The fine dining experience in Mexico City doesn’t mean only European food anymore. Chefs are fusing local flavors into cuisine from around the world. The Condesa colonia (neighborhood) is the fashionable place to eat and drink long after the sunsets.
Astrid & Gaston
Tennyson 117 (Polanca)
Tel. +52 (55) 5282.2666
www.astridygaston.com
This Peruvian restaurant which opened in Lima over 15 years ago has taken off and now has branches all over Latin America, Madrid and now in Mexico. Peru’s cooking, like that of Mexico, is based on an intricate fusion of native ingredients and techniques and those of Europe, notably Spain. Unlike in Mexico’s cooking, there is a rather profound Asian influence.
D.O.
Hegel 406 (Polanco)
Tel. (52.55) 5255.0612
Polanco is a chic area of Mexico City. It is also where some of the best shopping and eating can be found. D.O. specailizes in distinctive Spanish cuisine. You can dine at the bar and enjoy some of the best tapas south of the border. The main dining room is more elegant but still informal.
Izote
Av. Presidente Masaryk 513 (Socrates)
Tel. +52 (55) 5.280.1671
Reservations are not only essential, but also difficult to get at Izote. Even Hollywood moguls seek out this place. Try the shark fillet or any one of the other delectable fish dishes.
Prima
Plaza Villa de Madrid 17 (Colonia Roma)
Tel. +52 (55) 5.208.2029
The bar is made from one long strip of mahogany and back-lit behind a wall made with thin strips of wood. The food is Italian with a Mexican accent. Frosted glass tables and oriental rugs also mark the interior of this beauty.
Tierra de Vinos
Durango 197 (Colonia Roma)
Tel. +52 (55) 5.208.5133
Enjoy a glass or bottle from Tierra de Vinos’ vast collection of Mexican wines, which are making a comeback. Dark wooden tables under dim lighting create an intimate ambience. Diners enjoy tapas while surrounded by more than 1,000 shelved bottles on the walls of the dining room. Located on the other side of the Plaza Madrid from Prima.
Ligaya
Nuevo Lyon 66 (Condesa)
Tel. +52 (55) 5.286.6268
Enjoy a bite of nouveau Mexican cuisine at this all-white, sleek, minimalist eatery. This is a good place to start for those heading out for a night on the town.
Villa Maria
Homero 704 (Polanco)
Tel. +52 (55) 5.203.0306
Excellent local cuisine, great mariachi music and Spanish sayings on the wall make Villa Maria a highly recommended dining experience. Enjoy unique (and spicy) favorites like Chiles Enogadas or Queso Fundido.
La Bipolar
155 Malitzin, Coyoacan district
Tel. +52.55.5484.8230
A brand new cantina co-owned by "Y Tu Mama Tambien" star, Diego Luna. It serves upgraded classics like rib-eye tacos. Inside, the hip design enlists circular butcher blocks as stools and tables. Cult-chic Mexican fashionistas fiesta here week after week. Expect a cool but casual crowd.
Rexo
Saltillo 1 Colonia Condesa
Tel. +52.5.553.5337
Split-level restaurant-bar for the city's fashionable elite is still one of the city's hot spots, although the crowd can get a bit youthful on weekends. Spread over three floors, the club/bar/restaurant is encased with glass walls featuring street views while the dress code seemed to be New York black, with tie-less suits favoured by the men. Expect 30-somethings, mostly single, and very stylish.
