Pueblan$$$$la-noriaMon-Wed 08:00-23:30; Thu-Sat 13:30-23:30; Sun 13:30-18:00Book 1 week in nogada season ahead
Restaurante La Noria works the grounds of an old hacienda in Puebla, cooking mole, pipian and huazontles, plus chiles en nogada from July to September.
Tip: From July to September the hacienda fills with chiles en nogada bookings, so reserve at least a week out in August.
OaxacanChef Osciel Solórzano and Abraham Serug$$$centro-historicoMon-Sat 13:00-22:00; Sun 12:00-20:00Book 2 to 5 days ahead
Casa Bacuuza brings Oaxaca to Puebla on 3 Poniente: tasajo from Zaachila, quesillo from Reyes Etla and tlayudas brought in from San Antonio de la Cal.
Tip: The produce list is Oaxacan rather than Pueblan by design, from Zaachila tasajo to Reyes Etla quesillo, named by village on the menu.
Pueblan$$$centro-historicoMon-Sat 08:00-23:00; Sun 08:00-18:00Book 2 to 4 days ahead
La Casa del Mendrugo cooks mole poblano and pipian verde inside a former Jesuit college on 4 Sur in Puebla, with a museum and a jazz room attached.
Tip: The mole here runs about 190 pesos and the ticket includes the museum, which is a rare pairing in the Centro Historico.
Pueblan$$$centro-historicoMon-Thu 08:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 08:00-23:30; Sun 08:00-19:00Book 2 to 4 days ahead
Casa Barroca occupies an 18th-century house on 7 Oriente in Puebla, pairing artisanal Mexican cooking with a tapas bar and a gallery courtyard.
Tip: The courtyard tables are the ones to ask for, and the tapas bar runs later than the main dining room on Friday and Saturday.
Steakhouse$$$$angelopolisMon-Wed 12:00-24:00; Thu-Sat 12:00-02:00; Sun 12:00-22:00Book 1 week at weekends ahead
Mochomos Puebla cooks Sonoran-style beef and seafood in Angelopolis, pouring from a list of more than 120 wine labels beside the carne asada tacos.
Tip: Expect 600 to 1,000 pesos a head with wine, and note the kitchen runs to 02:00 from Thursday through Saturday.
Pueblan$$$centro-historicoMon-Thu 08:00-22:00; Fri-Sun 08:00-02:00Book 3 to 5 days for weekends ahead
Attico 303 crowns Hotel Casa Rosa in Puebla with a cathedral-level terrace, pouring cocktails beside Spanish plates and contemporary Pueblan cooking.
Tip: Ask for a terrace table when you book: the interior room has none of the cathedral view that makes this worth the climb.