49 Best Restaurants in Mexico

This tremendously popular corner bistro, the brainchild of acclaimed Mexican-German chef Klaus Mayr, is a stylish candlelit space to mingle with friends and dine on well-prepared thin-crust pizzas and house-made pastas. The classic Caesar salad makes a perfect opener before tucking into plates of lasagna Bolognese, duck-and-corn-filled agnoloti, and the white pizza topped with bacon, caramelized onions, and honey. 

This quietly sophisticated hotel restaurant has an open-air dining room connected to a deck overlooking the water. A northern Italian menu includes wonderful carpaccio di tonno alla Giorgio (thin slices of tuna with extra-virgin olive oil and lime juice), along with excellent pastas. Even the simplest dishes, such as angel-hair pasta in tomato sauce, are delicious. For something different, try the seafood risotto or costolette d'agnello al forno (lamb chops with a thyme infusion). The sunset views, of course, are spectacular. Tables are set with beautiful linens, china, and cutlery, making Casa Rolandi the most upscale and romantic restaurant on the island.

Clean, bright, and charming, this Italian restaurant has an inviting location on pedestrian-only Andador Cinco de Mayo, just steps away from Plaza de Armas. Customers return again and again for the creative thin-crust pizzas, pastas, and cheese and charcuterie plates served in a historic old home converted to a three-story restaurant.

Frascati is friendly and intimate while simultaneously sophisticated, with a lively soundtrack. Choose your pasta (several are house-made) and one of 12 toppings, including traditional sauces such as Bolognese, pesto, four-cheese, and pomodoro, or something chef-inspired like the Arturito, a sauce of fresh tomatoes, cream, chicken, and basil. The mixed seafood combo, served in an oversize martini glass, is a must-try. In addition to lightly battered and deep-fried denizens of the deep, the appetizer comes with batter-fried julienne zucchini and crispy fried parsley.

The delicious aromas from the busy kitchen lure fans to the outdoor patio of this cheerful trattoria in a neighborhood that's fast becoming known as "Little Italy." Ebullient chef-owners Manuel and Giordana have a warm energy that matches their classic Italian cuisine; la dolce vita begins with a basket of bread sticks and crusty bread served with two addictive pestos (one habanero and the other anchovy herb). The menu includes a tempting array of house-made pastas including spinach ravioli and tagliatelle. But don't hurry to make your choice; wait to hear the daily specials, which are always market-fresh and simple, using the finest seasonal ingredients. Portions are generous and offer excellent value. The wine list is better than average.

Chef Yvonne Villiger works wonders with fresh fish—if the wahoo with capers and black olives is on the menu, don't miss it. But Guido's is best known for pizzas that are baked in a wood-fired oven and served by an incredibly attentive staff. Enjoy a pitcher of delicious sangria in the pleasant, roomy courtyard.

The grande dame of Cancún restaurants delivers on the promise of its name, with candlelit tables and discreet waiters who will make you feel as if you've been transported to Italy. The fare includes homemade pizzas and pastas such as Bolognese-style lasagna; veal scaloppine and calamari steak in shrimp and lobster sauce are other options. The wine list is excellent, and the dessert truffle is a must for chocolate lovers. Be patient when waiting for your order, though, as good food takes time to prepare.

At this eatery on Mérida's restaurant row, the salads, pizzas, and pasta dishes could hold their own against any served by establishments in Italy itself. The restaurant group also has other locations, including Oliva Patio and Olivia Pizzeria in the north of the city.

Walk a couple blocks south of Tepotzotlán's main plaza, which is lined with mostly unmemorable restaurants, to reach this beautifully designed modern Italian spot set in a handsome old building with towering windows and brick walls. The extensive menu features creative pastas, pizzas, and sandwiches served on house-baked artisan breads---try the linguine with shrimp and octopus sauteed in garlic or the Argentinean-style choripán sandwich, with chorizo, a mix of cheeses, and chimichurri sauce. 

The opportunity to dine graciously amid crystal and candlelight (and blessedly cool air-conditioning) is just one reason to book a special dinner at Alfredo's. The pastas are made fresh daily, and cheeses are flown in from Italy so that the chef can prepare the house special—authentic fettuccine Alfredo—at your table. The carpaccio, spaghetti with lobster, and salmon steaks are all superb, and the wine cellar is the largest on the island. Book a table for early evening and enjoy the sunset view through wall-length windows. Note that diners not staying at the hotel must have advance reservations.

Named for its Italian chef Angelo Sanna, this charming bistro on Hidalgo's busy main strip is done up with soft lighting and a wood-fired oven. Come for the pizza, which has a thin crispy crust and is quite delicious. A large selection of Italian classics round out the menu. Try the famous wood-oven lasagna or mussels steamed in white wine. Angelo, who has lived and worked in Isla Mujeres for more than 20 years, is a hospitable host and a great source of local information. Angelo's stays open late and will deliver pizza if you're hungry at the end of a long night.

With its fresh flowers, cream-and-beige color scheme, and small rooms flickering with candlelight, this Italian restaurant is truly elegant. A piano-accompanied singer stirs up the romance Thursday through Sunday after 7 pm. Try the veal scaloppine with mushrooms or the capellini with pesto and grilled scallops. The service is impeccable.

This small, marina-side dining room and cozy bar has been a popular high-season hangout since 1992. Dark polished woods contrast with bright white linens, and bottles of wine are shelved on walls painted with trompe-l'oeil scenes. A canopy-sheltered deck overlooks the marina. Among the best dishes on the northern Italian menu are minestrone soup, caprese salad (with tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella), fish fillet (usually red snapper or mahimahi) with a champagne sauce, and chicken cacciatore. Many of the pastas are made in-house. Enjoy the personalized attention of the owner and all-around excellent service.

Quite a few CDMX restaurants do upscale Italian food well, but this romantic, warmly lighted trattoria stands out for serving some of the finest pizzas around. Each thin-crust pie is crisped to perfection in the wood-fired oven on view at the front of the dining room—the pie layered lavishly with burrata and prosciutto is worth the splurge. You'll also find plenty of other contemporary Italian offerings of note, including beef carpaccio with white truffle oil and lobster risotto.

This restored colonial gem a couple of blocks north of the main square deserves a place on any list of Mexico's best pizza restaurants. Lots of reds and yellows brighten the interior, and the outdoor patio overlooking Parque de la Candelaria becomes prime real estate on beautiful evenings. With 30 years in the restaurant business, most of them spent back in Italy, the owners here know pizza. They whip up 11 varieties, as well as sweet and salted focaccia and enormous calzones. A selection of Italian wines rounds out the offerings. Casa Italia opens at 7 each evening—come early if you want to snag a patio table.

The creative menu developed by the Sicilian chef, Giuseppe Genovese (commonly known as "Beppe"), offers a mix of Italian, Mediterranean, and Caribbean cuisine. Locals gather for seafood pasta, grilled lobster, octopus salad, and fresh ceviche, all bathed in garlic and olive oil, and breads, sausages, and pizzas are made from scratch in the small kitchen where Beppe works his magic. The pizza topped with smoked ham, mozzarella, and arugula makes a perfect starter for two. This is the only spot on the island where you'll find authentic espresso, sorbet, and tiramisu.

Just off Plaza San Jacinto, this smart and contemporary café offers a relatively calm respite from the bustle of weekend shoppers and is particularly popular for brunch. The menu focuses on creative thin-crust pizzas, bountiful salads, avocado toast, and panini sandwiches, and the mimosas are always flowing.

Brick-oven pizza and excellent pasta dishes, handmade in full view, have made this fine Italian restaurant a Cancún favorite. Best bets include the melt-in-your-mouth-tender beef or octopus carpaccio appetizers and such stellar pasta dishes as the "green hats"—little pieces of handmade pasta filled with ricotta cheese, butter, and fresh sage. Cenacolo also has a small wine cave with a romantic table for two (reserve this section in advance). Although it's inside a mall, the restaurant's main dining room is elegant, with stained-glass panels on the ceiling and live piano music.

Fine Italian food can be found at any of the three locations of this well-known local business. Casual attire is expected, with the location in Nuevo Vallarta being somewhat fancier and ideal for either romantic dinners or family reunions.

Huff and puff your way up the 40-plus steps to this restaurant's threshold for an exceptional view of downtown Guanajuato, as well as for the mouthwatering house specialty, filetto Claudio (beef fillet with olives, capers, herbs, and garlic). Save room for the velvety tiramisu. Weather permitting, have your aperitif on the terrace, which has an even more dazzling view, best as sunset tints Guanajuato's domes several different shades of gold. Lunch is served, but on the Mexican timetable: starting at 2 pm.

With a focus on wood-fire pizzas and veggie-packed salads, Farina delivers uncomplicated Italian food. The outdoor terrace makes for a cozy and romantic meal, including a full bar. You can also find five other locations in the city.

As soon as you walk down the dramatic staircase at this elegant restaurant, you know you're in for a memorable experience. The gamberi saltati (sautéed shrimp with spinach, artichoke, and Asiago cheese) appetizer is a standout here, as are entrées such as the fettuccine carbonara in truffle sauce or the risotto. Other memorable dishes include the sea bass baked in “papillote” and the veal chop with potato, broccoli, and wild mushrooms. The circular dining room has artistic lighting and views of the wine cellar and open-air kitchen. Saxophone music adds a dash of romance.

Nestled on top of a small hill on the outskirts of town, this charming Italian restaurant by Chef Daniela Borghini overlooks pretty gardens (hence the name) and the ocean. The ambiance is pleasantly pleasing, and the pizzas (which are 33 cm, in between a size medium and large) and pasta dishes are a guaranteed hit.

This two-story family restaurant has a large indoor fish tank, a play area for children, and shaded tables on a white patio. The menu includes salads, pastas, meat dishes, and thin-crust pizzas. The cuatro formaggi pizza with mozarrella, blue cheese, Gruyère, and provolone cheeses is heavenly, especially with chimichurri sauce. The insalata golosa, a large salad served with a zesty house dressing, Gruyère cheese, bacon, and crushed nuts, is especially tasty.

Go for the delicious complimentary focaccia bread; stay for the fine wines, family-style fare, and charming views of downtown Cabo San Lucas. Chef and co-owner Antonello Lauri shows off his Roman heritage on the menu at Invita, which is overflowing with traditional Italian favorites like the filling eggplant Parmesan made from recipes passed down from his grandmother. The intimate dining area is dominated by an enormous Bacchus-theme painting by local painter Yandi Monardo, which offers a clue as to just how seriously Invita takes its wines; temperature-controlled selections by the bottle or glass are touted on the bar-front blackboard. Views are provided courtesy of an expansive picture window, which looks out across the gazebo to the center of the town square, Plaza Amelia Wilkes.

This popular Italian restaurant right in the center of San José on the town's zócalo (square) is known for authentic and affordable Italian fare. Locals and visitors alike flock to this reasonably priced perennial favorite for antipasti and wood-fired-oven pizzas, a never-ending selection of pastas, and steaks and seafood dishes. The homemade beef ravioli with porcini mushroom sauce is to die for. Reservations are necessary on Thursday after the Art Walk. Another outpost can be found in Cabo San Lucas.

La Dolce is the sister restaurant of La Dolce Vista located in the malecón, and although it also provides a variety of Italian dishes, it focuses on serving the best pizzas in the Hotel Zone.

A favorite of locals, this Italian-Mexican restaurant is the place to get Roman-style, hand-stretched pizzas. Even those who aren't fans of pizza will find something on the diverse menu, with a balanced offering of pasta, antipasti, and main courses. It's worth saving room for their refined desserts. Afterward, take a look at their interesting wine cellar.

Every inch of wall space at this elevated restaurant on the west end of the Adoquín is filled with paintings. And every inch of your small, square table will be covered by platters of homemade pasta, like tortellini, ravioli, and lasagna. Pizzas are also popular; try the one with eggplant, garlic, mushrooms, and basil. Though service can be spotty, the brick-and-stone floors and red tiles peeking through the rafters make for a pleasant environment. The bacon-wrapped shrimp Culiacán is a popular choice.