Must-see restaurants in Around Mexico City

  • La Zanahoria

    Puebla

    This blessing for vegetarians is an excellent place for lunch, just moments from the zócalo. The draw is the popular daily buffet from 1pm to 6pm in the…

  • El Mural de los Poblanos

    Puebla

    Set back from the street in a gorgeous, plant-filled colonial courtyard, El Mural de los Poblanos serves excellent, traditional poblano dishes in an…

  • Nelhua

    Puebla

    Talk about hitting all the right notes. The contemporary Mexican dishes at Nelhua highlight the complex flavors of mole – from smoked poblano on turkey to…

  • Petra Fonda

    Toluca

    Gourmet delights have arrived for Toluca's foodies. Creative, exquisite dishes include mole de coco (chicken rolled around garlic shrimp in a coconut…

  • El Ciruelo

    Tepoztlán

    Set in a courtyard with impressive views of the cliffs and pyramid, this long-standing favorite serves an upscale menu of dishes from pechuga con plátano…

  • Restaurante Hacienda de Cortés

    Cuernavaca

    Situated within Hotel Hacienda de Cortés, a 15-minute drive southeast of central Cuernavaca, this elegant but unpretentious hotel restaurant serves an…

  • La Sibarita

    Tepoztlán

    High on a hill above town, the restaurant at Posada del Tepozteco has gorgeous views of the valley below. With surreal cliffs and a pyramid overhead, the…

  • La India Bonita

    Cuernavaca

    Set in a lush courtyard, Cuernavaca’s oldest restaurant also has some of its best traditional Mexican food – from brocheta al mezcal (skewered meats…

  • Las Ranas

    Puebla

    This local institution is the place to try one of Puebla’s great dishes: the taco árabe. Unbelievably moist al pastor (shepherd-style) pork is marinated…

  • La Norberta

    Cholula

    A cantina is a traditional Mexican bar with food, but Norberta forgoes saloon doors to welcome in families and young, discerning diners to eat mole…

  • La Maga Café

    Cuernavaca

    The colorful buffet (till 5pm) at La Maga features multitudes of glazed pots filled with salads, pastas, fruit, vegetables, and daily specials such as…

  • Restaurante La Gruta

    Teotihuacán

    Set in a vast, cool cave a short distance from gate 5, this tourist-centric restaurant is unapologetically gimmicky but definitely unique and kitsch fun…

  • Rosa Amaranto

    Taxco

    The roof terrace of Pueblo Lindo hotel is one of the most spectacular spots for panoramic views of Taxco over a lunch of enchiladas de jamaica (chicken-…

  • Los Colorines

    Tepoztlán

    Inside the pink exterior of this buzzing restaurant, the hearty traditional Mexican fare bubbles away in cazuelas (clay pots) – try the regional chiles…

  • Sotavento

    Taxco

    It's easy to be wooed by the cobblestone arches in the warm lighting of Sotavento's leafy, tranquil courtyard. Classic Mexican dishes such as enchiladas…

  • La Gloria Chocolatería y Pan 1876

    Toluca

    You'll probably be the only foreigner at this wonderful, friendly, family-run cafe. It serves a tempting (photo) menu of local cuisine, from tacos al…

  • Desayunos Lupita

    East of Mexico City

    This ultra-popular breakfast and lunch spot serves quintessential tlaxcalteca food, like huaraches (an oblong, fried corn base with a variety of toppings)…

  • La Casa de Frida

    Cholula

    This cavernous gem gives a nod to Frida Kahlo's home in Mexico City. Mexican handicrafts (plus the artist-owner's murals) are splashed throughout the…

  • Restaurante Sacristía

    Puebla

    Set in the delightful colonial patio of the Mesón Sacristía de la Compañía hotel, this is an elegant place for a meal of authentic mole and creative…

  • Restaurante Yoloxóchitl

    East of Mexico City

    Beautifully decorated with plants, antiques and ancient jukeboxes, Yoloxóchitl has views over the cathedral and a selection of salads, antojitos (tortilla…

  • La Purificadora

    Puebla

    The restaurant at La Purificadora, one of Puebla’s chicest boutique hotels, is set in a spare, loft-like space with unfinished walls and long, narrow wood…

  • Comal

    Puebla

    Comal is your old dependable in Puebla. Come for flavorful, good-value poblano dishes like mole (spiced chocolatey sauce on chicken), cemitas (overloaded…

  • Augurio

    Puebla

    Chef Angel Vázquez has brought international flavors to Puebla in other ventures, but with Augurio he creates gourmet experiences in an intimate space out…

  • Taxco de Mil Sabores

    Taxco

    As you traipse through a jewelry store to this hidden spacious restaurant, the last thing you might expect are 180-degree views of the town from its…

  • Restaurant Las Mañanitas

    Cuernavaca

    The restaurant and bar of Cuernavaca’s most famous hotel, Las Mañanitas, is a luxurious splurge that's open to all. The expansive menu has a heavy French…

  • Recaudo

    Cholula

    Healthy-eating delights in dishes made from organic, locally sourced ingredients. The seasonal vegetarian menu includes elaborate salads (mango, fig and…

  • La Hacienda de Taxco

    Taxco

    Offering an extensive menu of traditional Mexican dishes (including house-made jam in the morning and a 20-ingredient, house-made mole in the afternoon),…

  • La Sushería

    Taxco

    This sushi restaurant in the lobby of Hotel Emilia reflects modern Taxco with its designer furniture but casual vibe. The sushi is fresh and finished…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • El Tlecuil

    Tepoztlán

    The chaotic market hides a stall with mostly vegan pre-Hispanic food. Mainly this means tortita (croquette) taste bombs wrapped up as tacos or with rice…

  • Restaurante Techinanco

    Teotihuacán

    A short walk from gate 3, behind the Pirámide de la Luna, this homey restaurant serves excellent home cooking at comparatively reasonable prices. The…

  • La Terraza

    East of Mexico City

    This family-run restaurant west of the zócalo, decorated with photos of the town’s annual festivities, is extremely popular with locals for its large…

  • Jaque's

    East of Mexico City

    Jaque's is just a few steps from the zócalo, but the Mexican fare is much better here than elsewhere in the area. Plus you still have the white…

  • Xuni

    East of Mexico City

    Near Huamantla's sights, Xuni is set around a colorful courtyard and serves Mexican dishes such as tacos gobernador (shrimp and avocado tacos) and…

  • La Luna Mextli

    Tepoztlán

    This spacious bar-restaurant has a long covered terrace to enjoy the excellent dishes, from the Mexican standards to an entire list of Argentine steaks…