Mexican$$coyoacan
Cafe Avellaneda is seven-seat no-laptop coyoacan espresso bar on higuera that pulls some of the most precise mexican single-origin shots in the city.
Why locals love it: Seven-seat no-laptop Coyoacan espresso bar on Higuera that pulls some of the most precise Mexican single-origin shots in the city.
Tip: The room is no-laptop; arrive for an espresso flight and a conversation with barista Geovanni Salas.
Cocktail bar$$centro-historico
Bosforo Mezcaleria (Cocktail bar) in Mexico City: Tue-Sat 18:00-02:00; the red curtain on Luis Moya is the entrance. Ask the bartender for a Tobala flight.
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 18:00-02:00; the red curtain on Luis Moya is the entrance. Ask the bartender for a Tobala flight.
Mexican$$centro-historico
Centro tortas counter on Luis Moya since 1992 from wrestler Super Astro Jr's family; 1.5kg Torta Gladiador free if finished in 15 minutes, lucha-libre decor.
Why locals love it: Centro torta counter on Luis Moya owned by the family of Super Astro the luchador since 1991, with a kilogram free-if-you-finish Gladiador torta challenge.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the Gladiador is free if you finish it in 15 minutes. The walls are covered in lucha libre masks.
Mexican$$roma-norte
Roma Norte mezcaleria on Calle Cordoba serving small-batch Oaxacan agaves with antojito plates; intimate room, tahona-crushed espadin and tobala bottles.
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 09:00-15:00 only; arrive at opening or call ahead. The loaves sell out by 13:00.
Taqueria$$narvarte
El Vilsito in Mexico City: Daytime auto mechanic shop in Narvarte that turns into a Bib Gourmand al pastor taqueria after 19:00, off the tourist track.
Why locals love it: Daytime auto mechanic shop in Narvarte that turns into a Bib Gourmand al pastor taqueria after 19:00, off the tourist track.
Tip: Arrive after 21:00 weekends; the trompo fully fires by then and the line moves quickly along Peten.
Yucatecan$$roma-norte
Expendio de Maiz Sin Nombre is tiny no-sign counter on yucatan that serves whatever the chef wants that day, with ten seats and only heirloom corn.
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 13:00-19:00 only; arrive at opening for the day's full menu and bring cash.