Mexico · best-of list
The 26 Best Restaurants in Mexico
All 26 restaurants our route editors picked in Mexico, across 12 destinations, gathered in one list. 15 come with an insider tip.
Our curated picks
26 restaurants in Mexico, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Bacalar 3 picks
La Playita
Bacalar · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Lagoon restaurant with a jetty for swimming.
Tip: Bring swimwear.
Photo: La Playita · Google
Mango y Chile
Bacalar · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Vegan restaurant by the fort with lagoon views.
Tip: Closed Tuesday.
Photo: Mango y Chile · Google
Nixtamal
Bacalar · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Wood-fire and ember cooking built on heirloom corn: tlayudas, tostadas and smoked fish a few blocks from the lagoon.
Tip: Dinner fills up; arrive early or reserve.
Photo: Elisa Is Hier · Google
Mexico City 3 picks
Contramar
Mexico City · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Lunch institution in Roma Norte for tuna tostadas and red-and-green pescado a la talla.
Tip: Book ahead; it is a lunch spot, closes early evening.
Photo: Yasmin Vázquez · Google
El Califa de León
Mexico City · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Tiny San Rafael taco counter with a Michelin star for its gaonera steak taco.
Tip: Standing only; expect a line.
Photo: Juan Carlos Flores Leal · Google
Pujol
Mexico City · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Enrique Olvera's flagship tasting menu, known for the aged mole madre.
Tip: Book weeks ahead; taco omakase at the bar is an alternative.
Photo: Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA · CC BY 2.0
Guadalajara 2 picks
Alcalde
Guadalajara · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Chef Paco Ruano's modern Mexican tasting menus, ranked among Latin America's best.
Photo: kaart_1 @ Mapillary · CC BY-SA 4.0
Karne Garibaldi
Guadalajara · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Fast-service institution for carne en su jugo, beef stewed in its own broth with beans.
Photo: Marcos Martínez · Google
La Paz 2 picks
Bismark-cito
La Paz · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Seafood stand on the malecón for chocolate clams, ceviche and fish tacos.
Photo: Bismarkcito · Google
Doce Cuarenta
La Paz · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Popular café and bakery for breakfast, coffee and pastries a few blocks from the sea.
Photo: Francis Teran · Google
Los Cabos 2 picks
Acre
Los Cabos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Restaurant and farm set in a palm grove, cooking wood-fired dishes with local produce.
Photo: Ashlee Barrera · Google
Flora Farms
Los Cabos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Organic farm with a field-to-table restaurant and garden cocktails in the foothills.
Tip: Reserve dinner; Sunday brunch is popular.
Photo: Flora Farms · Google
Oaxaca 2 picks
Casa Oaxaca
Oaxaca · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Chef Alejandro Ruiz's restaurant with a rooftop terrace facing Santo Domingo.
Tip: Reserve the terrace for sunset.
Photo: Casa Oaxaca el Restaurante · Google
Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Oaxaca · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Market with the smoky Pasillo de Humo, where you pick raw meats to grill on the spot.
Tip: Order tasajo and chorizo with tortillas and onions.
Photo: Brayan Gómez Valencia · Google
Playa del Carmen 2 picks
El Fogón
Playa del Carmen · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Taquería famous for al pastor tacos off the spit.
Tip: Order al pastor with pineapple.
Photo: Thomas Saliou · Google
La Cueva del Chango
Playa del Carmen · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Garden restaurant serving Mexican breakfasts since 1997.
Tip: Go early for chilaquiles before it fills.
Photo: La Cueva del Chango · Google
Puebla 2 picks
El Mural de los Poblanos
Puebla · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Courtyard restaurant serving regional Puebla dishes beneath a large mural.
Tip: Try the mole sampler.
Photo: Mural de los Poblanos · Google
Fonda de Santa Clara
Puebla · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Longtime Puebla restaurant for mole poblano and seasonal chiles en nogada.
Photo: Octavio Monroy Neria · Google
Puerto Vallarta 2 picks
Café des Artistes
Puerto Vallarta · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
French-Mexican restaurant in a garden setting, a Vallarta fixture since 1990.
Photo: Another Believer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pancho's Takos
Puerto Vallarta · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Late-night taco joint known for al pastor carved off the trompo.
Tip: Expect a line after 10 pm.
Photo: Anthony Ricciardi · Google
Tequila 2 picks
Fonda Cholula
Tequila · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Casual spot on the plaza with outdoor seating and classic Mexican plates.
Photo: Restaurante La Fonda Cholula · Google
La Antigua Casona
Tequila · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Restaurant in a historic house serving Jalisco dishes, a top pick in town.
Photo: La Antigua Casona · Google
Todos Santos 2 picks
Baja Beans
Todos Santos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Roastery café in El Pescadero with breakfast and a Sunday market.
Photo: Baja Beans the Original Café/Store · Google
Jazamango
Todos Santos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Javier Plascencia's garden restaurant with wood-fired Baja cooking from local farms.
Photo: Stebs · Google
Tulum 2 picks
Hartwood
Tulum · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Wood-fired restaurant in the beach zone with a daily menu.
Tip: Reservations open online about a month ahead.
Photo: Dana Lapan · Google
Taquería Honorio
Tulum · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Yucatecan breakfast tacos like cochinita pibil.
Tip: Go early; sells out by midday.
Photo: Ashley Ac · 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 restaurants 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 26 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Mexico has the most restaurants on this list?
Bacalar and Mexico City lead with 3 each; the other picks are spread across 10 more destinations.
More lists for Mexico
Best restaurants nearby
Destinations on this list
- Bacalar 3 on this list
- Mexico City 3 on this list
- Guadalajara 2 on this list
- La Paz 2 on this list
- Los Cabos 2 on this list
- Oaxaca 2 on this list
- Playa del Carmen 2 on this list
- Puebla 2 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.