Buna ★ 4.6
Buna in Mexico City is the Roma Norte specialty coffee bar on Orizaba, the in-house Mexican-roasted operation with Nahuatl-named blends and an almond croissant that locals call the best in the city.
Signature drink: Flat white
Coffee shops, bakeries with seats and the places Mexico City lingers in over a cortado.
Where to sit and slow down
Cafe Negro Coyoacan ★ 4.5
Cafe Negro Coyoacan in Mexico City is the cobblestone-street cafe on Centenario near Plaza Hidalgo, a Mexican-only roaster that sources from Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puebla and Guerrero and pulls espresso on a manual lever.
Signature drink: Mexican single-origin filter
Cucurucho ★ 4.5
Cucurucho in Mexico City is owner David Birruete's Juarez cafe on Rio Nazas, the third-wave roaster with Chiapas and Oaxaca beans that pulls some of the strongest espresso in the city.
Signature drink: House blend espresso
Cafebreria El Pendulo Condesa ★ 4.3
Cafebreria El Pendulo Condesa in Mexico City is the multi-floor bookstore cafe on Nuevo Leon since 1993, the wood-floor balcony reading room with brunch service and live weekend music.
Signature drink: Mexican chocolate with espresso
Almanegra Cafe ★ 4.4
Almanegra Cafe in Mexico City is the Roma Norte third-wave specialty roaster on Tabasco, the minimalist room with a single-origin V60 program and Mexican coffees rotated weekly.
Signature drink: V60 filter
Quentin Cafe ★ 4.2
Quentin Cafe in Mexico City is the Roma Norte cafe on Avenida Alvaro Obregon, the all-day room with a pull-down vintage espresso machine and a slow Mexican-coffee selection.
Signature drink: Cortado
Blend Station Condesa ★ 4.1
Blend Station in Mexico City is the Condesa daytime work cafe on Tamaulipas, a multi-floor specialty coffee room with wifi-friendly seats and the city's deepest remote-work crowd at any given lunch.
Signature drink: Mocha latte
Cafe Avellaneda ★ 4.5
Cafe Avellaneda in Mexico City is the Coyoacan hole-in-the-wall espresso bar on Higuera, the no-laptop seven-seat counter where barista Geovanni Salas pulls some of the most precise espresso south of Roma.
Signature drink: Pour-over Chiapas
Boicot Cafe ★ 4.3
Boicot Cafe in Mexico City is the Roma Norte specialty coffee bar on Alvaro Obregon, an indie roaster with single-origin Chiapas and Veracruz beans and an espresso-to-pour-over menu.
Signature drink: Filter coffee
Tierra Garat ★ 4.0
Tierra Garat in Mexico City is the Mexican-coffee chain that pours cafe de olla, atole and Mexican chocolate; the Condesa Tamaulipas branch is the closest sit-down stop for Mexico City coffee traditions.
Signature drink: Cafe de olla
Chiquitito Cafe ★ 4.4
Chiquitito Cafe in Mexico City is the Condesa six-seat espresso bar on Alfonso Reyes, a tiny no-laptop counter that built its reputation on barista training and Mexican single-origin pulls.
Signature drink: Espresso
Panaderia Rosetta Colima ★ 4.7
Panaderia Rosetta in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' Colima bakery cafe across from Rosetta, where the guava-rose roll and concha drive Sunday-morning queues around the corner since 2012.
Signature drink: Espresso with concha
Cardinal Casa de Cafe ★ 4.4
Cardinal Casa de Cafe in Mexico City is the Roma Norte specialty roaster on Cordoba, a converted-house cafe with Mexican single-origin beans and a slow-pour bar in the back patio.
Signature drink: Cortado
Cucurucho Roma ★ 4.4
Cucurucho Roma in Mexico City is the Roma Norte location of David Birruete's third-wave roaster on Chiapas Street, the sister branch to the Juarez flagship with the same Chiapas-and-Oaxaca house blend.
Signature drink: Filter Chiapas
Joselo ★ 4.2
Joselo in Mexico City is the Condesa park-front cafe on Avenida Mexico across from Parque Mexico, a daytime room with house-baked pan dulce and a strong specialty coffee bar facing the dog park.
Signature drink: Latte with concha
Cafés in Mexico City, FAQ
When is the best time to eat in Mexico City?
Peak food season in Mexico City is year-round.
What time do people eat in Mexico City?
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
How does tipping work in Mexico City?
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
What is the one dish to try in Mexico City?
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Mexico City rewards trust.