Day-by-day eating plans for Mexico City. weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.

Day-by-day plans

Mexico City weekend: tacos al pastor, two-star Mexican, mezcal ★ 4.8

First-time visitor, two days2 days

A weekend built around the canon of capital eating: 1959 al pastor counter for lunch, Roma Norte coffee, Contramar's tuna tostada, Pujol or Quintonil tasting menu, mezcaleria nightcap and Coyoacan tostadas Sunday morning.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: Centro lunch, Roma afternoon, Polanco tasting menu

    Morning
    Breakfast at El Cardenal on Calle de la Palma in Centro Historico from 09:00, hot chocolate frothed tableside with pan de nata. Walk five minutes to the Mercado de San Juan for chapulines, exotic fruits and a stand-up espresso. Cross to Plaza Garibaldi to see Salon Tenampa from the outside.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at El Huequito on Ayuntamiento for the original 1959 al pastor counter, then walk to Buna in Roma Norte on Orizaba for an espresso and almond croissant. Stroll Roma Norte past Panaderia Rosetta on Colima for an afternoon concha.
    Evening
    Tasting-menu dinner at Pujol in Polanco at 19:30; the Mole Madre Mole Nuevo is the room's signature. After dinner cab south to Hanky Panky or Handshake Speakeasy in Juarez for a World's 50 Best cocktail nightcap.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: Contramar lunch, Coyoacan tostadas, Bosforo mezcaleria

    Morning
    Breakfast at Lalo on Zacatecas in Roma Norte at 09:00; huevos con chorizo on the communal table. Then walk Roma Norte's art-nouveau streets to Plaza Rio de Janeiro and the Casa Lamm cultural centre.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Contramar on Calle Durango at 13:00 sharp; the tuna tostada and pescado a la talla split red and green. After lunch take a cab south to Coyoacan for the cobblestones, the Frida Kahlo Museum and Tostadas Coyoacan inside Mercado de Coyoacan.
    Evening
    Cocktail and Margarita Al Pastor at Licoreria Limantour in Roma Norte from 19:30 (one of the few World's 50 Best Bars rooms open Sundays). Cap with churros at Churreria El Moro on Eje Central, the 24-hour Centro counter.

Mexico City Michelin three days: stars, mezcal, markets ★ 4.9

Fine-dining traveller, three days3 days

Three days through the 2024 Mexico Michelin Guide: Pujol, Quintonil and Sud 777 two-and-one-star rooms, Contramar lunch, El Califa de Leon Michelin-starred taqueria and the cocktail and mezcal canon.

  1. Day 1: Polanco: Pujol two-star lunch and Hanky Panky nightcap

    Morning
    Breakfast at Panaderia Rosetta in Roma Norte; pick up a rol de guayaba and a concha to go. Take a cab to Polanco; walk Avenida Masaryk past the Museo Soumaya and Museo Jumex.
    Afternoon
    Two-Michelin-star lunch at Pujol on Tennyson at 13:30; the Mole Madre Mole Nuevo is the order. After lunch a coffee at Cucurucho in Juarez to reset.
    Evening
    Dinner at Em on Tonala in Roma Norte at 20:30; Lucho Martinez's contemporary Mexican with Japanese touches. After dinner walk to Hanky Panky on Turin or Handshake Speakeasy on Amberes for a 2024 World's 50 Best Bars nightcap.

  2. Day 2: Pedregal: Sud 777 lunch and El Califa de Leon taqueria dinner

    Morning
    Slow morning at Cafe Avellaneda in Coyoacan; a single espresso at the seven-seat counter, then walk the Plaza Hidalgo and visit the Frida Kahlo Museum (closed Mondays).
    Afternoon
    Take a cab south to Pedregal for the 12-course tasting at Sud 777 on Boulevard de la Luz from 13:30. Edgar Nunez's vegetable-driven Mexican holds one Michelin star. After lunch return to Roma for a Loup Bar natural-wine sit.
    Evening
    Dinner at Tacos El Califa de Leon on Ribera de San Cosme in San Rafael, the world's first Michelin-starred taqueria. After tacos, mezcales at La Clandestina on Alvaro Obregon in Condesa from 21:30.

  3. Day 3: Roma: Quintonil two-star lunch and a long mezcal afternoon

    Morning
    Breakfast at Maque on Ozuluama in Condesa; chilaquiles verdes with the in-house concha and cafe de olla. After breakfast, walk to Parque Mexico for the dog park morning.
    Afternoon
    Two-Michelin-star lunch at Quintonil on Newton at 13:30 (closed Sundays, plan a weekday); the tasting menu is the room. Vallejo's number-three-on-the-World's-50-Best kitchen. After lunch a long walk through Polanco's Avenida Masaryk and back to Roma.
    Evening
    Cocktail at Licoreria Limantour on Alvaro Obregon, the Margarita Al Pastor signature. Late dinner at Lardo in Condesa, Elena Reygadas' wood-fired Mediterranean room open through 23:00. End with churros at El Moro 24-hour Centro counter.

Mexico City on a budget: three days under 1500 pesos a day ★ 4.5

On a budget, three days3 days

Three days of Mexico City eating under 1,500 pesos per day per person, covering tacos al pastor, market tostadas, esquites, pozole and the city's deep street-food canon without missing a defining bite.

  1. Day 1: Centro: Cardenal breakfast, El Huequito lunch, Salon Tenampa night

    Morning
    Breakfast at Fonda Margarita in Del Valle from 07:30; huevos con chorizo and frijoles puercos for about 120 pesos. Walk back to Roma via metro.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at El Huequito on Ayuntamiento in Centro Historico; three tacos al pastor for under 100 pesos. Walk to Mercado de San Juan for an exotic-fruit dessert. An afternoon coffee at the standing counter at Almanegra Cafe in Roma.
    Evening
    Cantina antojitos and mariachi at Salon Tenampa on Plaza Garibaldi from 20:00. Late tacos at Los Cocuyos on Bolivar past midnight: three tacos de suadero for 75 pesos.

  2. Day 2: Roma and Coyoacan: tlacoyos, tuna tostadas, Mercado de Coyoacan

    Morning
    Tlacoyos and atole at Tlacoyos Dona Jose on Cordoba in Roma Norte from 08:30, two tlacoyos under 100 pesos. Coffee at Cardinal Casa de Cafe on the back patio.
    Afternoon
    Skip the Contramar splurge; instead split El Pescadito's Condesa Sonora-style fish tacos for lunch (two for 130 pesos). Take the metro to Coyoacan; spend the afternoon at the Mercado de Coyoacan eating Tostadas Coyoacan with the locals.
    Evening
    Pozole blanco at Casa de Tono on Londres in Juarez for 130 pesos. Pulque and mariachi at Las Duelistas on Aranda in Centro from 20:00; the curado de pina runs about 40 pesos a half-litre.

  3. Day 3: Late tacos, Sunday barbacoa, churros at midnight

    Morning
    Sunday barbacoa at El Hidalguense in Roma Sur from 09:30; lamb barbacoa with consome under 250 pesos. Cafe de olla after at Tierra Garat on Avenida Tamaulipas.
    Afternoon
    Mercado Roma food hall on Queretaro for an afternoon snack; pick three vendors and split. Walk Condesa to Parque Mexico for the dog crowd.
    Evening
    Trompo dinner at El Tizoncito in Condesa from 20:00 on the Tamaulipas sidewalk (El Vilsito closed Sundays); four tacos al pastor with pineapple under 140 pesos. End with a 24-hour churro stop at El Moro on Eje Central.

Mexico City vegan: three days plant-based ★ 4.4

Vegan traveller, three days3 days

A three-day plant-based Mexico City plan through Roma Norte's vegan taqueria scene, Centro's Vegamo, plant-based tastings at Sud 777 and the city's strongest pan dulce, coffee and mezcal stops without animal products.

  1. Day 1: Roma Norte: La Pitahaya vegan lunch and a Polanco tasting

    Morning
    Breakfast at Buna in Roma Norte; the bakery makes a clearly labelled vegan almond pastry and an oat-milk flat white.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at La Pitahaya Vegana on Queretaro; the pink beetroot-corn tortilla vegan tacos and an enmolada verde. After lunch a stroll through Roma Norte and an espresso at Quentin Cafe.
    Evening
    Sud 777 in Pedregal runs a strong vegetarian path through the 12-course tasting; call ahead to confirm a fully vegan menu. After dinner a mezcaleria nightcap at Tlecan on Alvaro Obregon in Roma Norte, ranked No. 3 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2025.

  2. Day 2: Coyoacan and Centro vegan, late mezcal

    Morning
    Cafe Negro Coyoacan on Centenario; the in-house roaster pulls oat-milk lattes and the bakery counter has vegan pan dulce.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Vegamo Centro on Revillagigedo, the 100 percent vegan kitchen with chilaquiles, tamales and vegan burgers. Walk to Mercado de San Juan for an exotic fruit afternoon and Mercado de Coyoacan for the tostadas (request the vegan options at the stalls).
    Evening
    Vegan dinner at Plantasia in Roma Norte; Pad Thai, vegan sushi and rice noodle soup. Mezcal at Bosforo on Luis Moya; the snacks are mostly vegan-friendly if you ask.

  3. Day 3: Por Siempre Vegana, Sunday morning bakery, Lalo brunch

    Morning
    Pan dulce breakfast at Panaderia Rosetta on Puebla; multiple breads are vegan-friendly (the conchas use butter; the country bread does not).
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Por Siempre Vegana Taqueria in Roma Norte; vegan al pastor and suadero on the corner of Manzanillo, ~100 percent vegan trompo built from mushrooms and seitan.
    Evening
    Late brunch at Lardo in Condesa (the kitchen runs vegan flatbreads and salads). Wrap with a mezcal flight at La Clandestina on Alvaro Obregon. The bar's snacks can be made plant-based; let them know on arrival.

Itineraries 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.

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