Mexico City, Culinary Hotspot

H O T, HOTTER, HAUTE: MEXICO CITY, CULINARY HOTSPOT

THE MEXICAN CAPITAL HAS DESERVEDLY BECOMEA WORLD-RENOWNED GASTRONOMY DESTINATION

CHEFS AND MIXOLOGISTS REINVENT MEXICAN FARE

Mexico City’s spectacular culinary renaissance, pioneered by world-renowned chefs, has landed it at the top of every foodie’s must-visit list. Today’s booming restaurant scene offers everything from fine-dining establishments, including numerous prize winners, to small bites or “antojitos” at traditional food markets. There are also gourmet food halls housing some of the city’s top restaurants and casual cantinas under one roof.

The city is a melting pot combining the finest traditional and modern fares from around the world, reflecting both the bounty of indigenous ingredients and the variety of cultures that have taken root. Every palate and every wallet is catered for.

Across the city, expert mixologists are shaking things up with their artful cocktail creations, while there are also unique environments to sample emerging Mexican wines and regional spirits, including an abundance of artisanal mezcals.

NEWCOMERS HEATING IT UP

New and established chefs have set up shop across Mexico City, utilising both historic buildings and ultra-modern new constructions. In so doing, they have helped not only to revitalise neighbourhoods but also to raise the bar as to what is possible. Here’s a small selection of some of the city’s most recent arrivals: Pujol – A highly anticipated new branch of the famed Pujol, featuring an 11-course taco bar menu and a six-course tasting menu in its airy dining room

Cantina Fina – The rustic décor recalls old-fashioned Mexican pubs yet the menu will please all of today’s sophisticated palates.

Comedor Jacinta – In the heart of Polanco, the newest restaurant of Chef Edgar Nuñez serves simple Mexican dishes with a spectacular twist.

Seneri – In the heart of the Mercado Roma food hall, Chef Fernando Martínez’s dishes are inspired by the best local products of Michoacán.

Merkavá – A restaurant evoking the typical atmosphere of an Israeli dinner table with tabouleh, falafel, tehina, kalamatas and matbucha served in the centre to share.

Amaya – A unique wine bar and restaurant featuring all natural, organic and biodynamic wines from Mexican and Latin American producers

Milan 44 – A hip new food hall and market in the emerging Juárez neighbourhood: a great spot for a casual dinner.

Havre 77 – A pastel-hued, Parisianstyle restaurant and oyster bar housed in a newly renovated historic building.

Cocina Conchita – Enjoy Diego Hernández Baquedano’s coastal cuisine from Baja California in a relaxed atmosphere reminiscent of Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Blanco Colima – A new multi-use event and restaurant venue divided into three spaces: a formal dining room, cocktail bar and lounge.

Fonda Mayora – The latest venture from Chef Gerardo Vazquez Lugo of the famed Nicos, who specialises in complex, traditional Mexican cuisine.

Lennon Cocina Libre – Chef Rodrigo Carrasco presents an innovative “free kitchen” concept inspired by John Lennon’s ideology of freedom and inclusivity.

Tacos de carnitas; Tapulin tacos in Los Danzantes

AWARD-WINNING RESTAURANTS AND CHEFS

Mexico City’s restaurants continue to top rankings worldwide, and feature prominently in the most prestigious publications and guides. Two restaurants—Quintonil and Pujol— featured on the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants of 2018, both in the top 15.

At Quintonil, Jorge Vallejo breathes new life into traditional Mexican recipes using ingredients grown at the restaurant’s urban orchard. Meanwhile at Pujol, which is a staple on the list, diners can find creative dishes that elevate traditional Mexican foods. In 2015, The Diners Club gave its Lifetime Achievement award to Pujol’s chef-owner Enrique Olvera in recognition of his craft. Olvera draws inspiration from traditional street food for his high-end dishes – using everything from chicatana flying ants to octopus and suckling pig.

TRADITIONAL TASTES

Some of Mexico City’s best cuisine can be enjoyed on-the-go. Low-key yet delicious street food is everywhere— tacos al pastor, pozole, tamales and quesadillas—and companies like Eat Mexico and Club Tengo Hambre offer culinary tours guided by local culinary experts. Samples are included!

Azul Historico restaurant

The city’s vibrant markets are plentiful, and offer a terrific opportunity to taste the best of the local fare. They include: Mercado de Coyoacán – A streetfood hotspot lined with stalls selling brightly coloured confections, bags of mole and salted chapulines (grasshoppers) from Oaxaca. Grab a quesadilla with chicharrones and a variety of agua frescas.

Mercado de San Juan – Located right in the downtown historic centre for more than 150 years, San Juan market is frequented by chefs and restaurateurs looking for gourmet products, exotic ingredients, imported food and delicacies.

Mercado La Merced – The largest retail food market in the entire city, on the eastern edge of the historic centre.

CLASSIC SPIRITS, COCKTAILS AND EMERGING WINE

Mexico City has a thriving cocktail scene with mixologists in new bars and stylish speakeasies finding fresh ways to serve ancient ingredients and distinct local spirits. The bars offer a perfect reason for visitors to explore some of the city’s hippest, upcoming neighbourhoods. Hanky Panky – One of the city’s newest speakeasies, and one of the most exclusive. You need to call to find out where it is—or apply to become a member.

Xaman – Features a cocktail menu and otherworldly atmosphere that pays homage to Mexico’s pre-Hispanic roots and the philosophy of astral projection.

Langoustines in Tori Tori restaurant

Luciferina – Expect a mystical atmosphere and a team of mixologists inspired by medieval alchemy concocting a menu of “elixirs”.

Parker & Lenox – Look behind the American-style diner to find a joint with a vintage glam atmosphere: red velvet sofas and curtains, live jazz and 1920s-style cocktails

Fifty Mils – Named after the classic 50 millilitre cocktail jigger, this is a luxurious-yet-laid-back cocktail lounge in the Four Seasons Hotel.

Vinícola Urbana – A one-of-a-kind experience in Mexico City: a rooftop wine bar with a mission to educate patrons on the Mexican wine industry.

ABOUT MEXICO CITY

Every year, Mexico City welcomes more than 12.5 million visitors, drawn by the exceptional cuisine, vibrant culture and rich history. In 2018, Mexico City became the first city in the Americas to be designated a World Design Capital®, an honour awarded by the World Design Organization™ for its commitment to design as an effective tool for economic, social and cultural development. For more information, news and updates on travel to Mexico City follow @MexicoCityLive on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.