Must-see restaurants in Mexico

  • Pujol

    Polanco & Bosque de Chapultepec

    Arguably Mexico’s best gourmet restaurant, Pujol offers a contemporary take on classic Mexican dishes in a stylish and modern, Mexican-designed setting…

  • Almoraduz

    Puerto Escondido

    Almoraduz' husband-and-wife culinary alliance creates memorable flavor combinations in one of the Oaxaca's coast's few true gourmet restaurants. It's not…

  • Quintonil

    Polanco & Bosque de Chapultepec

    This contemporary innovator consistently makes the Top 50 Restaurants in the World list – #11 in 2018 – for creatively showcasing traditional Mexican…

  • Mercado Divisidero

    The Copper Canyon & Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacífico

    At the foot of the train station sits the Divisidero market with stall-upon-stall of eateries selling mostly tacos, burritos and gorditas (stuffed thick…

  • La Providencia

    Zipolite

    Zipolite’s outstanding dining option, on a road behind the beach's western end, combines exquisite flavors, artful presentation and relaxed ambience. You…

  • Hartwood

    Tulum

    Assuming you can get in (it accepts walk-ins and online reservations made one month in advance), this sweet 'n' simple nouvelle-cuisine restaurant down on…

  • Boulenc Pan Artesano

    Oaxaca City

    Oaxaca’s best bakery comes with a trendy cafe next door where the most popular dish is – guess what? – avocado toast. Guys with beards or girls in Doc…

  • Los Danzantes

    Oaxaca City

    Excellent Mexican fusion food in a spectacular architect-designed patio makes Los Danzantes one of Oaxaca’s special dining spots. The hierba santa …

  • Tempo

    Cancún

    Dazzling contemporary elegance and impeccable service characterize Tempo, but it’s the nine-course tasting menu of elaborate gourmet Basque cuisine with a…

  • Benazuza

    Cancún

    Up to 30 courses of surprising molecular cuisine. The dining experience at contemporary restaurant Benazuza incorporates traditional Mexican-inspired…

  • Nixtamal

    Laguna Bacalar

    The slooow-food experience here pushes your patience to the limit, but grill-master Rodrigo Estrada makes it well worth the wait. Exquisite dishes such as…

  • Casa Oaxaca

    Oaxaca City

    It’s not easy living up to the mantle of Oaxaca's best restaurant, but this place consistently achieves. A glamorous rooftop terrace, theatrical tableside…

  • Javi's Cantina

    Isla Mujeres

    More like a restaurant than a cantina, but Javi's does have happy hour and live music. The menu consists of seafood, choice beef cuts, chicken and various…

  • Taquería Honorio

    Tulum

    It began as a street stall and became such a hit that it's now a taco place with a proper roof overhead. Most folks go here for the cochinita (pulled pork…

  • Passion

    Playa del Carmen

    With a French-Basque-inspired menu created by Michelin-starred-chef Martin Berastegui, this is unquestionably one of Playa's finest restaurants. Diners…

  • Café des Artistes

    Puerto Vallarta

    At one of Vallarta’s finest restaurants, everything impresses, from the candlelit garden with water feature and psychedelic Huichol yarn art in the subtly…

  • Alessandro

    Mazunte

    On Oaxaca’s coast you’re never far from an expat Italian chef who’s generously imported his/her culinary know-how and opened a restaurant. Few are as good…

  • Telefónica Gastro Park

    Tijuana

    At the edge of the city's industrial zone perches this collection of food trucks helmed by the city's most innovative rising chefs. Each has a specialty,…

  • Los Danzantes

    Coyoacán & San Ángel

    Los Danzantes puts a contemporary spin on traditional Mexican cuisine with dishes such as huitlacoche (trufflelike corn fungus) raviolis in poblana …

  • 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…

  • Chango

    Morelia

    A lovely destination restaurant south of Plaza Villalongín, Chango offers cocina contemporánea de autor (contemporary signature cuisine) with maestro chef…

  • Cocina Chontal

    Tabasco

    Run by the larger-than-life, traditionally dressed Nelly Córdova, this delightful open-air restaurant is located near the archaeological site (ask to cut…

  • 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…

  • Áperi

    San Miguel de Allende

    This courtyard restaurant inside a boutique hotel is perhaps the best spot in town for fine dining. The chef here has been given the freedom to do…

  • Paititi del Mar

    Acapulco

    Set in a tropical garden under a palapa (thatched roof), this inland seafood restaurant prepares dishes that put most of Acapulco's beachside eateries to…

  • Teresita's

    Sonora

    It's quite amazing that somewhere as small and remote as Álamos boasts this simply outstanding bakery-cum-bistro. There's an open kitchen and a changing…

  • La Guerrerense

    Ensenada

    Sabina Bandera’s award-winning seafood stand dates from the 1960s and attracts long lines with its outstanding juicy ceviche (seafood marinated in lime…

  • 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…

  • Flora's Field Kitchen

    San José del Cabo

    Visit this farm oasis to splurge on meals finely crafted from ingredients harvested from the surrounding gardens, crusty fresh breads, locally made…

  • Fonda San Francisco

    Monterrey

    Knock on the metal door to gain access to this quirky and creative eatery, run by the iconoclastic master chef Adrián Herrera. It's a casual, pretension…

  • Los Girasoles

    Guadalajara Region

    Tapalpa's classiest restaurant is just off the main plaza and offers quality dishes such as cheese- and plantain-stuffed chilies in a cilantro sauce,…

  • El Cardenal

    Centro Histórico

    Possibly the finest place in town for a traditional meal, El Cardenal occupies three floors of a Parisian-style mansion and has a pianist playing sweetly…

  • Restaurante La Mora

    San Agustinillo

    Tucked onto a sheltered slice of beach, there's something of the old posada about La Mora. You can park yourself in the tavern-like interior or feel the…

  • Alcalde

    Guadalajara

    A favorite top-end restaurant in Guadalajara, the 'Mayor' is chef Paco Ruano's local venture, having cut his teeth at El Celler de Can Roca in Girona and…

  • Tata

    Morelia

    It could very well be the 190 different mezcals from Michoacán, Jalisco and Oaxaca that keeps pulling us back to Tata, but we're more inclined to think it…

  • Il Mercato Gentiloni

    Northeast Mexico

    This shimmering new gastronomic complex houses some of Saltillo's best restaurants. Here you'll find gourmet Mexican fare, creative sharing plates,…

  • La Barra

    Veracruz

    Wiggle your toes in the sand and dig into fish so fresh it may have just jumped onto your plate from the ocean in front of you. Whether grilled, or cooked…

  • 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…

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