The walkable heart of contemporary Mexico City, a 1900s Porfirian neighbourhood of art nouveau townhouses with Contramar, Rosetta, Maximo Bistrot, Lalo and the densest cafe network in the city.
Contramar in Mexico City is Gabriela Camara's lunch-only Durango Street seafood room in Roma Norte since 1998, the kitchen that made the tuna tostada Mexico City's most-copied dish.
Signature: Tuna tostada, Pescado a la talla, Fish tacos
Order: The tuna tostada and the pescado a la talla, split red and green down the middle.
Tip: Open lunch only; arrive by 13:00 or expect a 45 minute wait. Half the dining room books out for the same lunch every Wednesday.
Maximo Bistrot in Mexico City is chef Eduardo Lalo Garcia's one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room on Alvaro Obregon, the seasonal Mexican kitchen with a French bistro spine since 2011.
Signature: Seasonal tasting, Market vegetables, Hand-rolled pastas
Order: The seasonal tasting menu; whatever vegetable arrives that morning from the chef's farm.
Tip: Closed Mondays; book three weeks ahead. The taller dining room moved to Alvaro Obregon in 2021 from the original Tonala location.
Rosetta in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room in a 1920s townhouse on Colima, the kitchen where Italian technique meets Mexican market produce.
Signature: Hand-rolled pastas, Hoja santa ravioli, Tasting menu
Order: The hoja santa ravioli; the seasonal pasta of the week.
Tip: Closed Sundays; sister Panaderia Rosetta is across the street for morning conchas. Reygadas was named World's Best Female Chef 2023.
Em in Mexico City is chef Luis Lucho Martinez's one-Michelin-star Roma Norte tasting room on Tonala, the contemporary Mexican kitchen with Japanese influences that earned a star in the 2024 first Mexico guide.
Signature: Tasting menu, Wagyu carnitas, Smoked fish
Order: The full tasting menu; the wagyu carnitas course is the room's signature.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays; tasting menu only. Book three weeks ahead via OpenTable. Originally opened as Emilia in 2018 before relocating.
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.
Signature: Barbacoa de borrego, Consomé de borrego, Pancita
Order: The barbacoa de borrego with consomé; the pancita stew on the side.
Tip: Open Friday to Sunday only, 07:00 to 18:00. Arrive by 09:30 Sunday or the consomé runs out by noon.
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.
Signature: Heirloom-corn tortillas, Tlacoyos, Quesadillas de masa azul
Order: Whatever the daily handwritten menu lists; the blue-corn tlacoyo with squash blossoms.
Tip: No reservations; only ten counter seats. Open Wed-Sun 13:00 to 19:00; arrive at opening and bring cash.
Em in Mexico City is chef Lucho Martinez's one-Michelin-star Roma Norte tasting room on Tonala, a contemporary Mexican kitchen with Japanese fermentation and smoke threaded through the menu.
Order: The full tasting menu; the smoked-fish course is the signature.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays; tasting menu only. The 12-seat counter is the room.
Maximo Bistrot in Mexico City is chef Eduardo Lalo Garcia's one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room on Alvaro Obregon, seasonal Mexican cooking with French bistro technique since 2011.
Order: The seasonal tasting; whatever vegetable arrived that morning from the farm.
Tip: Closed Mondays; the dining room moved to the larger Alvaro Obregon space in 2021. Book three weeks ahead.
Rosetta in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' one-Michelin-star Roma Norte room in a 1920s townhouse on Colima, the kitchen that earned the World's Best Female Chef title in 2023.
Order: The hoja santa ravioli; the seasonal pasta of the week.
Tip: Closed Sundays; book the second-floor balcony tables. Sister Panaderia Rosetta is across the street for morning conchas.
Contramar in Mexico City is the Gabriela Camara-run Durango Street seafood room in Roma Norte since 1998, the lunch-only kitchen that built its name on the tuna tostada and the split-color pescado a la talla.
Signature: Tuna tostada, Pescado a la talla, Fish tacos
Order: The tuna tostada and the pescado a la talla, half red half green down the middle.
Tip: Open lunch only; lines start at 13:00. Walk-ins land easier on Mondays than mid-week.
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.
Signature: Huevos rancheros, Chilaquiles, Croque-madame
Order: The huevos con chorizo; the chilaquiles verdes; a Mexican wine by the glass.
Tip: Walks-ins only; arrive before 09:00 weekends or expect a wait. Closed for full service Sunday afternoon.
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.
Signature: Tacos de pescado al chipotle, Pulpo a la brasa, Tamales
Order: Tacos de pescado al chipotle; pulpo a la brasa; the tamal of the day.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Lunch service runs the heaviest; the patio is dog friendly. Walks-ins land most days.
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.
Signature: Barbacoa de borrego, Consomé de borrego, Pancita
Order: Barbacoa de borrego with consomé and pancita on the side.
Tip: Open Friday to Sunday only, 07:00 to 18:00. Arrive by 09:30 Sunday or the consomé runs out before noon.
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.
Signature: Heirloom-corn tortillas, Tlacoyos, Quesadillas de masa azul
Order: The daily handwritten menu; the blue-corn tlacoyo with squash blossoms.
Tip: Ten counter seats; no reservations. Open Wed-Sun 13:00 to 19:00; arrive at opening with cash.
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.
Signature: Sopa de mariscos, Pescado a la veracruzana, Mole de la casa
Order: Sopa de mariscos; whichever guisado fills the chef's plate that day; the daily mole.
Tip: Lunch is the move; the dining room runs more festively on Saturdays. Closed Monday.
Buna in Mexico City is the Roma Norte specialty coffee bar on Orizaba, the in-house Mexican-roasted operation with Nahuatl-named blends and an almond croissant that locals call the best in the city.
Signature drink: Flat white
Almanegra Cafe in Mexico City is the Roma Norte third-wave specialty roaster on Tabasco, the minimalist room with a single-origin V60 program and Mexican coffees rotated weekly.
Signature drink: V60 filter
Quentin Cafe in Mexico City is the Roma Norte cafe on Avenida Alvaro Obregon, the all-day room with a pull-down vintage espresso machine and a slow Mexican-coffee selection.
Signature drink: Cortado
Boicot Cafe in Mexico City is the Roma Norte specialty coffee bar on Alvaro Obregon, an indie roaster with single-origin Chiapas and Veracruz beans and an espresso-to-pour-over menu.
Signature drink: Filter coffee
Panaderia Rosetta in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' Colima bakery cafe across from Rosetta, where the guava-rose roll and concha drive Sunday-morning queues around the corner since 2012.
Signature drink: Espresso with concha
Cardinal Casa de Cafe in Mexico City is the Roma Norte specialty roaster on Cordoba, a converted-house cafe with Mexican single-origin beans and a slow-pour bar in the back patio.
Signature drink: Cortado
Cucurucho Roma in Mexico City is the Roma Norte location of David Birruete's third-wave roaster on Chiapas Street, the sister branch to the Juarez flagship with the same Chiapas-and-Oaxaca house blend.
Signature drink: Filter Chiapas
Panaderia Rosetta in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' Roma Norte bakery on Colima since 2012, the bakery counter where the rose-guava roll and the concha drive 30 minute Sunday morning queues.
Worth the queue: Rol de guayaba (guava rose roll)
Panaderia Rosetta Puebla in Mexico City is the second Roma Norte Reygadas bakery on Puebla, a larger room with the same conchas and laminated pastries plus more counter seating than the original Colima branch.
Worth the queue: Concha de vainilla
Rustik Bakery in Mexico City is the Roma Norte artisanal sourdough counter on Tabasco, a small French-style bake shop with naturally leavened breads, croissants and an espresso bar.
Worth the queue: Sourdough miche
Delirio in Mexico City is chef Monica Patino's Roma Norte cafe and bakery on Monterrey, a daytime French-leaning room with butter croissants and seasonal Mexican market produce.
Worth the queue: Croissant mantequilla
Ozimo Tahona in Mexico City is the Roma Norte stone-mill sourdough bakery on Cordoba, a weekends-only operation that grinds heirloom Mexican grains on-site for naturally leavened country loaves.
Worth the queue: Pan de Oaxaca with sesame
Buna in Mexico City is the Roma Norte in-house specialty roaster on Orizaba, the operation that sells Mexican single-origin Chiapas, Veracruz and Oaxaca beans in Nahuatl-named designed bags.
Sources from: Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Pour over, Whole bean retail
Almanegra in Mexico City is the Roma Norte third-wave roaster on Tabasco, a single-origin specialty operation with rotating Mexican coffees and a small bar program with V60 service.
Sources from: Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz
How they serve: Espresso, V60, AeroPress, Whole bean retail
Boicot in Mexico City is the Roma Norte indie roaster on Alvaro Obregon, an independent operation with Chiapas and Veracruz single-origins and an espresso-to-pour-over menu.
Sources from: Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca
How they serve: Espresso, Pour over, Whole bean retail
Quentin in Mexico City is the Roma Norte cafe-roaster on Alvaro Obregon, a vintage-machine pull-down specialty operation that runs Mexican single-origins through a small bar program.
Sources from: Chiapas, Oaxaca
How they serve: Espresso, V60, Whole bean retail
Cumbe Coffee Roasters in Mexico City is the Roma Sur specialty operation on Monterrey, a Melbourne-style roaster that supplies Roma and Condesa cafes from its larger La Tostadora roastery in the La Laguna textile complex in Doctores.
Sources from: Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Subscription
Cardinal Casa de Cafe in Mexico City is the Roma Norte house-roaster on Cordoba, a converted-house cafe with Mexican single-origin beans and a slow-pour bar in the back patio.
Sources from: Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz
How they serve: Espresso, Pour over, Whole bean retail
Loup Bar in Mexico City is the Roma Norte natural-wine room on Tonala beneath Maison Artemisia, a narrow candle-lit counter pouring Loire and Rhone naturals brought in by Gaetan Rousset alongside Valle de Guadalupe Mexican bottles.
Signature pour: Loire natural pours by the glass
Wine focus: Natural European and Mexican wines
Food: Small plates and charcuterie
Mia Domenicca in Mexico City is the Roma Norte Italian wine room on Calle de Durango, an early-1900s Porfirian house with an interior patio that pours an Italian-focused list alongside Mediterranean small plates.
Signature pour: Italian by the glass
Wine focus: Italian and Mediterranean wines
Food: Mediterranean small plates
Blanco Colima in Mexico City is the Roma Norte wine-and-Spanish kitchen on Colima, a converted-mansion room with multiple dining spaces, a wine cellar focus and Catalan tapas.
Signature pour: Rioja by the glass
Wine focus: Spanish and Mexican wines
Food: Mexican-Spanish dishes
Licoreria Limantour in Mexico City is the Roma Norte cocktail flagship on Avenida Alvaro Obregon, one of the World's 50 Best Bars regulars since 2014 with the Margarita Al Pastor as its signature.
Signature drink: Margarita Al Pastor
Food: Snacks
Rayo Cocktail Bar in Mexico City is the Roma Norte mansion-bar on Salamanca, a North America's 50 Best Bars regular with a Mexico-made cocktail program built around the agave-goddess Mayahuel legend.
Signature drink: Mexican spirit cocktails
Food: Snacks
Tlecan in Mexico City is the Roma Norte pre-Hispanic agave-spirit bar on Alvaro Obregon, North America's 50 Best Bars 2025 No. 3, focused on rare Mexican distillates from female producers.
Signature drink: Mexican fermented beverages and agave distillates
Food: Endemic ingredient snacks
Tlacoyos Dona Jose in Mexico City is the Roma Norte breakfast comal on Cordoba, the comal-griddle counter that puts out blue-corn tlacoyos filled with frijol or haba most weekday mornings.
Try: Tlacoyos
Order: Two tlacoyos de haba topped with nopales, queso fresco and salsa verde.
Tip: Cash only and weekday mornings only; the queue forms around 09:00 with neighbourhood regulars. Last sale is when the masa runs out.
Tamales Dona Emi in Mexico City is the Roma Norte morning tamal cart on the corner of Alvaro Obregon and Cordoba, the weekday breakfast stand that wraps verde, rojo, mole and sweet tamales by 11:00.
Try: Tamales and atole
Order: A guajolota (tamal in a torta) with atole de fresa; one tamal mole on the side.
Tip: Open until the masa is gone, usually by noon. Cash only; the regulars start queueing at 07:30 on weekdays.
Cru Cru Brewing in Mexico City is the La Romita craft brewery in a 19th-century mansion off Plaza Romita, one of the early modern Mexico City craft breweries with West Coast IPAs and a chapulines gose seasonal.
Falling Piano Brewing Co in Mexico City is the Roma Norte American-style craft brewery and taproom on Coahuila, a converted warehouse with hazy IPAs, sours and a kitchen serving Mexican-American barbecue.
Morenos Tasting Room in Mexico City is the Roma Norte multi-tap craft beer hall on Chiapas (formerly The Tasting Room), a 20-plus tap rotating room that pours Casa Cervecera Morena alongside Mexican and imported craft beers.
Mercado Roma in Mexico City is the Roma Norte gourmet food hall on Queretaro, a three-floor market with 50-plus vendors covering Mexican, Italian, Venezuelan, Japanese and Spanish kitchens plus a rooftop biergarten.
Mercado Medellin in Mexico City is the Roma Sur Latin American import market on Campeche, the pan-Latin grocery hall with Cuban, Colombian and Argentine vendors plus a strong fonda lunch counter trade.
La Ola Festival Vegano is the annual two-day plant-based gathering at Centro Urbano Pdte. Juarez in Roma Sur, in its seventh edition for 2026, with 80-plus vegan producers and Mexican kitchens serving antojitos, moles and the city's largest vegan food market.
Eat Mexico's Private Cooking Class is the Roma Norte hands-on Mexican class led by Lesley Tellez's team, with a market shop followed by a home-kitchen session covering tortillas, salsas and tacos.
Tamales Dona Emi in Mexico City is the Roma Norte morning corner cart where a guajolota (tamal in a torta) with atole de fresa runs about 35 pesos before 09:00.
Try: Guajolota with atole
Expendio de Maiz in Mexico City is the Roma Norte heirloom-corn counter where a single blue-corn tlacoyo runs about 70 pesos, hand-pressed daily on a comal.
Try: Two blue-corn tlacoyos
Lalo in Mexico City is chef Eduardo Garcia's Roma Norte breakfast counter on Zacatecas, the all-day room with communal tables that anchors the Maximo Bistrot crew's morning agenda.
Order: Huevos con chorizo or chilaquiles verdes with a Mexican wine by the glass.
Panaderia Rosetta in Mexico City is Elena Reygadas' Roma Norte bakery with the larger Puebla branch that supports counter brunch, the morning stop for laminated guava rolls and conchas.
Order: Rol de guayaba; concha de vainilla; cafe de olla.