Condesa is one of the best neighborhoods in Mexico City for food. It’s one I frequent almost every weekend so I feel confident I can share with you the absolute best restaurants in Condesa that you don’t want to miss.
Condesa is a great place to base yourself in general while visiting Mexico City. You can start your day with a stroll along the tree-lined Calle Amsterdam, have a coffee and pastry in one of the city’s best cafes, and then head off to explore the city for the day.
You may also find my article about the best tacos in Roma and Condesa helpful as you plan your trip.
Other helpful posts relating to Condesa:
The Best Restaurants in Condesa Mexico City
These are some of the best restaurants in Condesa that you don’t want to miss.
1. Merotoro
This restaurant has to be at the top of the list. This is without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Condesa and perhaps even one of the best restaurants in Mexico City overall.
It focuses on Baja California style food, a state in Mexico that is close to the coast and even closer to the best vineyards in the country.
Expect fantastic seafood, amazing slow-roasted meats like rabbit and wild boar. And do not skip out of recommendations from the staff for the best Mexican wines to pair with your main courses.
My personal favorite dish that I think about often at this restaurant is the aguachile.
Aguachile is like ceviche, but made with shrimp and has a slightly different flavor. And as the name suggests, a good kick of chile, too.
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 1-11pm, Sundays 1:30-6pm
Make a reservation here (highly recommended).
2. Taqueria El Greco
El Greco specializes in Tacos Árabe, and they do it better than most other people in the city.
While they do have a few other taco options, I highly recommend heading here for the house specialty, the Doneraky in pan árabe.
The doneraky meat is so beautifully seasoned with herbs and spices and the salsas pair with the fatty pork perfectly. Just be sure to taste each one before you spoon them onto your tacos, they’re notoriously spicy.
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 2-10:30pm, Thursday to Saturday 2pm-4am, closed Sundays
3. Tacos Hola
Tacos Hola is a Condesa institution. They have been cooking up guisados or Mexican-style stews for decades on this street corner.
Guisado tacos are the closest thing that you get to trying Mexican home cooking and the family that runs Tacos Hola make you feel a little bit like you’re stepping into their living room.
They have a menu in both Spanish and English and they have a huge selection of vegetarian and vegan options as well. My favorites here are the cauliflower taco and the relleno (blood sausage).
Head here early because once they sell out of something, it’s gone for the day.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am-9pm, Saturdays 9am-7pm, Sundays 8:30am-3:30pm
So many guisados to choose from at Tacos Hola!
4. El Tizoncito
El Tizoncito claims to be the inventor of Pastor Tacos, Mexico City’s famous pork and pineapple creation.
Whether this is true or not is hotly contested by the locals, but either way, everyone flocks here for a taste of their tacos.
They are some of the last people in the city still cooking the pastor on the spit over coals (al carbon). The pork is juicy with a slight crisp. The seasoning is perfect and the sauce they pair it with will have your eyes rolling to the back of your head.
I also love their chips and dip that you get immediately delivered to your table as soon as you sit down. The hot and spicy refried beans should be bottled and sold because I would buy it by the pound.
There are two locations, but I prefer the larger branch on Tamaulipas.
Opening Hours: Daily noon-3am
SERIOUSLY good tacos de pastor
5. Pasillo de Humo
Pasillo de Humo is one of the best restaurants in Condesa for Mexican food and one of the best spots in the entire city for Oaxacan food.
The state of Oaxaca is where many of the country’s most flavor-packed moles come from. It’s where chocolate and coffee are grown. It’s where smoked meats are perfected and where the best mezcal is made.
Get yourself a reservation at Pasillo de Humo and enjoy tlayudas, shrimp with rich dark mole sauce, and wash it all down with artisanal mezcals for one of the best nights of eating you could possibly have on your trip to Mexico City.
It’s also a really fantastic place to head for breakfast. Their hot chocolate is the closest thing you’ll get to traditional Mexican hot chocolate in this part of town and be sure to dip your pan de yema in it to look like a real local.
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 9am-10pm, Thursday to Saturday 9am-11pm, Sundays 9am-7pm
6. Osteria 8
If you’re in the area and craving authentic and delicious Italian food, look no further than Osteria 8.
They made their own pasta. The sauces are rich and flavorful. The meats are perfectly cooked. There is simply so much flavor in every dish here that I always choose something different when I revisit.
It’s also one of the best places for pizza in Condesa, so I recommend having a pizza and a pasta to share with the table. I’m getting hungry just thinking about their menu!
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 2-11pm, Friday and Saturday 2-11:30pm, Sunday 2-8pm, closed Mondays
A nice thick-crusted pizza with house-made sausage and the perfect balance of cheese and sauce!
7. Cedrón
This is another of the best restaurants in Condesa. I’ve had people tell me that this is actually the best meal that they ate during their entire trip to Mexico City.
It’s French-style cuisine with a slight Mexican flare.
It’s certainly one of the fancier and more expensive restaurants in Mexico City, but the quality of the food is outstanding and the flavors are excellent.
The fois gras tacos with ribeye steak are another level of flavor, but the beef tail stew is probably the best thing I’ve had on the menu (I’ve only been once and would love to sample more on another trip).
You’ll definitely want to reserve a table, especially if you are hoping to dine on a Friday or Saturday night.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8am-noon, 1:30-5pm, and 6-10:45pm, Saturday is the same except they are open until midnight and on Sundays they do not close between 1 and 10:45
Chilaquiles aren’t always the most beautiful looking meal, but they are usually some of the most delicious tasting ones!
8. La Esquina del Chilaquil
The most famous chilaquiles in the city come from this little street stall in Condesa.
Get here early because the line snakes around the block and you’ll usually wait about 30 minutes, so make sure you don’t join the queue when you’re already hungry.
It’s worth the wait, though.
These chilaquiles come in a bread roll and topped with some of the most delicious meat and sauces that I’ve had anywhere on the street in Mexico. The milanesa is my personal go-to here.
It’s a morning spot and they sell out fast, so rise early and fill your belly with this heavy breakfast before you head out exploring for the day.
Watch my video about eating at this incredible spot here.
Opening Hours: Daily 8am-noon
9. Milo’s
This is my favorite cafe and lunch spot in Condesa. I took my parents here when they were visiting last year and we’ve been back several times because we love their light meals and ice-cold lemonades.
The roast beef sandwich is my personal favorite, but I also love the cajun-style tuna dishes.
It’s not a place to head if you’re looking for the best Mexican food. But if you’ve had a few too many tacos and want something a little bit lighter for lunch, this is a great spot.
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 8am-11pm, Thursday to Saturday 8am-midnight, Sundays 9am-8pm
10. Ardente Pizzeria
This is THE place to come for pizza in Condesa.
This is one of the best restaurants in Condesa if you love pizza (if not, then probably skip it).
Everything is made by hand. Everything is delicious.
There is a huge pizza oven and you can watch the pizzas go in and come out bubbling and brown.
Their simple margarita pizza is enough to make my mouth water, but they have a really nice menu full of different types of meat and vegetarian pizzas.
I recommend any of the pizzas that have their Italian sausage on it which is utter perfection.
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 1-11pm, Thursday to Saturday 1pm-midnight, Sundays 1-9pm
11. Merkavá
This is not only one of the best restaurants in Condesa, it may very well be one of the best restaurants in the city.
If you want a taste of the middle east, there is no other place in the city. This is the home of hummus in Mexico City. It’s an Israeli restaurant with attention to every detail.
They have insanely fluffy falafel. You can enjoy a mezze of pickled vegetables, roasted eggplants, perfectly smooth hummus. It’s all served with their housemade flatbreads.
It’s all about the share plates here and you can get them in a selection of 7 or 14. However, they also have great bagels and a hunk of lamb on crispy rice that will blow your mind.
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 1pm-midnight. Sundays 1pm-7pm. Closed Mondays.
12. Chilpa
This is the best restaurant in Condesa for brunch. If you love chilaquiles and don’t want to trek all the way to Chilakillers (although you should at least once during your trip), then this is the second best spot in town.
What I love about Chilpa is their housemade chili sauce. They have the classic red and green salsas available for your chilaquiles, but they also make their own with different five different chilies and it is packed with flavor and depth.
Not sure what chilquiles are? Check out my guide to authentic Mexican food before your trip so you know exactly what to order!
Besides having a comprehensive chilaquiles menu, they also have other Mexican breakfast options. You can try molletes, huevos rancheros, and huevos a la Mexicana. They have French toast, smoked salmon on locally made sourdough bread, and healthy sandwiches and salads.
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm
The delicious chickens cooking at Pollos Poncho
13. El Pescadito
There are chains of this Baja-style fish taco stand all over the city. Tacos are enormous here, two is more than enough for even the hungriest travelers, and most cost less than 50 Pesos.
You order your taco and while you wait in line, one of the many staff will grab you a drink and put it on a table for you. You can’t leave without having one of the smoked tuna tacos. And be sure to fill your plate at the salad bar. Their different sauces are incredibly delicious.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11am-6pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm
14. Yamasan Ramen House
Asian food is becoming a lot easier to find in Mexico City. Yamasan was one of the first to show up making noodles and soups that are actually delicious and relatively authentic.
It’s still one of my favorite restaurants in Condesa, especially when I’m in the mood for Japanese-style food. The menu is packed with different ramen options. They even have different noodle options. You can choose from different types of meat and they even have delicious vegetarian options on offer.
The spicy ramen is a particular favorite. If you’re in the mood for spice, the broth is ferocious, but still packed with flavor.
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 1-10pm, Sundays 1-6:30pm
15. Neveria Roxy
Ice cream shops count as restaurants, right?
Well, this isn’t so much ice cream. It’s actually a place to get nieve. Nieve means snow in Spanish. But in Mexico, it is a type of water-based ice cream. It’s really almost exactly like a sorbet. Except it’s better.
This is without a doubt the best nieve spot in all of Mexico City. There are two locations in Condesa and both are excellent. I prefer the vibes of this location over this other. It is the busiest spot on a weekend afternoon. Sometimes there are even bands busking and playing music outside.
I highly recommend trying the guava (guayaba) or the mamey. Mamey is a fruit I haven’t seen anywhere else in the world. It’s something between a sweet potato and an avocado in texture. It’s as sweet as guava but even better.
If you can try it at a local market I highly recommend it. The Condesa market takes place every Tuesday morning. Most vendors will offer it to you for free to try. It is heavenly and shouldn’t be missed. Read about all the local fruits and vegetables in Mexico here.
Then you should come here and have a mamey nieve.
Opening Hours: Daily 11:30am-8:30pm
16. Condesa Tianguis
This is not a single restaurant in Condesa, but rather a weekly market that has tons of great little stalls for street food.
Every Tuesday in the Condesa neighborhood farmers from around the region set up their tables to sell fresh produce. It’s a wonderful place to come if you are self-catering during your trip to Mexico City and you want to cook with local ingredients.
However, the best reason to come to this tianguis is for the collection of tables and tents that serve up fresh tortillas, tacos, tlacoyos, gorditas and pambazos to hungry visitors. There are both vegetarian and meat-lover options on offer here and it’s incredibly affordable.
Just be sure to bring cash in Pesos, because none of the stands accept credit or debit card. Read about our tips for using cash in Mexico here.
Opening Hours: Tuesdays 10am-5pm
So What are the Absolute Best Restaurants in Condesa?
Of course, there are TONS of incredible restaurants in Mexico City. It’s impossible to choose just one or two. Indeed, this list could be 30 restaurants long.
Condesa and Roma Norte have a huge concentration of incredible restaurants. Especially if you want modern Mexican, international food, vegetarian and vegan options, or unique fusion flavors.
Check out this guide to the best restaurants in Roma Norte. If you enjoy Polanco, don’t miss the best restaurants in Polanco, either.
If I had to choose just one restaurant to go to in Condesa, it would be Tacos el Greco. I could eat those tacos for every meal if they were open on Sundays.
But for a nicer meal, don’t miss making a reservation at Merotoro. It stands out as one of my favorite fancy meals in all of Mexico.
Gerry
Sunday 11th of July 2021
I was sitting in my Airbnb the water went out so I couldn’t cook. I needed to find a good place to eat on a Sunday night so I tried El Tizoncito. Crazy good! I had 10 taco Pastors. I can see I’m going to be a regular there.
Laura Bronner
Sunday 18th of July 2021
The tacos at Tizoncito are addictive! Did you try that bean dip they bring you? I could eat there every night! haha