In mid-July we headed to Mexico City for Barra México. This was our first trip to CDMX since early 2019 and let’s just say: a lot has changed. I’ve been traveling to CDMX since 2006 (then known as DF) when my sister moved there for a number of years and I would visit multiple times a year. In 2016, just before we began this Bartender Atlas adventure, Josh did a guest shift using Hendrick’s Gin at Licorería Limantour – their first time having a guest bartender making drinks behind that bar (and just look at them now!).
On this trip we explored a ton of new bars and loved all of the new energy happening with them – while also acknowledging the very real affects of gentrification (those cocktail prices nearly match what we pay here in Toronto!). What we loved are the bars being authentically themselves and owning Mexican culture. What we didn’t love are the ones with obvious foreign ownership doing everything they can to just get on “that list” while missing the whole point of a bar: creating a space for people to gather, to feel comfortable and welcome.
Before visiting Mexico City, I encourage you to brush up on your Spanish – any amount that you are capable of. Respect and recognise that you are visiting a country where English is not the first language, lean into that. Be polite. Uber is an excellent way to get around the city but please consider this: the price of gas in CDMX is roughly the same as what we pay here in Toronto while that Uber ride in CDMX will cost you a fraction of what you are used to paying. The cost to drive their cars is expensive and they are not paid a lot. When using Uber, tip well – and better yet, carry cash and give that as a tip instead of through the app. It is much more impactful.
Now… onto the cocktail bars. In no particular order, this is where we recommend drinking cocktails while in Mexico City:
TLECAN. Dear everyone: keep giving Tlecan and all of its people all of the awards! This bar and their people deserve it. We had heard great things about Tlecan which sometimes makes me hesitant about a place. I always worry that the hype will not live up but in this case, it does. Tlecan is a vibe that begins the second you walk through the doorway where the smell of burning herbs enters your nose, as you enter the dark room. This space and all of their offerings are about honouring Mexican culture. Every detail of this bar has been thought out and executed beautifully. The standout drinks were the Pulque Colada and Martini Papantla (a drink that Josh was still talking about days later). Yes, they have a QR code for their menu BUT they also have free wifi (why doesn’t every bar offer this?)
CAFE TACOBAR. We came to this bar with no expectations and left, well, not really wanting to leave. When you sit at this bar, you will be asked what tacos you would like before being asked about drinks. There are no wrong answers here – everything is delicious. Khristian de la Torre will take care of you. (Fun fact: Khristian used to live in Toronto… literally a five minute walk away from where we live.) We love the narrow room and bar where you feel like everyone at the bar is in it together. We loved the drawer at every seat that contained things you may need: napkins, dominoes, dice.
LADINA BAR. On this recent trip to Mexico City, we visited fifteen bars. Fourteen of these bars were new (to us). Ladina was the one that we had visited before and when we realised we were close by one night, we knew we had to go back. We love Ladina because it is a bar bar. Nothing too fancy or pretentious. Just a great bar that you want to hang out in. They have a great spirits selection, plus have nice wines, beers and classic cocktails on offer. Good bar food. And Ladina is more affordable than basically every other bar we visited.
KAITO. We visited Kaito on the first day of their opening in their new location. For a long time they have been looking to move to a more central location and they have finally done it. They are now situated on the ground floor of an office building in Juarez. You walk into an unassuming plain lobby until you see the animated beckoning cat and then the classic Ocean Spray door which is Kaito’s new entrance. We love everything that Claudia and the Kaito team have done and cannot wait to see how they continue to get comfortable in this new space. This feels like a place where they will be able to fully shine.
BAR MAURO. I am a big fan of small bars and this is one of them. Our introduction to Bar Mauro was when they recently did a pop-up with Milagro Tequila in Toronto. Josh’s name was yelled as we walked into the room and it was one of Bar Mauro’s owner’s, Yayo doing the yelling. Back in 2016 when Josh did that guest shift at Limantour, Yayo was working the bar with him. We love to see how industry pals evolve in their careers. At that pop-up, I had one of the tastiest cocktails that I have had in a long time and it made me excited to visit the bar on this trip. Bar Mauro pays homage to Ricardo and Yayo’s grandfather, Mauro. It has Italian vibes and I love the space here: the little outdoor area in the back, the tightness around the bar, the comfy seating area up front. This space feels alive and purposeful. My only wish for this place is that they were open earlier in the day. I imagine tucking in with a good book while sipping a spritz or two.
I wanted to finish off with a couple of special mentions to Outline (AWESOME rooftop – even in rain – with good drinks and food) and Las Brujas (I felt like we were in Barcelona when we walked down into this bar. Love the creativity and care put into their cocktail menu).
Originally posted July 30th, 2025
