681 Best Restaurants in Mexico

The menu here is as an encyclopedic take on Yucatecan cuisine, with everything from salbutes to start to manjar blanco (a milk-based delicacy) for dessert. Before sitting down to eat in the courtyard or one of the rooms that open onto it, explore the modest displays on regional food in the colonial-style building and Maya-style houses in the garden. There are also cooking demonstrations, including those using the traditional method for cooking cochinita pibil, buried in a pit in the ground.

The menu of this sleek corner space with striking ceramics and statuary lining the walls celebrates the flavorful cuisine of the scenic mountain town of Malinalco, about 70 miles southwest of Mexico City. Some of the more interesting dishes include a starter of chilacayote squash with mint and citrus and a yellow-tomato pico de gallo salsa, and a main dish pork ribs served with a rich red mole sauce.

One of the first purely vegan options in the area, this hidden spot serves more South Asian fusion rather than the traditional Indian fare that's advertised. Still, it’s a great option for vegans, with very affordable prices, a lively color scheme featuring brightly painted peach and turquoise walls, and five white tables alongside the kitchen. The restaurant looks out onto Jardín Mascarones Park.

The cavernous space, lined in red brick, makes the restaurant look rather generic, but it's actually family-owned and run and oh-so-personable. Try the regional dishes like goat stew and enchiladas, pizza, or a daily special such as beef tongue or jocoque (strained yogurt). It's named for the small town 14 km (9 miles) from Mascota, not the Christmas holiday, which is the only day this restaurant closes. 

Cabo San Lucas's original sushi restaurant, Nicksan has remained a go-to date night and celebration location for over 30 years. Owner Angel Carbajal is an artist behind the sushi counter (he also owns fishing boats that collect fish each day), having been mentored by Masayuki Niikura (one of the first-ever Japanese chefs to prepare spicy tuna), and his creative Japanese-Mexican fusion dishes, nicknamed “Nicksan style,” expertly balance the culinary traditions of Japan with the unique flavors of Mexico. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekend nights and during high season. Otherwise, be prepared for a wait.

For fresh, inventive sushi, there's no question that the Nicksan franchise corners the market, and this outpost in The Shoppes at Palmilla shopping mall wins the prize. Pair wine or sake with each of your selections, perhaps the lobster roll (with cilantro, mango, mustard, and curry oil), lobster sambal (marinated in sake with soy, ginger, and garlic), or tuna tostadas served on rice crackers with avocado.

Covered by a nestlike dome and surrounded by espejos de agua (water mirrors), the Viceroy's sophisticated, design-forward restaurant impresses with its truly unique setting. The menu is equally original, with an eclectic mix of Japanese delicacies, Mexican fusion creations, and a gourmet raw bar. Start with a shrimp kimchi aguachile; continue with the robatayaki al pastor, and end this fascinating culinary experience with an omakase for two that is a true revelation.

Owned by a couple of expats, this cute restaurant just half a block from the malecón is a hidden gem in Puerto Vallarta's crowded dining scene. Every dish is unique in its own way and no matter if it's the soup of the day or the Korean bulgogi steak, they all look amazing. Come for lunch and stay all afternoon for the cocktails.

One of two (the other is in Polanco) Mexico City locations of the famous, see-and-be-seen Nobu Japanese restaurant empire, this stylish space with soaring ceilings, a long sushi bar, and plush booths is in the affluent Arcos Bosques complex, between Santa Fe and Lomas Altas. Signature dishes from the extensive menu include salmon tataki with cilantro sauce, a Peruvian-style tiradito of Japanese scallops, grilled black cod with miso, and gyozas filled with wagyu and foie gras.

Sitting pretty as one of the world's most famous high-end restaurant chains, Nobu exudes luxury and cool. The Los Cabos location features the classic menu by namesake chef Nobu Matsuhisa---traditional Japanese cuisine fused with Peruvian flavors---as well as specialty plates inspired by ingredients local to the region. Despite the hefty per-item price, most dishes are served as small plates and designed to share, so be prepared to order (and spend) quite a bit. Opt for an omakase experience where the waiter and chef hand-select the best compilation of bites based on your preferences.

Based on seating availability alone, this is, without question, the most popular restaurant in Cabo San Lucas. Day and night, the place is packed, thanks to its well-prepared and well-portioned seafood-based menu and drinks, as well as its history of being the first-ever palapa to grace Médano Beach's sandy shore. It's a bit touristy, for sure, but the near-perfect views of El Arco and the merry atmosphere make up for it.

On busy weeknights, it seems everyone in Puerto Escondido wants to eat here. Originally created to serve backpackers at the hostel of the same name, the restaurant began drawing food fans willing to make the pilgrimage across town to enjoy its winning combination of expertly prepared cuisine, good value, and fun vibe. The eco-friendly decor and contemporary menu are inspired by the music of the 1960s and '70s, so expect to see dishes such as "Groovy Chicken" or "Give Peace a Chance" (a generous portion of fresh dorado breaded with toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds and slathered with chili aioli). Sides include tabbouleh salad, crispy browned baby potatoes, and local greens. The eclectic menu has lots of vegetarian choices, pizzas, and pastas—all served with flair.

A second-story restaurant that overlooks the activity of La Crucecita's zócalo, Onix is emblematic of the high-concept development that has sprung up around Huatulco to complement its luxury resorts. Options on the ambitious menu include lobster with four butters, fragrant with local flavors such as epazote and chipotle. The wine selection is better than average.

A modern, warmly lit neighborhood spot, Ostería 8 uses mostly organic, regional ingredients in its handmade pastas and thin-crust pizzas. The pie topped with jamón Serrano, mascarpone, and fresh arugula is a favorite, while tagliatelle pasta with guanciale, wild mushrooms, garlic, and white wine shine among the pastas. Save room for the warm chocolate pudding.

If a restaurant could be an "It Girl," the queen bee of Todos Santos would be Oystera. The historic building that houses it---the town's oldest (former) sugar mill---is covered with lush, elegant ivy and the oysters here are some of the best you'll find in Baja. The greenery climbs inward, with a mountain of ferns topping the interior bar, and then outward, as patio seating overlooks the beautiful gardens and palm groves of the Todos Santos oasis. But she's more than just a pretty face: Michelin Guide agrees, having recently recommended Oystera in their first-ever Mexico Guide.

A charming little place perfect for lunch or early dinner, Pakaa specializes in Portuguese cuisine, though, of course, it’s not uncommon to find a serrano pepper and some salsas on the table (this is Mexico after all). With a bright and welcoming atmosphere inside, it also has outdoor seating along a relaxed stretch of San Rafael.

In the evening this patio restaurant is bathed in candlelight and the glow from tiny white lights decorating the tropical shrubs. Much of the menu, as well as the decor, is geared toward tourists—you can even buy a Pancho's T-shirt on your way out. Although you won't find authentic Yucatecan dishes at this lively spot, the tasty tacos, fajitas, burritos, and other dishes will be pleasantly recognizable to those familiar with Mexican food served north of the border. Waiters—dressed in white muslin shirts and pants of the Revolution era—recommend the shrimp flambéed in tequila, and the tequila in general. Happy hour is weekdays from 6 to 8 pm.

Sample one or several of the more than 500 tequilas available and you'll surely appreciate the rainbow-color Oaxacan tablecloths, murals, painted chairs, and streamers even more than you did when you first arrived. Coat your stomach in the process with dishes from different states throughout Mexico: mole from Puebla, carne asada from Sonora, tamales from Oaxaca, and seafood from Baja are just some of the tasty items you can order. Note: though many souvenir shops advertise "complimentary" tequila tastings, this is the place to actually do it; they're available every evening with advanced reservation.

Opened in the summer of 2014, Paprika has no Hungarian dishes, as some diners expect. Rather, there's "contemporary comfort food" for an internationally oriented palate, like the large bowl of pasta puttanesca, or spaghetti topped with shrimp and clams in a subtle, fresh, white-wine sauce. Enjoy hearty main salads, panfried broccoli gomasio (a Japanese condiment of sesame seeds and sea salt), and perfectly seasoned rack of lamb. Candles bless the colonial courtyard (and its authentic altar) in the evening; the inside dining room is comfortable shabby-chic.

Depending on the time of day and your mood, this buzzy warren of smartly designed nooks can be a fun options for drinks and a leisurely mid-afternoon lunch or for a late-night feast of ceviche and tacos with creative fillings like hibiscus flowers, seared tuna, and longaniza sausage. Keep in mind that it gets packed here on weekends, so scoring a table and receiving your order can be slow, but everything here—from the food to the drinks—is delicious.

Seafood doesn't get any fresher than at this open-air restaurant bar and grill on the beach in front of the fishing boats of Playa Principal. Each morning, owner Ludovic Tisseur, who hails from Lyon, France, sources what's freshest from local fishermen, so the menu features an ever-evolving array of seafood from decadent lobster to a delicious shrimp and fish brochette. Pascale's is also the place to go for expertly grilled T-bone steaks, classic Chateaubriand, or house-made tortellini. Attentive service matches the ultraromantic ambience of candles, white linen tablecloths, and graceful palm trees. Call ahead if you have your heart set on lobster.

Dine at one of the sidewalk tables here when you're craving first-rate Argentinean-style steaks and other expertly prepared grills, such as grilled veal osso buco, pork shoulder with caramelized sweet potatoes, and sous vide confit of octopus with roasted potatoes and aioli. There's an excellent Argentina-focused wine list, and the desserts (including a cardamom-lemon crème brûlée) are impressive. The on-site shop sells yerba mate, chorizo, coffee, and prepared foods from Argentina.

This stylish mid-century-modern lunchroom offers a contemporary take on classic Mexican and American comfort fare, like ham-turkey-gouda sandwiches with a fried egg on top, cochinita pibíl, and beef milanesa tortas with salsa verde. There's nothing fancy about this place, but it's great for a light in-between meal, late-night snack (it's open til 11 pm), or breakfast, which features a similarly extensive variety of favorites, from huevos rancheros to French toast slathered in berries and agave honey. There are several other locations around the city. 

With several branches across the city, Peltre is an easy budget option in ritzy Polanco. Like traditional loncherías, this modern version has an extensive menu covering everything from chilaquiles negros to sopa Aguascalientes. The coffee (direct from Coatepec, Veracruz) and freshly squeezed juices make this relaxed eatery a favorite among local students and businesspeople.

A rustic-chic oasis overlooking the Pacific, Pícaro is not just a restaurant, but a destination in and of itself. Perched on a hilltop about a 20-minute drive from Centro, you'll forget about the schlep when you taste Chef Christian Ricci's Mexican/Mediterranean cuisine, inspired by both the local produce and his Italian upbringing. The menu is regularly changing based on what ingredients are in season, but expect to always find fresh seafood and tender meats.

Come hungry to Piña Loca; all portions in this simple restaurant are huge but without the huge bill to match. Try the fajitas in lava bowls, the burrito norteño, or the shrimp salad. Tip: most plates are large enough for two people!