Mexico City Food Guide: My 72 Hours Spent Eating in CDMX
Mexico City is not the kind of place you casually “check out.” You need to go there with intent. You need to commit to Mexico knowing there will be no beach. Twenty-plus million people. Tacos at midnight. Coffee at 7 am. Mezcal when the sun goes down. Repeat until your stomach taps out.
I had 72 hours.
That’s not enough time to understand CDMX. It’s barely enough time to understand one neighbourhood. But it is enough time to eat way too aggressively, walk so much I realize I’m not young anymore (no joke, 55k steps day 2 lol), and convince yourself you’re starting to understand why people kept telling you about this city and how it might be the best place to visit in the world.
Roma. Condesa. Juárez. Centro. Each one feels like its own little universe. Tree-lined cafés. Chaotic markets. Historic cantinas that feel like they haven’t changed since the 1800s…probably because they haven’t. And everywhere, tortillas being pressed somewhere nearby.
Corn isn’t just food here. It’s identity. Nixtamal. Fresh masa. Chiles that taste smoky, fruity, sharp, all at once. You literally feel it in the air. maybe that’s the smog…Admittedly, that is an issue, but it does make for one of the wildest sunsets you’ll ever see. Maybe Soderberg’s yellow filter in Traffic wasn’t that far off.
Also worth mentioning: the altitude. CDMX sits over 7,000 feet above sea level. Which means three things. First, you can hit a golf ball really far. Second, you might get extremely tired walking uphill. Third, mezcal hits faster than you think it will. All things happened to me.
Anyways.
Here’s where I ate and drank during my 72 hours in Mexico City. No “maybe this place is good.” Just the spots that actually shaped the trip, where I’d return, and where you can’t miss if you go.
Tacos del Valle
The first stop of the trip.
I checked into the hotel, dropped my bag, and immediately got in line here. I waited over an hour. Which normally would be a red flag, but in Mexico City it’s almost a sign you’re in the right place.
And it was absolutely worth it.
Tacos del Valle ended up being my favourite spot of the entire trip. The hype was real. Lived up to it completely. It’s one of those rare places that works for everything. Perfect solo spot. Perfect date spot. Perfect group hang.
The best thing I ate in all of CDMX came from here: The Compechano Especial.
Open coal-roasted meats. Melted cheese. Cream cheese. Sauces. Layers of smoky fat and crispy edges stacked together in a way that feels borderline unfair to every taco you’ve ever eaten before.
If in some cruel world you only got to eat one thing in Mexico City…this would be the choice.
Maizajo
Another long wait. Another place where the line ends up being part of the experience. It’s fun! Embrace it. Talk to people. Actually, In all my travels anywhere in the world, Mexico City was by far the city I met the most people. Every line, every bar, conversations started and plans were made.
Maizajo is basically a temple to corn. Native varieties. Nixtamal. Fresh tortillas being made constantly. If you want to understand Mexican cuisine at its core, this is the place to go.
And the layout is half the fun.
The entire dining room is essentially a long L-shaped bar, and every seat has a slightly different perspective. Maybe you’re facing the street watching Roma walk by. Maybe you’re staring straight at the bartenders pouring mezcal. Maybe you’re right in front of the cooks working the meats and tortillas.
Every angle feels like a different little show, always looking at other diners and busy chefs.
You sit, you order something, it arrives, you eat it, then you order something else. There’s no rush. No rigid structure. Just a steady flow of plates and drinks.
It’s one of the most fun hangs in the city.
Comal Oculto
This might be the best date spot in Mexico City. How would I know because I went solo? Because I do technically understand what a date is, even if I never go on them.
The room glows at night. Literally. Warm lighting spilling out onto the street, people inside leaning over cocktails and small plates, the whole place feeling modern, cool, and alive without being loud or chaotic. A dimly orange beacon in the middle of neighbourhood homes.
It’s one of the most vibey rooms in the city. And the food backs it up.
The standout for me was the tartare, which might be one of the best I’ve ever had anywhere. Perfect seasoning. Bright. Clean. Balanced.
Comal Oculto just gets everything right. The vibe. The pacing. The food. The room. A perfect night-out restaurant.
La 89
This stop happened between meals, because I cannot stop myself.
I went here for one reason and one reason only: the Compechano Torta with cheese.
The sandwich earned recognition from the Michelin Guide, which is honestly a hilarious thing to say about a greasy, beautiful street sandwich. But also completely deserved.
I grabbed it to-go, walked over to a nearby park, and sat on a bench eating it before dinner like a proper food tourist. Or proper maniac, I don’t know.
And yes, it was incredible.
Juicy meats. Melted cheese. Soft bread soaking up all the good stuff.
Sometimes the best meals happen sitting on a park bench, 30 minutes before dinnertime.
Contramar
Maybe you’ve heard of it. It’s the most hyped seafood restaurant in the city. By far.
The only other place that kept coming up almost as much was Mi Compa Chava. I didn’t go there, and honestly after seeing more photos and reels and TikToks later I kind of wish I had. The menu looks a bit more playful. The vibe maybe a little looser.
But this was my first trip to CDMX and I had to do the classic Contramar. And to be fair, everything was great.
The famous grilled fish arrived with the red sauce on one side and green on the other. The tuna tostadas were excellent. The room was buzzing with energy. At one point we even had a five-minute earthquake evacuation, which felt like a very Mexico City dining experience. Everyone stepped outside, waited, shrugged, talked, then walked right back in to keep eating.
But the real star? The desserts, specifically the fig tart. That dessert absolutely lived up to the hype.
Also made a few friends at the table next to us, which is another very Contramar thing. The place just has that social energy. Everyone is excited they’re actually there.
El Minutito
This place felt like stepping into another era.
El Minutito is old-school in the best way. The kind of bar that takes itself seriously, but in a charming, proud way rather than a pretentious one. You can stand at the side. Sit at the bar. Lean against the counter.
Drinks are made properly. Vermouth on ice with olives and a slice of orange. Simple, classic, perfect. But they also serve comforting little dishes like dressed-up chips or cheesecake that make you want to stay longer than planned.
It’s timeless.
The bar feels like something out of 1930s Mexico, which is honestly a pretty romantic vibe.
Outside, there’s even a takeout window, some couches, and a renovated van people hang out in.
I loved this place. One of the best bars anywhere.
Tío Pepe
Another timeless bar, but with a totally different personality.
Tío Pepe has been around since the mid-1800s, and the place absolutely feels like it. Dark wood. Old booths. Regulars quietly sipping drinks at the bar. Less music. Less party energy. More slow drinking.
Think McSorley’s in New York, but Mexican.
Here, the drink you have to order is the Carajillo. Espresso and Licor 43 shaken over ice. It’s rich, sweet, caffeinated, and dangerously easy to drink. You order one. Then probably another. Order them everywhere.
Bar Mauro
This is one of the top 15 bars in the world.
Now technically the #1 bar in the world right now is Handshake Speakeasy, also in Mexico City. I’ve been to around 20 bars on the World’s 50 Best list and I’ll say this confidently:
Real ones know Bar Mauro is the real king. There are no gimmicks. No theatrical presentations. No rushing you out after two drinks.
You sit.
You stay.
You eat some finger food.
And you drink some of the most perfectly balanced cocktails you’ll find anywhere.
Odette
I had gone to Panadería Rosetta earlier and, honestly, I was a bit disappointed.
Which made the stop at Odette feel like redemption.
This bakery in Condesa has become one of the most talked-about pastry spots in the city, and it’s easy to see why. Beautiful pastries. Clean modern space. Probably the best bakery in the city.
Did it completely blow my mind? Did it live up to the mounds of hype? Not exactly. But it’s still fantastic. And the setting helps. The quiet streets of Condesa, trees everywhere, people lining up excitedly for guava pastries, cookies, and whatever else just came out of the oven.
The vibe of a neighbourhood spot for sweets and morning coffee is part of the ritual.
SAN Matcha
By day three I needed something that wasn’t tacos or mezcal. Enter matcha.
SAN Matcha is basically a playground for matcha lovers. Different grades, different regions, classic ceremonial drinks alongside more playful stuff. Even if you’re not a matcha person, it’s worth stopping in just to see how seriously they treat it.
Also after two days of heavy eating, drinking something green suddenly feels like a responsible life decision.
Joe Gelato
Every food trip needs a bite of ice cream.
Joe Gelato was mine.
Small shop. Rotating flavours. Some classic Italian-style gelato, some very Mexico City combinations sneaking in there too.
I grabbed a couple scoops of espresso and burnt milk and stood outside finishing the trip the same way it started: eating something great while watching the city move around me. The surprisingly green, lush, and busy city with beautiful nooks and corners of popular silence.
Three days in CDMX is barely enough. But it’s enough to understand something important. It’s enough to know one always has to return for more.
AUTHOR: Hogan short
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