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Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Tucked away from the historic center, it has no sign, Criollo is the work of three high-wattage partners: that chef, Enrique Olvera (Pujol in Mexico City, Cosme in New York); Luis Arellano, another chef; and the architect Javier Sánchez. Once you do find the restaurant, in an old colonial mansion, the entrance leads you through the kitchen and into a tranquil courtyard dining room. There’s Piaf and Simone on the soundtrack, and tables run along the edges of the courtyard. Mr. Sánchez’s modern touches — a concrete awning, minimalist wood furniture — add a refined touch, while a clay comal, where a cook makes tortillas, speaks to the humbler origins of the cuisine. The seven-course tasting menu changes daily but always includes snacks, a salad, catch of the day and desserts.
Address: Francisco I. Madero 129, Santa María del Marquesado, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca
Phone: +52 951 351 1908
Open: Tuesday – Thursday: Lunch: 1.30 – 5.00pm; Dinner: 7.00-10.15pm Saturday: Brunch/lunch: 10.30am – 5.00pm; Dinner: 7.00 – 10.15pm Sunday: Brunch/lunch: 10.30am – 5.00pm
Thalia Barrios Garcia comes from a long line of cooks, starting with her grandmother and continuing on through her mom and aunts, all of whom live in the town of San Mateo Yucutindoô in Oaxaca’s Sierra Sur. After graduating from culinary school, she had one goal: to open a place where she could cook alongside her aunts and serve the food her family had been perfecting for generations. Today, that spectacular cuisine (delicious soups, otherworldly tamales) is available at Levadura de Olla, right in the heart of Oaxaca.
Address: C. de Manuel García Vigil 304, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
Phone: +52 951 269 9068
Hours: Saturday: 1-10pm
Los Danzantes is located a short walk from the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán in the heart of Oaxaca. In true Oaxacan style, this restaurant is hidden just off the main street, in the sort of place you have to know about to know about. The brains behind Los Danzantes is Chef Alex Burgos, a Oaxaca native and major proponent of the food culture here. With a mindset like this, it’s no surprise he’s rubbing shoulders with similar chefs like the couple behind Almoraduz in Puerto Escondido. The Los Danzantes is driven by the Slow Food Mexico movement of zero waste, local (like really, really, local) ingredients, and fair produce, so you can feel good about dining here.
Address: C. Macedonio Alcalá 403-interior 4, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
Phone: +52 951 501 1184
Hours: 1- 10:30pm 7 days a week
The chef at Origen, Rodolfo Castellanos, might be a bona fide celebrity for his win on Top Chef Mexico, but you’ll still find him here at his restaurant almost every day. If you’re lucky, you may also spot Castellanos’s mom, Eve Fuensanta, stirring the giant black or red mole pots on the floor of the pre kitchen, as she does a couple of times each month. Rodolfo learned the trade from her, and you can taste the heritage in some of the specialty dishes like the chichilo mole with beef tongue — the dish that won him the title of Top Chef México.
Address: Miguel Hidalgo 820, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca, Oax., Mexico
Phone: +52 951 501 1764
Hours: Saturday: 1-11pm
This place is an Oaxaca classic. Fresh salsa mixed tableside and warm Mexican hospitality are the trademarks of this critically acclaimed restaurant from chef Alejandro Ruiz, who celebrates the traditional flavors, recipes, and heritage of his home state with a menu that soars from start to finish. Find mole negro, coloradito, and manchamanteles (three of Oaxaca’s most iconic dishes) cooked from scratch with ingredients sourced from eight of Oaxaca’s own distinct culinary regions. Make sure you try their mezcal cocktails, also known as Mezcalinis.
Address: A Gurrión 104 A, Ruta Independencia, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca, Oax., Mexico
Phone: +52 951 516 8531
Hours: Saturday: 1-10pm
Tierra del Sol Casa Restaurante
Olga Cabrera of Tierra del Sol hails from the Mixteca region of Oaxaca, and her favorite dish to make is also her best: mole. She has over 30 moles on her menu — some traditional, some original creations. The restaurant has an amazing, comfy terrace, and the location in the center of town is ideal. She recently transformed the first floor into a bakery, Masea, Trigo, and Maîz, where she sells breads and other pastries baked fresh daily.
Address: Reforma 411, Ruta Independencia, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
Phone: +52 951 516 8641
Hours: Saturday: 7.30am-10pm
Mexico City
Mexico City
Many of these restaurants are VERY popular and get booked up weeks in advance. Please make sure you have a reservation before you go!
Link to Michelin Star Restaurants near our hotel: https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/ciudad-de-mexico/polanco-seccion-iii_2000043_noindex/restaurants?sort=distance
Located on a tranquil street in the trendy Roma Norte, Alelí Rooftop offers a comfy and crafted experience, elevated above the buzz below. Set on top of a beautiful house, the lush and garden-like terrace is equally beautiful. Enjoy cool murals, plenty of greenery and cosy string lights. Aiming to bring the markets of Mexico to your table, Alelí Rooftop serves a crafted selection of food and drinks. The seasonal dishes are based on the grill, ranging from meats to vegetables and seafood, complemented with creative cocktails, as well as a fine selection of wine and draft beers.
Address: Sinaloa 141, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700,CDMX
Phone: +52 55 9130 7786
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Closes at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Contramar, the buzzy, vibrant, and enduringly popular seafood restaurant from chef and restaurateur Gabriela Cámara, is the ideal spot for a long lunch, either in the sweeping dining room or out on the sidewalk. The tuna tostadas are just as good as everyone says, and we beg that you save room for a slice of the fig tart for dessert.
Address: Calle de Durango 200, Roma Nte., 06700, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 5514 9217
This small bistro fills an obvious need in CDMX. It’s that rare cozy restaurant that’s equally great for a solo meal or a glass of wine with a few friends. Chef Michael Crespo has created a French-inspired menu that hits the mark every time, alongside an excellent wine list with natural and low-intervention options mostly from the Old World. The beef tartare with tonnato and gnocchi Parisienne with chicken jus have become signature dishes.
Address: Av. Veracruz 38, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 9224 6882
Imbiss
Imbiss has become a favorite for locals, and it’s not unlikely for diners to run into friends as they enjoy late-night dinners, natural wine, and cocktails. Chef Filipe Neves and his partner, Ramsés Luevano, have created a super no-fuss concept with a constantly changing menu based on ingredient availability. Imbiss’s most sought-after dishes are the fried chicken and the bone marrow, which often becomes a bone luge for a shot of rye, the sort of decadent indulgence the restaurant excels at on weekends. The wine selection is solid, mostly focused on low-intervention options, so embrace the funk.
Address: Oslo 8, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 6139 1196
Loup Bar has been a trendsetter in Mexico City’s natural wine scene since its opening in late 2017. Chef Joaquín Cardoso and his partner, Gaetan Rousset, have established a well-curated bottle list focused on low-intervention wines from Mexico, France, and Italy, among other regions. The food menu, heavy on organic and seasonal veggies, has a strong European bistro influence and changes according to ingredient availability. As of late, Loup Bar has become a great option for a casual lunch, with a special menu served until 4:30 p.m., before happy hour picks up at 5:00 p.m.
Address: Tonalá 23, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 5299 6931
Chef Eduardo García is among Mexico’s best culinary talents. In 2020, his flagship fine dining restaurant, Máximo Bistrot, finally moved to a brand-new location, a beautifully designed space filled with natural light. For García, the move provided a chance to revisit the menu, improving his classic dishes and creating new ones that celebrate Mexican flavors with a French twist.
Address:Av. Álvaro Obregón 65 Bis, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 5264 4291
Hours: Thursday: 6:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.
This spot is the flagship of Enrique Olivera, a bona fide celebrity in Mexico. It’s the restaurant that put Mexican fine dining on the world stage and keeps evolving. The well-heeled crowd is hushed and focused on the food. Order the charred eggplant tamal with chard, the dried-beef tartare with bean blossoms, and papadzul—a Yucatecan stuffed tortilla—with wild herbs. At six courses, the tasting menu is shorter than at the old location and offers four choices for most courses. Also worth it: the “taco omakase” menu served at the bar.
Address: Tennyson 133, Polanco, Polanco IV Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11550, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 5545 4111
Pujol alum chef Jorge Vallejo opened Quintonil with his wife, Alejandra Flores, in 2012. In 2021, Quintonil ranked #8 on the 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America list and #27 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list. Although there’s a limited à la carte option, those with time should pick the tasting menu for the true Quintonil experience. From braised oxtail in black recado with almond purée and red onion to atocpan-style mole with organic vegetables and sourdough bread, there’s a taste of many of the things that make Mexican cuisine so unique. Everything is perfectly balanced, with palate cleansers such as crème fraiche with rhubarb and caviar, so that every diner leaves happily satiated rather than uncomfortably stuffed.
Address: Newton 55, Polanco, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 555 280 2680
Hours : Monday to Saturday: 12:30 p.m. to midnight
Housed within several rooms of a beautiful and eclectic mansion, Rosetta sees chef Elena Reygadas – who was named Latin America’s Best Female Chef in 2014 – revamp traditional Mexican dishes. Its cuisine is rooted in a profound respect for Mexican ingredients and distinguished for its innovative combinations. .A focus on seasonal ingredients sourced from small producers means the menu can change daily, but favourites include corn tamale with celeriac, sea bass with samphire and white mole with fermented carrots. Rosetta, which is a regular on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, also includes an on-site bakery specialising in sourdoughs.
Address: Colima 166, Roma Norte, Mexico City, 6700
Phone: +52 55 5533 7804
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 1:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
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