I’ll be honest, cocktail bars were a big part of our Mexico City trip, and this is the list that came out of it. Four nights, multiple bars, and a genuine effort to try as much as possible. If you’re planning a trip and want to know where to drink, I hope this helps.
If you haven’t read my overview of the trip yet you can find that here, but if you’re specifically here for the bars, you’re in the right place.
This was our favourite bar of the entire trip and we went back three times over four nights, which I think says everything. The name means “place of fire” in Nahuatl, and from the moment you walk in the atmosphere feels completely transportive, dim lighting, burning incense, pre-Hispanic design elements that make the whole space feel intentional and considered. It’s small and cozy, and you know a bar is doing something right when it opens at 6pm and there’s already a line outside.
Tlecan is a mezcaleria at heart, focused entirely on artisanal agave spirits from small producers across Mexico. Every cocktail on the menu is made with Mexican ingredients and rooted in the country’s history and culture. I’d love to recommend a specific cocktail but honestly we went back multiple times just to work our way through the menu and every single one was worth it. Tlecan has been ranked among the World’s 50 Best Bars and after visiting I completely understand why.
Baltra has a completely different feel, eclectic, warm and relaxed, like walking into someone’s very well decorated living room. It’s inspired by Darwin’s adventures to the Galapagos, which sounds like an odd concept but somehow works really well. The walls are covered in vintage maps, butterfly collections and taxidermy, and the whole thing comes together in a way that feels charming rather than chaotic. If Tlecan is an experience, Baltra is the bar you settle into for the evening. I’d specifically recommend the Old George Sour. Baltra is also recognised among the top bars in North America so you’re in very good hands.
Ladina has a dark, relaxed and easy vibe without feeling like a dive. The cocktail menu is where it shines, and if you’re a Manhattan person or want something a little more classic and well executed, this is your spot. It’s open late which makes it a great last stop of the evening.
A great addition to the night, with a thoughtful drinks menu and an atmosphere that feels neighbourhoody and low key. Worth adding to your rotation if you’re spending a few nights in Roma Norte and want something a little more relaxed between stops.
If you want to go deeper on mezcal this is the place. La Clandestina feels like a bar that keeps revealing itself the further you go in, with different rooms and a menu focused on mezcal served simply and properly. You can order it straight with orange slices and chili salt the traditional way, or try one of their cocktails that let the spirit speak for itself. It’s the kind of place that feels like it genuinely belongs to the neighbourhood.
Mexico City’s cocktail scene set a standard I wasn’t prepared for. I’ve ordered drinks back home since and nothing quite compares. If you’re heading there, set aside at least one dedicated bar night and use this list as your starting point.
