Mexico · best-of list
The 12 Best Bars & Cafés in Mexico
All 12 bars & cafés our route editors picked in Mexico, across 12 destinations, gathered in one list. Each one is a stop on a route you can open and copy into a trip.
Our curated picks
12 bars & cafés in Mexico, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Bacalar 1 pick
Noru Bacalar
Bacalar · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Lagoon-front Japanese-fusion spot with sushi, mezcal and signature cocktails, open until midnight. Formerly Nao.
Tip: Go at sunset for lagoon views and cocktails.
Photo: NORU BACALAR · Google
Guadalajara 1 pick
La Fuente
Guadalajara · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Cantina open since 1921, with old regulars and live music, steps from the cathedral.
Photo: Nima Honarbakhsh · Google
La Paz 1 pick
La Miserable
La Paz · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Small mezcalería known for well-chosen Oaxacan mezcals and guided tastings.
Photo: MEZCALERIA La Miserable · Google
Los Cabos 1 pick
Cabo Wabo Cantina
Los Cabos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Sammy Hagar's long-running rock bar and live music venue in downtown Cabo.
Photo: Cabo Wabo Cantina · Google
Mexico City 1 pick
Licorería Limantour
Mexico City · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Roma Norte cocktail bar regularly ranked among the world's best.
Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY 4.0
Oaxaca 1 pick
In Situ Mezcalería
Oaxaca · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Mezcal bar with hundreds of bottles, many from small producers.
Tip: Ask for a guided flight of wild agave mezcals.
Photo: Mezcalería In Situ · Google
Playa del Carmen 1 pick
Coco Bongo
Playa del Carmen · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Big nightclub-show venue with acrobatics and live music.
Tip: Book tickets ahead; doors around 10pm.
Photo: Coco Bongo Playa del Carmen · Google
Puebla 1 pick
La Pasita
Puebla · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Tiny bar since 1916 pouring its signature raisin liqueur shot.
Photo: Rohit Sood · Google
Puerto Vallarta 1 pick
La Bodeguita del Medio
Puerto Vallarta · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Cuban bar on the Malecón with mojitos and live son music.
Photo: Cassy Dygert · Google
Tequila 1 pick
La Capilla
Tequila · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Cantina dating from 1940 where Don Javier created the batanga.
Tip: Bring cash; hours can be irregular.
Photo: Oscar Ramirez · Google
Todos Santos 1 pick
La Esquina
Todos Santos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Open-air café and juice bar near the beach, a casual gathering spot.
Photo: La Esquina · Google
Tulum 1 pick
Batey Mojito & Guarapo Bar
Tulum · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Town bar making mojitos with fresh-pressed sugarcane juice and live music.
Tip: Order the mojito from the VW bug press.
Photo: Andrea G · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the bars & cafés in Mexico?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 12 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Mexico has the most bars & cafés on this list?
The picks are spread widely: 12 destinations are represented, and none has more than 1.
More lists for Mexico
Best bars & cafés nearby
Destinations on this list
- Bacalar 1 on this list
- Guadalajara 1 on this list
- La Paz 1 on this list
- Los Cabos 1 on this list
- Mexico City 1 on this list
- Oaxaca 1 on this list
- Playa del Carmen 1 on this list
- Puebla 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.