Maximo Bistrot in Mexico City is chef Eduardo Lalo Garcia's one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room on Alvaro Obregon, seasonal Mexican cooking with French bistro technique since 2011.
Must order: The seasonal tasting; whatever vegetable arrived that morning from the farm.
Tip: Closed Mondays; the dining room moved to the larger Alvaro Obregon space in 2021. Book three weeks ahead.
Address: Av. Alvaro Obregon 65 Bis, Roma Norte, Cuauhtemoc, 06700 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City
Rosetta in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room in a 1920s townhouse on Colima, the kitchen that earned the World's Best Female Chef title in 2023.
Order: The hoja santa ravioli; the seasonal pasta of the week.
Tip: Closed Sundays; book the second-floor balcony tables. Sister Panaderia Rosetta is across the street for morning conchas.
Rosetta in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room in a 1920s townhouse on Colima, the kitchen that earned the World's Best Female Chef title in 2023.
Order: The hoja santa ravioli; the seasonal pasta of the week.
Tip: Closed Sundays; book the second-floor balcony tables. Sister Panaderia Rosetta is across the street for morning conchas.
Masala y Maiz in Mexico City is chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval's one-Michelin-star Juarez room on Marsella, a kitchen that bridges Mexican, Indian and East African larders.
Order: The garam masala mole; the plantain dosa.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; lunch only Sundays. Small dining room books out two weeks ahead via Resy.
Merotoro in Mexico City is chef Jair Tellez's Condesa room on Amsterdam, the Baja-California-rooted kitchen ranked on the Latin America 50 Best list that opened in 2010.
Order: The whole grilled fish for two; a Valle de Guadalupe bottle from the wine list.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the bar counter facing the open kitchen books first.
Nicos in Mexico City is chef Gerardo Vazquez Lugo's family-run Azcapotzalco kitchen on Cuitlahuac, the slow-cook Mexican room ranked on the Latin America 50 Best list since 2014.
Order: The mole almendrado; the sopa seca de natas casserole.
Tip: Closed Sunday dinner and Monday; lunch is when the slow-cooked moles peak.
Alcalde in Mexico City is chef Paco Ruano's Polanco room on Masaryk, the Guadalajara-import tasting kitchen that brought modern Jalisco cooking to the capital in 2021.
Order: The seasonal tasting; the chile en nogada when in season July to September.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The bar pours strong Mexican wine and mezcal; the open kitchen seats are the move.
El Tajin in Mexico City is the Centro Veracruzano Mexican kitchen inside the Centro Veracruzano on Miguel Angel de Quevedo in Coyoacan, the room that runs Veracruz cuisine at fine-dining depth.
Order: The arroz a la tumbada; the mole xiqueño.
Tip: Closed Sundays after lunch. The garden patio is the seat; the Veracruz seafood menu changes weekly.
