Must-see restaurants in Western Central Highlands

  • Chango

    Morelia

    A lovely destination restaurant south of Plaza Villalongín, Chango offers cocina contemporánea de autor (contemporary signature cuisine) with maestro chef…

  • Los Girasoles

    Guadalajara Region

    Tapalpa's classiest restaurant is just off the main plaza and offers quality dishes such as cheese- and plantain-stuffed chilies in a cilantro sauce,…

  • Alcalde

    Guadalajara

    A favorite top-end restaurant in Guadalajara, the 'Mayor' is chef Paco Ruano's local venture, having cut his teeth at El Celler de Can Roca in Girona and…

  • Tata

    Morelia

    It could very well be the 190 different mezcals from Michoacán, Jalisco and Oaxaca that keeps pulling us back to Tata, but we're more inclined to think it…

  • Tortas Ahogadas Migue

    Guadalajara

    Take it from tapatíos (native Guadalajarans) in the know: this bright yellow-and-orange cafe serves the city's best tortas ahogadas, Guadalajara’s beloved…

  • El Charco de la Higuera

    Western Central Highlands

    This salt-of-the-earth restaurant doubles as a modest museum to local mask-making and offers typical cocina colimense (Colima-style cuisine). The combined…

  • El Jacal de San Antonio

    Western Central Highlands

    If you're headed towards Volcán de Fuego from Comala, don't miss this classy outdoor restaurant. Surrounded by lush tropical forest, it enjoys truly…

  • Lula Bistro

    Guadalajara

    Guadalajara’s most inventive restaurant is this super-chic eatery west of the center. Sleek and industrial though the setting is, it’s the food people…

  • La Cantera

    Morelia

    Self-dubbed a mercado gastronómico (gastronomic market), La Cantera is a sleek, modern affair in what once was a nunnery’s courtyard. Inside, a dozen…

  • Fonda Doña Gabina Escolatica

    Guadalajara

    This narrow, barnlike restaurant on a delightful Zapopan side-street of pastel-colored houses is bedecked with sunny colored textiles and specializes in…

  • Birriería las Nueve Esquinas

    Guadalajara

    Many restaurants in the village-like Nueve Esquinas (Nine Corners) neighborhood specialize in birria, meat stewed in its own juices until very tender…

  • Casa Luna

    Guadalajara

    Set in the heart of Tlaquepaque, Casa Luna spreads throughout an open courtyard under the shade of a large tree and inside as well. The cuisine is Mexican…

  • El Sacromonte

    Guadalajara

    This favorite alta cocina (gourmet restaurant) establishment in Colonia Americas has whimsical takes on classic dishes – quesadillas sprinkled with rose…

  • La Fregada Fonda

    Western Central Highlands

    A small, artful eatery, La Fregada brings the outside in with tropical plants, vine covered walls and a dining room that opens onto a lush hillside. The…

  • La Panadería

    Guadalajara

    A self-proclaimed ‘bread laboratory,’ this tiny high end bakery offers a delicious range of baked goods from around the world: buttery croissants, melt-in…

  • Las Cavas de Don José

    Western Central Highlands

    An elegant restaurant with expansive tropical gardens and a wine cellar feel, this is the place to come for a leisurely breakfast or a special night out…

  • Peko Peko

    Guadalajara

    This hopping little restaurant specializes in big, steaming bowls of ramen noodles with loads of toppings that keep vegans to meat lovers equally…

  • Casa Fuerte

    Guadalajara

    This elegant and sprawling place leans toward fine dining, with a full cocktail bar, refreshing garden patio and a rather stately feel. It’s popular with…

  • Kamellos Food Truck

    Guadalajara Region

    This popular, bustling food truck sells flavorful and hearty middle eastern eats: falafel, kabobs, stuffed pita pockets. All meals come with a fresh,…

  • Café Candela

    Guadalajara

    A boho cafe in a patio-like setting with cozy couches, repurposed tables, and chilled out tunes. Dishes use whole foods and minimal fats and sugars –…

  • Isla Cozumel

    Guadalajara Region

    Among the best of the touristy lakefront restaurants, Cozumel sits just up from the boardwalk and bills itself as a 'Caribbean Escape on the Chapala…

  • El Palomar

    Guadalajara Region

    Overlooking a pleasant church plaza, El Palomar serves up delicious and hearty típico – quesadillas, chilaquiles, enchiladas –with a long menu of coffee…

  • Dogos El Chino

    Guadalajara

    A classic Tapatio experience – and must do post-bar hopping – is a two-for-one plate at El Chino, a street stand grilling up rows and rows of dogs wrapped…

  • Taco La Paz

    Guadalajara

    Guadalajara may be a fair distance from the ocean, but fish and seafood remain a passion. For prawn and fish tacos, this simple eatery can't be beat and…

  • La Fonda de la Noche

    Guadalajara

    Set in a rambling art nouveau house, this restaurant is a stunner in every way. The cuisine is largely from the Durango region and it would be fair to say…

  • Los Mirasoles

    Morelia

    Morelian and Michoacán pride oozes from the kitchen at Los Mirasoles, where you'll dine in a fine Unesco-quality house bedecked (among other quirks) with…

  • Onix

    Morelia

    All the restaurants around Plaza de Armas are excellent for eavesdropping and people-watching, but some come unstuck with the food. Not Onix, locally…

  • Cenaduría Julia

    Western Central Highlands

    This institution in the northern suburb of Villa de Álvarez is one of the area's best-loved restaurants. The dishes to try here are the sopitos (small…

  • Karne Garibaldi

    Guadalajara

    This branch of a large and bright local cantina chain is wildly popular with Mexican families and has two specialties: carne en su jugo (‘meat in its…

  • Cenaduría Lupita

    Morelia

    If you'd like to try a range of Morelian delicacies, head for this low-key eatery 2km southeast of the cathedral specializing in antojitos regionales …

  • Origo

    Morelia

    Opening onto the leafy Jardín de las Rosas, this charming bistro-bakery serves up a superb breakfast and lunch menu, including a handful of vegan and…

  • Mariscos Progreso

    Guadalajara

    On Saturday and Sunday afternoons it feels like half of Guadalajara has packed into this Tlaquepaque patio seafood restaurant with an open fire. Dressed…

  • La Chata de Guadalajara

    Guadalajara

    Quality comida típica (home-style food), affordable prices and ample portions mean this family diner always has a queue out front. Fortunately, hard…

  • Mariscos el Social

    Guadalajara

    The chef, known as 'El Socio', started serving his sensational ceviche and delicious shrimp and octopus cocktails from his stainless-steel cart on…

  • Café Madrid

    Guadalajara

    An upgraded 1950s-style cafe that is open all day, but best for a huevos rancheros breakfast (fried eggs on a corn tortilla with a tomato, chili and onion…

  • Lu Cocina Michoacana

    Morelia

    This unassuming restaurant below the Hotel Casino is one of Morelia’s most inventive places to dine. Talented young chef Lucero Soto Arriaga turns pre…

  • ¡Ah Qué Nanishe!

    Western Central Highlands

    The name of this restaurant in indigenous Zapotec means ‘How delicious!’ and the rich, chocolatey but not overwhelming mole (sauce) is superb. Other…

  • Cuish Cocina

    Morelia

    A charming restaurant with stone walls, folk art and repurposed tables, Cuish cooks up traditional dishes from Michoacan and Oaxaca: sopa Tarasca (spicy…

  • Maria Mitotes

    Guadalajara

    This festive open-air restaurant serves up delicious Mexican antojitos (snacks), prepared homestyle and served on traditional clay dishes. Come here for…

  • Gaspachos La Cerrada

    Morelia

    Gaspacho – not a cold tomato soup in Mexico but a 'salad’ of diced mango, pineapple and jicama (Mexican 'turnip') drowned in orange and lime juice and…