16 mid-range rooms in Mexico City, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good rooms in Mexico City — no surprise on the bill, real cooking. All Mexico City food.
Masala y Maiz ★ 4.6
juarez · Calle Marsella 72, Juarez, Cuauhtemoc, 06600 Ciudad de Mexico
Masala y Maiz in Mexico City is chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval's one-Michelin-star Juarez room on Marsella, the kitchen that bridges Mexican, Indian and East African pantries.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; the room is small and books out a week ahead via Resy.
El Cardenal ★ 4.6
centro-historico · Calle de la Palma 23, Centro Historico, Cuauhtemoc, 06000 Ciudad de Mexico
El Cardenal in Mexico City is the Briz family's 1969 Centro Historico room on Palma, the traditional Mexican breakfast institution where hot chocolate is frothed tableside with raw-milk nata.
Tip: Open 08:00 to 18:00; the Centro location seats four floors and still queues by 09:30 on Sunday morning.
Expendio de Maiz ★ 4.6
roma-norte · Yucatan 84, Roma Norte, Cuauhtemoc, 06700 Ciudad de Mexico
Expendio de Maiz in Mexico City is chef Jesus Salas' tiny no-reservations heirloom-corn counter on Yucatan in Roma Norte, the kitchen that built its name on native masa from Oaxaca and Tlaxcala.
Tip: No reservations; only ten counter seats. Open Wed-Sun 13:00 to 19:00; arrive at opening and bring cash.
El Cardenal Centro ★ 4.6
centro-historico · Calle de la Palma 23, Centro Historico, Cuauhtemoc, 06000 Ciudad de Mexico
El Cardenal Centro in Mexico City is the Briz family's 1969 Centro Historico breakfast room on Palma, the Sunday-morning institution where hot chocolate is frothed tableside with raw-milk nata.
Tip: Sunday brunch fills by 09:30; arrive at opening at 08:00 to avoid the wait. Three other branches across the city.
Molino El Pujol ★ 4.6
condesa · Sinaloa 217, Hipodromo Condesa, Cuauhtemoc, 06170 Ciudad de Mexico
Molino El Pujol in Mexico City is Enrique Olvera's Condesa heirloom-corn cafe on Sinaloa, the daytime molino that grinds native maize for tlacoyos, tortillas and tamales open to the public.
Tip: Open daily 08:00 to 18:00. The blue-corn tortillas to take home are sold in stacks at the counter; the public is welcome to watch the milling.
Expendio de Maiz Sin Nombre ★ 4.6
roma-norte · Yucatan 84, Roma Norte, Cuauhtemoc, 06700 Ciudad de Mexico
Expendio de Maiz in Mexico City is chef Jesus Salas' tiny no-reservations heirloom-corn counter in Roma Norte, the kitchen that built its name on native masa from Oaxaca and Tlaxcala.
Tip: Ten counter seats; no reservations. Open Wed-Sun 13:00 to 19:00; arrive at opening with cash.
El Hidalguense ★ 4.5
roma-norte · Calle Campeche 155, Roma Sur, Cuauhtemoc, 06760 Ciudad de Mexico
El Hidalguense in Mexico City is the Roma Sur weekend-only barbacoa pit on Campeche, the Hidalgo-style maguey-pit lamb that fills the room from Friday through Sunday morning.
Tip: Open Friday to Sunday only, 07:00 to 18:00. Arrive by 09:30 Sunday or the consomé runs out by noon.
Lalo! ★ 4.5
roma-norte · Zacatecas 173, Roma Norte, Cuauhtemoc, 06700 Ciudad de Mexico
Lalo in Mexico City is chef Eduardo Garcia's all-day Roma Norte counter on Zacatecas since 2014, the Maximo Bistrot casual sister with communal tables and breakfast that runs to noon.
Tip: Walks-ins only; arrive before 09:00 weekends or expect a wait. Closed for full service Sunday afternoon.
El Hidalguense ★ 4.5
roma-norte · Calle Campeche 155, Roma Sur, Cuauhtemoc, 06760 Ciudad de Mexico
El Hidalguense in Mexico City is the Roma Sur weekend barbacoa pit on Campeche, the maguey-pit lamb that fills the room from Friday through Sunday morning with Hidalgo-style platefuls.
Tip: Open Friday to Sunday only, 07:00 to 18:00. Arrive by 09:30 Sunday or the consomé runs out before noon.
El Parnita ★ 4.4
roma-norte · Av. Yucatan 84, Roma Norte, Cuauhtemoc, 06700 Ciudad de Mexico
El Parnita in Mexico City is the Roma Norte antojitos kitchen on Yucatan since 2010, a casual modern Mexican room with hand-rolled tortillas and a tight chipotle-fish taco menu.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Lunch service runs the heaviest; the patio is dog friendly. Walks-ins land most days.
Maque Condesa ★ 4.4
condesa · Av. Ozuluama 4, Hipodromo, Cuauhtemoc, 06100 Ciudad de Mexico
Maque in Mexico City is the Condesa morning room on Ozuluama that pairs handmade pan dulce with chilaquiles and huevos divorciados, a regular Sunday brunch stop on the Parque Mexico spine.
Tip: Daily 07:30 to 22:00. Walks-ins fill by 09:30 Sunday; arrive earlier or expect a 30 minute wait for the patio.
Cafe de Tacuba ★ 4.3
centro-historico · Calle de Tacuba 28, Centro Historico, Cuauhtemoc, 06000 Ciudad de Mexico
Cafe de Tacuba in Mexico City is the Mollinedo family's 1912 Centro Historico room on Tacuba, the colonial-palace dining hall that defines traditional Mexican capital cooking.
Tip: Open daily 08:00 to 23:00. The Sunday strolling student trio singing Aztec songs starts around 13:00; mariachi runs evenings.
El Bajio ★ 4.3
polanco · Alejandro Dumas 7, Polanco IV Seccion, Miguel Hidalgo, 11550 Ciudad de Mexico
El Bajio in Mexico City is chef Carmen Titita Ramirez's Veracruz-rooted regional Mexican kitchen with locations across the city, with the Polanco branch carrying the original Azcapotzalco menu.
Tip: Open daily 09:00 to 22:00; the Azcapotzalco original opened 1972 and is the deeper room for connoisseurs.
Cafe de Tacuba ★ 4.3
centro-historico · Calle de Tacuba 28, Centro Historico, Cuauhtemoc, 06000 Ciudad de Mexico
Cafe de Tacuba in Mexico City is the Mollinedo family's 1912 Centro Historico room on Tacuba, the 17th-century palace dining hall that runs every traditional Mexican breakfast format the capital invented.
Tip: Daily 08:00 to 23:00; the strolling student trio on Sunday afternoons is the move for the room's full character.
El Bajio Polanco ★ 4.3
polanco · Alejandro Dumas 7, Polanco IV Seccion, Miguel Hidalgo, 11550 Ciudad de Mexico
El Bajio in Mexico City is chef Carmen Titita Ramirez's Veracruz-rooted regional Mexican kitchen with the Polanco branch on Alejandro Dumas, the dependable daytime stop for tamales and mole.
Tip: Open daily 09:00 to 22:00. The Azcapotzalco original is the deeper room for Veracruz regional depth.
Fonda Fina ★ 4.3
roma-norte · Av. Medellin 79, Roma Norte, Cuauhtemoc, 06700 Ciudad de Mexico
Fonda Fina in Mexico City is the Roma Norte modern fonda on Medellin from chef Juan Cabrera, a daytime Mexican kitchen that updates traditional Mexico City home cooking with a tasting-menu format.
Tip: Lunch is the move; the dining room runs more festively on Saturdays. Closed Monday.