It’s been a few years since I’ve written on my food favourites in Mexico City. In the meantime, I’ve continued to visit multiple times a year, each time adding to my list. While I try to stay current, I also love returning to my tried and true. This updated list includes the oldies, (but still goodies) along with new additions.
Breakfast is a meal I never eat at home. Even when I travel, it’s one I usually skip. But my best girlfriend in CDMX loves breakfast. It’s a meal we take slow and easy and where we have some of our best conversations. So when she invites me for breakfast, of course I’m in.
Here are some of my favourite places to breakfast / brunch in Mexico City:
Expendio de Maíz Sin Nombre (Roma Nte) – Go early to avoid crowds. Go hungry to make the most of your experience. Expendio de Maíz is often referred to as Mexican omakase because there’s no menu. You tell them of any food restrictions and they will serve you dishes of their choosing until you signal to stop. With its wood-fired comal and rustic plateware you’ll feel transported into rural Mexico, rather being street-side in bustling Roma. This is honest Mexican food using the simplest, most seasonal ingredients and always a revelatory meal. Cash only
Marne (San Miguel Chapultapec) – A great stop for pastry and coffee before exploring the area’s small galleries and shops. If you have more time to sit and enjoy, try the chilaquiles, enfrijoladas or any of their bread-based breakfast items. I love sitting at one of their outside tables watching life (outside of tourist-laden Roma/Condesa) pass you by.
Mari Gold (San Miguel de Chapultepec) – In the same neighbourhood, is this cute (and much more accessible) sister to Masala Y Maiz. The dishes are Mexican-Indian-African influenced, resulting in exciting flavours that will delight your palate. It’s a menu that lends perfectly for vegans without leaving carnivores disappointed. The sabudana vada,(fried tapioca & potato balls) are as amazing as are the enfrijoladas and katha roll. This may be challenging to some as a first meal of the day. For me, it’s exactly what breakfast should be.
Cafe Trucha (Roma Nte) – It’s a bit “un-Mexican” and often busy with foreigners. But sometimes I just want to sit slowly with a coffee and one of their comfort-inducing baked goods. It’s a great place to bring a laptop and spend the morning working. As an added bonus, it’s conveniently located next to Plaza Rio de Janeiro, so the people watching is fantastic.
Lalo! (Roma) – This is the first fun and cheerful hipster breakfast spot I ever visited in Mexico City. It’s also one I keep returning to with friends. There is a long communal table, which gives a good view to see what others are eating before ordering. My go-to here is an avocado toast or chilaquiles with a jugo verde.
Forte (Roma)- What started as a go-to to meet friends, it’s now a place I also seek on my own. Their expertly-made pastries are outstanding.It’s a hard choice, as everything in the case looks (and is) delicious. Forte is an easy, quiet and friendly place to start the morning. It’s also a nice spot for a super casual evening of pizza and craft beers or natural wines.
Panadería Rosetta (Roma) / Café Nin (Juarez) – I love to welcome myself back to CDMX by heading to Panadería Rosetta. It’s my tradition to crawl out of bed on my first morning in the city to grab treats and a coffee. I then scurry back to my room to have breakfast in bed. I see this as the quickest way to thrust myself into vacation mode. People rave about the guava roll which I find too sweet for my palate. My go-to are the ricotta & spinach croissant or the rol de ricotta y limon. One of their conchas is a must, of course.
If I have more time, I’ll head to Café Nin in Juarez. I sit at the counter because it gives me more time to look at their incredible pastry selection. Usually I’m there for a quick bite, but if I’m being super indulgent, I order a Croque Monsieur. Nothing like an indulgent breakfast to motivate me to go on a long walk and Juarez is a great area to explore.
Tamales Madre (Juarez) – This cool little spot serves creative tamales made from heirloom indigenous corn. The tamales are filled simply to let the flavour of the masa come through. While I love a great lard -laden tamale, I do find them too heavy to eat for breakfast. These tamales are made without lard, but are still moist and delicious. The best thing is that they’re not too big, so you can try a few!
Farmacia Internacional (Juarez & Condesa) – In its original location, I visit dreaming of living in the beautiful Art Deco building above. Their newer location in Condesa, is brighter and airier but no less fantastic. These are great places for a simple breakfast of avocado toast. Yes it seems I eat a lot of avocado toast, but I can’t get. enough of delicious-tasting Mexican avocados. For something more indulgent, I love their huevo en frasco, (mashed potatoes + egg in a jar). Because I have no boundaries on what can/cannot be eaten for breakfast, sometimes I just get a slice of cake. And when you’re with your bestie, everything on their menu pairs well with a mimosa. It’s also wonderful in the afternoon for a glass of natural wine (this post is sounding more like a list of where to drink natural wine in CDMX).
Suprette (Condesa) – I stumbled upon this small creperie located in the residential area of Condesa by accident. I wouldn’t recommend this on your first trip to CDMX, (I’d suggest you’d focus on Mexican staples). But if you have time and are looking for something different, it’s a wonderful stop for a galette with comté cheese, ham and egg paired with a unique glass of cider.
Casa del Fuego (Cuauhtémoc) – Very convenient to the hotels around Paseo de la Reforma. The vibe is Japanese kissaten meets NYC hipster. Coffee enthusiasts will delight in their Japanese siphon-extracted brews. For the food-focused, you’ll find a menu with consisting mostly of bagels, which isn’t what I get when I visit. For me, the benedict with smoked salmon and the show-stopping tomato stuffed with goat cheese and egg are the dishes to order.
El Cardenal (Centro) The first few times I visited the CDMX, every friend I went out with wanted to take me there. They saw it as a classic example of Mexican breakfast. I’ve eaten a full gambit of dishes. This ranges from chilaquiles with tasajo to an egg white spinach omelette. My favourite thing there is a concha with nata (clotted cream). It’s served at the beginning with a coffee or hot chocolate. The original location ‘Palma’ is housed in a beautiful old building, but the wait can be off-putting. Recently, I’ve visited ‘Alameda’ just down the street in the Hilton Hotel, which has the same menu but much more accessible.
Xochimilco at Dawn tour by Devoured! – This incredible morning experience is a Mexico City must if you can. I may be biased because my friend The Curious Mexican curates this tour through her company Devoured. However, a visit to this Unesco Heritage site is always the highlight of my trip. The morning starts with a boat ride through the canals, where you witness the magic of the sun rising through the mist. You are then taken to Arca Tierra, a farming project on the chinampas (floating farm). There, you learn more about their revitalization and farming techniques in this extraordinary area. Breakfast is prepared by guest chefs, who use ingredients from the farm for the spectacular veggie-focused multi-course meal. It’s a fabulous, can’t miss culinary adventure.
The places I mention in this post:
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