La Huasteca Potosina
This relaxed (sometimes rather too relaxed) pub does tasty Mexican food, including a good steak and numerous taco and enchilada iterations. There's also…
Must-see restaurants in Mexico
Central Pacific Coast
Known for its torta de pierna (pork on a crunchy roll); just add some chipotle dressing to the sandwich and you're good to go for a picnic here in…
Bahías de Huatulco
Prepares good French, Mexican and Mediterranean dishes with specialties including snails, osso buco and fish of the day in a creamy leek sauce. The…
Bahía de Kino
Dorita and her daughter turned their front room into a restaurant more than 20 years ago and have been kicking out the best breakfast around since.
Veracruz
This large, colorful restaurant is renowned for its smoky, flavorful chilpochole de camarón (chili-laden shrimp soup), as well as chicken with the…
Playa del Carmen
If you're pinching pesos, hit this mornings-only, Cuban-owned corner spot and try the tasty torta de lechón, a crunchy roast pork sandwich sprinkled with…
Guadalajara
This bustling streetside grill is the place to come for steaks and spicy tortas ahogadas. Steaks are rubbed with olive oil, splashed with soy sauce and…
Southern Baja
Located beachside in the center of town, this cavernous former shrimp factory with a rooftop patio not only serves terrific thin-crust pizza but also has…
Western Central Highlands
This very colorful corner eatery, with floor-to-ceiling painted walls and where the waitstaff wear flamboyant traditional Mexican garb, serves some of the…
Northern Central Highlands
Simple Italian restaurant filled with character that's tucked away in a room behind a tiny, old-fashioned bakery. It serves wood-fired pizzas and good…
Tepoztlán
Head here for the best pastries around – the smell drifting over the zócalo alone will probably bring you in on autopilot. There’s also good coffee and a…
Chiapas
This no-frills place, with a handful of tables inside the orange dining room and a couple more outside on the terrace overlooking the street, serves…
Mazatlán
As the sun makes its way towards the horizon, hungry customers congregate around El Charly, the pick of a cluster of hot-dog carts and a local institution…
Zihuatanejo
Squash-blossom omelette, chilaquiles (tortilla strips in salsa) and other Mexican delicacies get your day off to a sunny start at this informal breakfast…
Puerto Vallarta
Locals escape the noise and bustle of the Zona Romántica at this gracious courtyard eatery. Good breakfasts – the specialty here – and bottomless cups of…
San José del Cabo
Down by San José del Cabo's marina, this two-story, palapa-topped Mexican place serves unique fusion items (falafel tacos anyone?) along with delicious…
Guadalajara Region
A world away from all the arty expat-style restaurants and cafes, this tiny lemon-and-lime-colored eatery serves up authentic and delicious home-cooked…
Puerto Escondido
Inhabiting a deluxe palapa on Zicatela beach, the highly successful El Coste is all about its grilled fish and seafood (take your pick from snapper, bass,…
Tijuana
Good coffee (including espresso drinks) and yummy breakfasts from Benedicts and pancakes to particularly good chilaquiles make this an early morning no…
Progreso
This older-style, locals’ joint is on the north side of the plaza in a 100-year-old building. Weak ‘American’ coffee is served quickly, with a warm smile,…
Sayulita
Italy meets Mexico at this refined restaurant overlooking the plaza. There's a decent Italian wine list and the menu veers between spinach salad and…
Veracruz City
This highly regarded French restaurant, with just a hint of Italian, serves a seasonally changing menu that can be loaded with treats, such as delicately…
The Copper Canyon & Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacífico
Modest, but spacious and clean, Francisco Villa, 200m north of the train station, does a great vegetarian chile relleno (chili stuffed with meat or cheese…
San Agustinillo
The service leaves much to be desired but La Termita’s wood-oven pizzas are the best in town, and there are good salads to go with them and carrot or…
La Paz
Great for breakfast with live music (on weekends) and a fabulous atmosphere throughout the cozy, cluttered dining rooms and terraces. Local artwork,…
San Cristóbal de las Casas
Satisfy your taco cravings at this plastic-table joint, which grills up mountains of tacos al pastor. Locals love the meaty sarape, heaving with beef,…
Chiapas
This reliable Spanish option has a fun flamenco-filled vibe, plus it serves some genuine tapas dishes and wines from the (colonial) mother country. This…
Central Pacific Coast
It doesn't look like much from the street, but this sweet little palapa restaurant, owned by a fisherman and his family, does seafood dishes at nearly…
Tulum
Immensely popular with locals, this roadside eatery guarantees fresh fish and seafood. Regulars don't even need to look at the menu – it's all about the…
Guanajuato
This old-school cantina-like place is a tale of two stories – literally – on the 1st floor they serve innovative tacos with weird and wonderful fillings…
Costa Maya & Southern Caribbean Coast
This fishing lodge's restaurant-bar is one of the better options in town for eating and drinking. It serves both American- and Mexican-style breakfasts…
Tulum
If you skipped this outfit while in Playa del Carmen or Cancún, here's another chance. Fish tacos and tuna tostadas go down oh-so-nicely with a michelada …
Coyoacán & San Ángel
At El Cardenal San Ángel Mexican classics like chicken mole sometimes come with a twist – think duck tacos. Violinistas complete the atmosphere for a…
Monterrey
Monterrey's main downtown market has many fondas (family-run eateries) with good home cooking.
Zipolite
The Italian-run beachside restaurant here does fine wood-oven pizzas and good pasta, as you might expect, but also seafood creations and salads. It's a…
Progreso
This is a bit of an institution around town with its beachfront setting and action to boot. Some say the botanas (complimentary sampler plates that come…
Cabo San Lucas
A lively thatched restaurant in the middle of town, swarming with locals who come for the best, classic Mexican seafood in the area. Prices are reasonable…
Coyoacán & San Ángel
Here are Coyoacán’s best deep-fried snacks. Get in line for a bag – chocolate-filled or straight up – then stroll over to the cafe next door for coffee…
Tulum
Simple, elegantly prepared French food at excellent prices. Seafood features heavily on the menu but there are steaks, chicken and tasty baguettes to…
San Miguel de Allende
This fine-dining establishment set within a patio of a colonial building boasts an international menu with occasional Mexican influences, and features…
