Mexico City's bar scene has been on a tear since Licorería Limantour opened in 2011 and made the Latin America 50 list legitimate. Hanky Panky, Xaman, Baltra and Handshake have all made the top 10 globally. The 10 below cover Roma Norte, Condesa and Juárez — CDMX's three drinking neighbourhoods. Mezcal, tequila and serious classical technique all live here at peak.
Part of our 50 Best Bars in the World listThis article is one chapter in our larger global guide. See the full pillar with every featured city.
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The 10 best bars in Mexico City
01 · Mexico City
Juárez
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Speakeasy · Through a taquería
You enter through a taquería and behind a curtain. Mexico City's most theatrical entry; consistently top of the Latin America 50.
Order: Bartender's choice — tell them your favourite spirit
02 · Mexico City
Roma Norte
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Two floors · Patio
The bar that made Mexico City legible to the global cocktail scene. World's Best Bar 2014. Reservations essential.
Order: Margarita al Pastor (tequila, pineapple, coriander)
03 · Mexico City
Roma Norte
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Mayan-themed · Underground
Hidden underground bar with a Mayan-cosmology-inspired menu. Hyper-local Mexican botanicals, theatrical drinks.
Order: A drink built around copal or local cacao
04 · Mexico City
Condesa
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16 seats · Counter
Sixteen seats. Cocktails built around Mexican spirits and seasonal local produce. Reservations essential.
Order: A signature mezcal-led drink
05 · Mexico City
Juárez
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Cantina · 100+ years
Operating for over a century. Working-class cantina serving simple drinks in a beautifully unchanged room.
Order: A pulque + a torta
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06 · Mexico City
Centro Histórico
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1876 · Bullet hole in ceiling
Operating since 1876. Pancho Villa allegedly fired a bullet into the ceiling, still preserved. Classic Mexican cantina.
Order: A tequila + the bullet hole
07 · Mexico City
Roma Norte
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Mezcal-led · Listening
Roma Norte mezcal bar. Quiet, listening-bar format. The deepest mezcal program in CDMX.
Order: A flight of mezcals from Oaxaca + Michoacán
08 · Mexico City
Centro Histórico
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Live jazz · Basement
Basement jazz club in the Centro Histórico. Live music nightly, quiet drinks, the historic CDMX music room.
Order: A whiskey neat during the late set
09 · Mexico City
Juárez
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Speakeasy · Reservations
World's 50 Best Bars top-10 fixture. Through an unmarked door near Hanky Panky. Reservations only.
Order: Whatever spec is on this year's award-winning menu
10 · Mexico City
Roma Norte
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Mezcal cantina · Casual
Roma Norte mezcal cantina. Cheaper, more casual than Pare de Sufrir; the mezcal selection is exceptional for the price.
Order: A flight of three mezcals + a tlayuda
More CDMX bars by categoryCocktail, hidden gem, mezcal — the full Mexico City index.
See the full list
How CDMX drinks late
Mexico City eats late and drinks later. Cocktail bars peak between midnight and 2 AM. Hanky Panky and Limantour are the two essentials; build around either. Mezcal-led places (Bósforo, La Clandestina) are different drinking experiences — slower, more spirit-focused, more Mexican. Don't try to do all 10 in one trip; CDMX rewards repeat visits.
