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.
Why locals love it: Seven-seat no-laptop Coyoacan espresso bar on Higuera that pulls some of the most precise Mexican single-origin shots in the city.
Tip: The room is no-laptop; arrive for an espresso flight and a conversation with barista Geovanni Salas.
Address: Higuera 40 local 3, Del Carmen, Coyoacan, 04100 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City
Why locals love it: Speakeasy-style velvet-curtain mezcaleria on Luis Moya in Centro that pours 50-plus artisanal Oaxacan mezcales without a sign on the street.
Tip: Tue-Sat 18:00 to 02:00; the red curtain on Luis Moya is the entrance. Ask the bartender for a Tobala flight.
Why locals love it: Centro torta counter on Luis Moya owned by Super Astro the luchador, with a kilogram free-if-you-finish Gladiador torta challenge.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the Gladiador is free if you finish it in 15 minutes. The walls are covered in lucha libre masks.
Why locals love it: Weekends-only Roma Norte stone-mill sourdough bakery that grinds heirloom Mexican grains on a hand-built tahona for limited-batch country loaves.
Tip: Thu-Sun 09:00 to 15:00 only; arrive at opening or call ahead. The loaves sell out by 13:00.
Why locals love it: Daytime auto mechanic shop in Narvarte that turns into a Bib Gourmand al pastor taqueria after 19:00, off the tourist track.
Tip: Arrive after 21:00 weekends; the trompo fully fires by then and the line moves quickly along Peten.
Why locals love it: Tiny no-sign counter on Yucatan that serves whatever the chef wants that day, with ten seats and only heirloom corn.
Tip: Wed-Sun 13:00 to 19:00 only; arrive at opening for the day's full menu and bring cash.
Why locals love it: Colorful 1902 Centro pulqueria most tourists pass, pouring 45 flavored pulques and one of the city's most painted interiors.
Tip: Friday and Saturday afternoons run seven pulque flavors; Mon-Thu only runs five. Cash only.
