Condesa is one of the best neighborhoods in Mexico City for food. It’s one I frequent almost every weekend so I feel confident I can share with you the absolute best restaurants in Condesa that you don’t want to miss.
Condesa is a great place to base yourself in general while visiting Mexico City. You can start your day with a stroll along the tree-lined Calle Amsterdam, have a coffee and pastry in one of the city’s best cafes, and then head off to explore the city for the day.
You may also find my article about the best tacos in Roma and Condesa helpful as you plan your trip.
Other helpful posts relating to Condesa:
The Best Restaurants in Condesa Mexico City
1. Merotoro
This restaurant has to be at the top of the list. This is without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Condesa and perhaps even one of the best restaurants in Mexico City overall.
It focuses on Baja California style food, a state in Mexico that is close to the coast and even closer to the best vineyards in the country.
Expect fantastic seafood, amazing slow-roasted meats like rabbit and wild boar. And do not skip out of recommendations from the staff for the best Mexican wines to pair with your main courses.
My personal favorite dish that I think about often at this restaurant is the aguachile.
Aguachile is like ceviche, but made with shrimp and has a slightly different flavor. And as the name suggests, a good kick of chile, too.
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 1-11pm, Sundays 1:30-6pm
Make a reservation here (highly recommended).
2. Taqueria El Greco
El Greco specializes in Tacos Árabe, and they do it better than most other people in the city.
While they do have a few other taco options, I highly recommend heading here for the house specialty, the Doneraky in pan árabe.
The doneraky meat is so beautifully seasoned with herbs and spices and the salsas pair with the fatty pork perfectly. Just be sure to taste each one before you spoon them onto your tacos, they’re notoriously spicy.
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 2-10:30pm, Thursday to Saturday 2pm-4am, closed Sundays
3. Tacos Hola
Tacos Hola is a Condesa institution. They have been cooking up guisados or Mexican-style stews for decades on this street corner.
Guisado tacos are the closest thing that you get to trying Mexican home cooking and the family that runs Tacos Hola make you feel a little bit like you’re stepping into their living room.
They have a menu in both Spanish and English and they have a huge selection of vegetarian and vegan options as well. My favorites here are the cauliflower taco and the relleno (blood sausage).
Head here early because once they sell out of something, it’s gone for the day.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am-9pm, Saturdays 9am-7pm, Sundays 8:30am-3:30pm
So many guisados to choose from at Tacos Hola!
4. El Tizoncito
El Tizoncito claims to be the inventor of Pastor Tacos, Mexico City’s famous pork and pineapple creation.
Whether this is true or not is hotly contested by the locals, but either way, everyone flocks here for a taste of their tacos.
They are some of the last people in the city still cooking the pastor on the spit over coals (al carbon). The pork is juicy with a slight crisp. The seasoning is perfect and the sauce they pair it with will have your eyes rolling to the back of your head.
I also love their chips and dip that you get immediately delivered to your table as soon as you sit down. The hot and spicy refried beans should be bottled and sold because I would buy it by the pound.
There are two locations, but I prefer the larger branch on Tamaulipas.
Opening Hours: Daily noon-3am
SERIOUSLY good tacos de pastor
5. Pasillo de Humo
Pasillo de Humo is one of the best restaurants in Condesa for Mexican food and one of the best spots in the entire city for Oaxacan food.
The state of Oaxaca is where many of the country’s most flavor-packed moles come from. It’s where chocolate and coffee are grown. It’s where smoked meats are perfected and where the best mezcal is made.
Get yourself a reservation at Pasillo de Humo and enjoy tlayudas, shrimp with rich dark mole sauce, and wash it all down with artisanal mezcals for one of the best nights of eating you could possibly have on your trip to Mexico City.
It’s also a really fantastic place to head for breakfast. Their hot chocolate is the closest thing you’ll get to traditional Mexican hot chocolate in this part of town and be sure to dip your pan de yema in it to look like a real local.
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 9am-10pm, Thursday to Saturday 9am-11pm, Sundays 9am-7pm
6. Osteria 8
If you’re in the area and craving authentic and delicious Italian food, look no further than Osteria 8.
They made their own pasta. The sauces are rich and flavorful. The meats are perfectly cooked. There is simply so much flavor in every dish here that I always choose something different when I revisit.
It’s also one of the best places for pizza in Condesa, so I recommend having a pizza and a pasta to share with the table. I’m getting hungry just thinking about their menu!
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 2-11pm, Friday and Saturday 2-11:30pm, Sunday 2-8pm, closed Mondays
7. Cedrón
This is another of the best restaurants in Condesa. I’ve had people tell me that this is actually the best meal that they ate during their entire trip to Mexico City.
It’s French-style cuisine with a slight Mexican flare.
It’s certainly one of the fancier and more expensive restaurants in Mexico City, but the quality of the food is outstanding and the flavors are excellent.
The fois gras tacos with ribeye steak are another level of flavor, but the beef tail stew is probably the best thing I’ve had on the menu (I’ve only been once and would love to sample more on another trip).
You’ll definitely want to reserve a table, especially if you are hoping to dine on a Friday or Saturday night.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8am-noon, 1:30-5pm, and 6-10:45pm, Saturday is the same except they are open until midnight and on Sundays they do not close between 1 and 10:45
8. La Esquina del Chilaquil
The most famous chilaquiles in the city come from this little street stall in Condesa.
Get here early because the line snakes around the block and you’ll usually wait about 30 minutes, so make sure you don’t join the queue when you’re already hungry.
It’s worth the wait, though.
These chilaquiles come in a bread roll and topped with some of the most delicious meat and sauces that I’ve had anywhere on the street in Mexico. The milanesa is my personal go-to here.
It’s a morning spot and they sell out fast, so rise early and fill your belly with this heavy breakfast before you head out exploring for the day.
Opening Hours: Daily 8am-noon
9. Milo’s
This is my favorite cafe and lunch spot in Condesa. I took my parents here when they were visiting last year and we’ve been back several times because we love their light meals and ice-cold lemonades.
The roast beef sandwich is my personal favorite, but I also love the cajun-style tuna dishes.
It’s not a place to head if you’re looking for the best Mexican food. But if you’ve had a few too many tacos and want something a little bit lighter for lunch, this is a great spot.
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 8am-11pm, Thursday to Saturday 8am-midnight, Sundays 9am-8pm
10. Ardente Pizzeria
This is THE place to come for pizza in Condesa.
This is one of the best restaurants in Condesa if you love pizza (if not, then probably skip it).
Everything is made by hand. Everything is delicious.
There is a huge pizza oven and you can watch the pizzas go in and come out bubbling and brown.
Their simple margarita pizza is enough to make my mouth water, but they have a really nice menu full of different types of meat and vegetarian pizzas.
I recommend any of the pizzas that have their Italian sausage on it which is utter perfection.
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 1-11pm, Thursday to Saturday 1pm-midnight, Sundays 1-9pm
11. Tortas Atlixco
I only recently discovered this little sandwich shop, but I’ve already been several times and sampled pretty much the entire menu.
It’s an affordable and delicious lunch stop to add to your tour around Condesa with pretty much everything on the menu coming in under 100 Pesos (about $5).
Their cochinita pibil torta with pickled onions and a side of salsa is truly decadent. The Milanesa, which is flattened, breaded, and fried pork, is the best I’ve had in Mexico City.
They even do beers because you’re on vacation and you deserve it.
Opening Hours: Daily noon-8pm
The post The 11 Best Restaurants in Condesa You Don’t Want to Miss appeared first on Eternal Expat.