24 Hours in Mexico City: A Food Lover’s Guide
A one-day itinerary of tacos, mezcal, and unforgettable bites in CDMX.
Welcome to Mexico City (CDMX). It’s massive. It’s vibrant. It’s full of food so good it will haunt your dreams (in the best way possible).
If you’ve got just 24 hours in Mexico City, consider this your guide to CDMX—slow coffee mornings, epic street tacos, mezcal tastings, and hidden speakeasies.
Bookmark this. Send it to your travel buddy. And come hungry.
Hey food friends! 👋 I’m Kaitlynn, half of a food-loving couple 🍜 exploring DC (& beyond) who knows the best connections happen at a shared table 🍽️. Whether you're searching for the perfect bánh mì or trying to master your grandma's marinara 🍅, I’m here with dishes (and discussions) that make life more interesting. Come hungry, leave inspired. ✨🍴
Flavors of Mexico City: The Dishes, History & Where to Eat
Mexico City is layered—historically, culturally, and even literally. From the ancient markets of the Mexica people (often called the Aztecs) to Spanish colonial plazas to today’s bustling street stalls, bakeries, and world-class restaurants, its food scene is built on centuries of cultural fusion, migration, and reinvention.
This is a culture that gave the world tacos, chocolate, AND vanilla—just to name a few. Whether you’re planning a visit, looking for inspiration in your own kitchen, or just hungry to understand the soul of CDMX, this series is your guide.
We’re diving into the real stories behind the food, uncovering the flavors that define the city, and sharing practical tips for finding (or making) something incredible to eat. From tacos to pan dulce to mezcal, Mexico City’s food story is as rich as it gets—and we’re just getting started.
Where to Stay in Mexico City
For first-timers, Roma and Condesa are the best bets—walkable, safe, and packed with top-notch restaurants, cafes, and bars. If you’re looking to save cash without sacrificing location, the Juárez neighborhood is a solid choice. We stayed there and scored a rental with an absolutely ridiculous view.
How to Get Around CDMX
Uber: Reliable, cheap, and convenient for getting across town.
Metro: Fast, efficient, and insanely affordable (just avoid rush hour).
Walking: Essential. Every block has something worth stopping for.
Safety Basics
Like any big city, stay aware of your surroundings, use cash at markets, and avoid sketchy ATMs. And for the water? Brushing your teeth = fine. Chugging from the tap = let’s not.
Morning in Mexico City: Slow Coffee, Sweet Bread & Wandering
Wake up naturally (no alarms, no rushing). First stop: Brew Brew for a perfect cortado. Coffee in hand, take a slow wander toward Panadería Rosetta for a flaky, buttery concha (and probably another coffee). If another bakery calls to you first, follow your gut—CDMX is a pan dulce paradise.
If it’s Sunday, hop on a bike and cruise down Avenida Reforma, which transforms into a car-free pedestrian wonderland. Otherwise, wander into Chapultepec Park—whether you’re into museums (Museo Nacional de Antropología is world-class) or just want to watch chess matches and street performers, it’s a perfect slow morning.
If you’re less about parks and more about history, the Zócalo or Templo Mayor are solid detours. And if you woke up feeling artsy, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Frida Kahlo’s house or the floating gardens of Xochimilco are worth the trip—just know those are different areas of the city.
More on the magic of slow mornings—and the best coffee in CDMX—right here.
Midday: Tacos, Mezcal Pit Stop, and Maybe a Cat Sombrero
Walking makes you hungry. And this city does tacos like nowhere else. Whether it’s the sizzling trompo at Taqueria Orinoco, the late-night al pastor at Tacos El Vilsito, or a random street cart that smells too good to pass up—you’re eating more than planned, and it’s glorious.
On the way back, make a mezcal pit stop at Mis Mezcales—a shop stacked with carefully curated agave spirits, ideal for sipping now or smuggling home. Somewhere in this stretch, you’ll likely have a chance to acquire a Mexican carajillo (espresso + Licor 43 = the energy to keep going). Bonus points if you also impulse-buy something awesome like a tiny sombrero for your cat, something I tragically failed to do last time.
Need a taco strategy? Start here. And if you haven’t yet tried a mexican carajillo, you’re missing out.
Evening: Where to Eat & Drink in Mexico City at Night
By now, you need to reset. Feet up, shower, rehydrate. Then it’s time for a long, leisurely dinner at one of these spots:
Plonk – Cozy, unpretentious, and effortlessly cool, this wine bar delivers on both ambiance and plates that surprise you in the best way. The kind of place where you intend to have a quiet meal but end up making new friends.
Contramar – A seafood icon. The red-and-green-sauced pescado is all over the internet, but the real move? Let the staff guide your order and settle in for a meal you’ll dream about later.
Mestiza – A Latin American fusion spot that might be flexing for gringos, but I respect the flex. Smoke-domed carajillos, bone marrow beef tacos, and an atmosphere that makes you feel like you’ve made it.
This barely scratches the surface. Want exclusive restaurant picks? Paid subscribers get my full list (link below).
Speaking of which—my real top dinner spot isn’t on most lists. Because, well, it’s unlisted. A speakeasy-style restaurant, tucked behind an unmarked door, where the fusion of cultures doesn’t just exist—it evolves. The kind of place where time slows, conversation flows, and the usual American urge to schedule everything to death just... disappears.
It’s one of the many places I feel lucky to have found. And trust me, you’re going to want to hear about it. That post drops in a few weeks for paid subscribers.
Personally, after enjoying many of the places on our full list, I’ve recently been on a mole deep dive, and next week, I’m attempting it in my own kitchen. Will I succeed? Will I burn down my spice rack? Subscribe to find out.
Mezcal Tasting in Mexico City
Post-dinner, the move is Salón de Agave. Their mezcal tasting experience is equal parts educational and intoxicating, with a deep dive into the history and magic of agave spirits. Whether you’re a mezcal newbie or a seasoned sipper, this spot is fantastic.
Late Night in CDMX: What to Do After Dark
If still have energy (read: if you’ve timed your last carajillo just right), you might want to catch Ballet Folklórico performance, a late-night art show, or a live music set. If not, try making peace with the fact that you’re human, stumble home, and dream about what you’re eating tomorrow.
If paid membership isn’t in the cards for you —everything is expensive right now, we get it — a one-time donation in any size helps us keep the feast going.
24 Hours in Mexico City is Never Enough
CDMX is endless. You could eat tacos every day for a year, try a new coffee and pan dulce spot every morning, drink more carajillos than medically advised, and still feel like you’re just getting started. You could spend a lifetime here and still stumble into something new, some hidden doorway that changes everything you thought you knew.
This series is just a taste. From tacos to mezcal, molè to secret speakeasies, these are the flavors, the energy, and the moments that make Mexico City one of the best food and travel destinations in the world.
Next time I go, maybe I’ll finally head out to the butterfly forest, an adventure I’ve been dreaming about just as much as pyramids at sunrise or floating through Xochimilco with a michelada in hand. Or maybe I’ll let CDMX work its magic again and lead me somewhere I never planned to be.
For now, I’ll be in my kitchen, attempting mole, though I be but mortal (results pending). If you want to hear how that turns out—and get all the best Mexico City food and travel recs before your next trip—make sure you’re subscribed.
And tell me: What would you do with 24 hours in Mexico City?
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