, or an evening lounge with craft cocktails and well-curated (though pricey) wines. Whatever the time of day, there's almost always a crowd that tends toward the fashionable, artsy side. The vibe is a bit self-important, but it's a reliably nice space with good food and drink options.

A local chain, this location of City Café is the perfect place to grab breakfast, lunch, or a quick snack in Bosque de Chapultepec. It's located in Section 2 close to Lago Mayor and offers a menu filled with healthy choices.

This is the place for a quick taco fix; $2 (fish and shrimp) or $3 (grilled scallop) gets you some serious tacos, while $8 will buy you a killer aguachile. This is the locals' go-to spot for quality seafood and affordable cold beer. There's another branch in Leona Vicario, near the Decameron hotel. 

In a creaky old house that practically backs up to Museo Frida Kahlo, this unpretentious restaurant with friendly servers and reasonable prices serves well-crafted, authentic Yucatecan cuisine, including classics like rich and flavorful papadzules (tortillas stuffed with hard-boiled eggs and smothered in a pumpkin seed-tomato sauce) and tender cochinita pibil. Be sure to start with a cup of sopa de lima (a soup of shredded chicken, tortillas, and lime), and perhaps an order of panuchos (fried tortillas stuffed with beans and topped with different meats and sauces). Note that this is the restaurant's second location, having opened here in 2021; the original, in Del Valle, has been going strong since 1982.

It’s not hyperbole to say that there are few interiors in the city as pink as the decor within this diner just near the San Cosme metro station. Cochinita Power specializes in Yucatecan food (read: pork and habanero salsas) with a set-up somewhere between a food cart and a restaurant, but without the hustle and bustle of standing and eating on the street. When you're ready to order, your server will arrive with a paper menu to mark your choices on. There’s not much to choose from: it’s really pork, pork, and more pork. But the food is tasty and cheap, and the service is great and speedy if you’re on the go.

Kick off your shoes, and settle back with a beer at this charming beachside restaurant near the ferry docks, where you can watch the fishing boats come and go while you wait for some of the island's freshest seafood. The grilled fish and lobster with garlic butter are both excellent, as are the shrimp fajitas—but the real showstopper is the ceviche, which might include conch, shrimp, abalone, fish, or octopus. For a traditional Yucatán dish, try pescado tikin-xic seasoned with achiote, orange, and garlic, then topped with pickled red onions.

Open daily from 7:30 am to 10 pm, this restaurant by the beach is a great spot to enjoy any meal of the day while making the most of the Caribbean lifestyle. The breakfast buffet, served Friday through Sunday, is very popular, but in the evening, the catch of the day is your best bet. After eating, ask for a lounge bed with umbrella and spend the whole day relaxing by the beach.

The T-shirts and bras hanging from the palapa of this hilly, windward-side hangout at the island's highest point are good indicators of its party-time atmosphere. Classic rock and reggae tunes play in the background while crowds down cervezas, fish, fajitas, and garlic shrimp. The meals may not be good enough to write home about, but they are good enough to keep the crowds coming. Be sure to stroll out to the quieter, outer edges of the dining area and admire the stunning view. Playing with the lazy house dogs and cats (all rescues) is always fun. The party closes at sunset, and the carved coral steps going downhill can be tricky: use caution.

Eat at the horseshoe-shaped bar—especially if you happen to be by yourself—or out under the sky. Beautifully restored, Zihua's oldest house has a gorgeous patio open to the stars and surrounded by zillions of tiny white lights. Try the grilled pork chop, the sweet and zesty lobster, or the shrimp-stuffed chiles rellenos. In the evening a keyboarder or romantic duo playing bossa nova or jazz is sure to entertain.

Cofetarika, on a terrace above the Danzantes restaurant in the heart of the city center, is open all day from 8 to 6, making it a perfect place for lunch. It offers freshly prepared food and a wide range of gourmet drinks in a relaxing environment.

Early risers and those heading off on fishing charters will appreciate the daily 5 am opening time. The café, which is filled with wonderful art for sale, has fruit smoothies, coffee in many manifestations, and tasty frappés with Oreo cookie bits or frosting-topped carrot cake.

Loved by locals and visitors alike, this beautiful place is a good spot to grab home-roasted specialty coffee (starting at $2.50), fresh juices (starting at $3), and paninis ($10). Check their calendar online for concerts and other events. Look for their second branch at La Playa near Puerto Los Cabos, which comes with a trendy bar and Sunday brunch.  

If you need fuel after a day at the beach, walk across the street at Km 41 to this two-story blue collective where you’ll find everything from poke bowls to craft beer. A tribute to surfing and all-things-local, Colectivo Surf serves produce from local farmers, fish from pangueros (fisherman) along Baja's coast, organic wine from Valle de Guadalupe, and small batch beers from their own brewery. The local gem is the brainchild of humble owner, Noel, a San Diegan who spent the better part of his life paddling into Rosarito’s best breaks. In 2016 the surfing entrepreneur manifested his vision to build a business that would empower the local economy. By using local ingredients, creating jobs, and providing killer cuisine, Noel has impacted an entire community one “order up” at a time. The house mezcal will put hair on your chest, and the 15 beers on tap will keep you on pour-repeat. Ceviche, fish tacos, poke bowls, and ocean-to-table sushi are the perfect postsurf meal. In summer months (June–August), there’s live music Friday–Sunday from 6 to 11 pm.

Tuck into plates of exquisitely prepared, traditional Mexican snacks like tlacoyos, sopes, flautas, and quesadillas with rich sauces and authentic, carefully curated ingredients. Tortillas are hand-made on the tiny restaurant's comal, and there's lovely outdoor seating in a sidewalk space decorated with vertical wooden slats and pretty plants. 

Always packed with locals---including plenty of expats from other parts of the Americas---watching fútbol on TV or enjoying the live music, this welcoming two-story Roma Sur mercado contains more than a dozen food stalls set around a central dining area with communal tables. Cuisines from mostly Central and South America are featured, including Brazilian feijoada, Peruvian ceviche, and Salvadoran arepes. There's an extensive selection of juices, soft drinks, beers, and cocktails, too. 

In Ocotlán the only place to eat is at Comedor Frida Kahlo, located within the main market building. Here, Frida (or her doppelgänger) will offer you the best in local cuisine. Afterwards, you can have a photo with Frida herself.

Typical food of the countryside—enchiladas, tamales, pozole, beefsteak with beans and tortillas, and so on—is served in an equally typical family home that has been expanded to welcome guests. Straw-bottom chairs are comfortable enough, and the oilcloths shiny and new. The small bar is at the back behind the large, open kitchen. It's open for breakfast, too.

Just by the beach, the Coral Bar and Grill is the on-site restaurant of the Flying Cloud Hotel and part of the XTC Dive Center. The place is open all day, offering Mexican breakfasts, international food for lunch and dinner, and even some vegan dishes. It also works as a beach club and has theme nights every Tuesday and Friday. 

A stylish bi-level bistro and mezcal bar with a prime views across Jardín Centenario, Corazón de Maguey is a pleasing setting for artfully presented regional Mexican fare and creative cocktails. You could easily put together a meal of several starters—the guacamole with chapulines and a sampler of five moles with tortillas among them—or opt for one of the substantial main dishes, such as Acapulco-style seared octopus with fried plantains, jicama, and pineapple, or tender Oaxacan tlayudas with arrachera (a grilled, thin steak) marinated in a guajillo chile sauce.