The Best of México: Where to Eat, Drink, and Explore

Drive ten minutes further into the valley to this quiet, ancient village where legend says the feathered serpent god Quetzalcóatl was born. Wander the dusty roads, feel the dramatic shift in energy, and grab a cold hibiscus infusion at a local café before driving back to the capital as the sun dips.

End the night on the ground floor of the iconic Rio de Janeiro building, known locally as the 'Witches' House'. This female-led bar mixes herbal, folklore-inspired cocktails that are as complex as they are delicious.

This is the ultimate Mexico City long lunch, and booking ahead is non-negotiable. Order the raw tuna tostadas, the signature split-sauce red and green grilled fish, and a fig tart while rubbing shoulders with local architects and visiting creatives.

Walk through this 16th-century Dominican monastery, a UNESCO site built by the local Tepozteco people. The crumbling stone walls, quiet courtyards, and faint remains of mural paintings offer a peaceful, historic pause before lunch.

Escape the highway madness and pull into this leafy sanctuary. Part indie bookstore, part open-air cafe, it’s the perfect spot to grab an espresso and plot your day under the shadow of the towering Tepozteco cliffs.

Wake up in one of only three suites in this French-influenced Porfirian townhouse. Order the house chilaquiles to your private terrace and watch the neighborhood slowly come alive.

Set inside the lush, walled gardens of the Amomoxtli boutique hotel, this restaurant serves elevated regional dishes sourced from local orchards. Order the trout or the homemade mole, and dine alfresco while looking up at the dramatic mountain amphitheater.

Chef Eduardo García's hyper-seasonal restaurant celebrates Mexican ingredients with flawless French technique. The lofty, industrial-chic space in Roma is the perfect backdrop for a relaxed yet world-class dinner.

Start your morning in the leafy streets of Roma Norte with chef Elena Reygadas’s legendary guava rolls. Secure a sidewalk table, order a strong flat white, and watch the neighborhood wake up beneath the jacaranda trees.

Walk off lunch in this lush Art Deco oasis in neighboring Condesa. Dodge the neighborhood dogs, admire the towering palms, and soak in the mid-century architecture that defines this creative pocket of the city.

Jorge Vallejo and Alejandra Flores' multi-course menu is a masterclass in modern Mexican cuisine. The service is impeccably warm, and the dishes—like the signature cactus sorbet—feel deeply rooted yet entirely new.

Settle into this magnificent Belle Époque theater for Tango Queer MX's production of 'El amante de Gardel'. The performance beautifully deconstructs traditional gender roles in tango, transforming the classic dance into an inclusive, thrillingly modern dialogue.

End your night at this sleek, pre-Hispanic-inspired temple to mezcal. Under a glowing, brutalist stone centerpiece, sip rare, small-batch agave spirits curated from remote Oaxacan producers.

Housed in a cavernous former lumberyard redesigned by architect Alberto Kalach, this gallery is the epicenter of Mexico's contemporary art scene. It is quiet, raw, and always showcases boundary-pushing global and local talent.

This former lumberyard, redesigned by architect Alberto Kalach, is the epicenter of CDMX's contemporary art scene. Walk through the sun-drenched courtyard to view boundary-pushing exhibitions by international and Mexican artists.