Bars in Mexico City behind the city’s colourful nightlife

Mexico City is best enjoyed with a drink in hand, whether that’s a salt-rimmed margarita or a smoky mezcal served neat. Aromatic and herbal flavours marry with traditional Mexican distils such as mezcal and tequila, so be prepared for a whirlwind of unique agave-fuelled libations that last well into the early hours.

There’s also a flourishing natural wine scene, whether you prefer to sip your glass on a laidback street corner or pair it with a pulsing baseline at 2am (for more on that, check out our guide to the city’s live music scene). Pick up some tacos from one of the city’s best restaurants or street food vendors to soak it all up with, too.

Bars in Roma Norte

Salón Palomilla

Best for: A hidden rooftop above a taco restaurant
Address: Av. Yucatan 84c, Roma Nte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Price: $$

Salón Palomilla occupies a discreet rooftop in the heart of Roma Norte, reached by passing through the kitchen of renowned taco restaurant Paramo. A jewel-toned lounge awaits, with a dramatic open-roof structure. The bar serves a small selection of mezcal and classic cocktails, including a standout negroni sbagliato, alongside classic cocktails. The food is no slouch either, leaning into Mediterranean flavours.

Tlécan

Best for: Mezcaleria focused on small-batch producers
Address: Av. Álvaro Obregón 228-Local 2, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Price: $$

Tlécan is a mezcaleria focused on Mexico’s regional distilling traditions, with a stellar selection of small-batch agave and non agave-based spirits from all across the country, including Oaxaca, Jalisco and Durango. Alongside mezcal and tequila, the bar highlights lesser-seen Mexican distillates and ferment-based drinks. Try the tascalate sour, inspired by a fermented cacao-based beverage from Chiapas.

Atmospheric interiors are designed to feel like entering a pre-Hispanic tomb, in an earthy terracotta palette. Sharing plates pay homage to the different flavours of the city, such as sope with beans and green corn served with a pumpkin seed dip.

Hugo El Wine Bar

Best for: Intimate space for natural wine and standout negronis
Location: Avenida Veracruz 38, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, 06700
Price: $$

Hugo El Wine Bar combines natural and low-intervention wine list with a menu inspired by French and New York bistros, with zesty salads, oysters and gnocchi. The space is intimate and relaxed, whether you sit at the bar or grab a window seat overlooking the Roma Norte neighbourhood. There is also a short but sweet cocktail menu – Hugo’s negronis are widely considered among the best in the city.

Travieso Travieso Travieso

Best for: Natural wine and late-night dancing
Location: Chihuahua 56, Roma Norte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Price: $$$

Open Thursday through Saturday, Travieso Travieso Travieso primarily serves natural wines from small local producers, alongside a rotating food programme led by guest chefs. The flavours switch up each week, but the eclectic music and great drinks remain the same. As the night unfolds, the lights dim and the DJ sets crank up, for dancing until 2am.

Café de Nadie

Best for: Vinyl music and mezcal negronis
Location: Chihuahua 135, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, 06700
Price: $$

Café de Nadie centres on a Hi-Fi sound system banging out funky music, drawing a ready-to-party crowd. Bartenders add a local twist to classic cocktails, with a signature mezcal negroni. There is also a menu of small plates to sustain you throughout the night, with some of the city’s best restaurants also within walking distance.

Salón Rosetta

Best for: A refined cocktail lounge in a historic mansion
Location: Colima 166, Roma Norte, Mexico City, 06700. Located on the 3rd floor
Price: $$

Occupying the third floor of an early 20th-century mansion in Roma Norte, this elegant salon-style bar offers a refined setting for early evening drinks that often stretch into the night. The lush setting blends ornate architectural details with Japanese tapestries and soft lighting, creating a soothing space. Cocktails are delicately garnished and paired with Italian-inspired bar snacks. The cacao fashion is a standout, made with cacao flour for a subtle, earthy twist.

Salon Colima is located above the restaurant Maximo Bistrot, one of the city’s leading restaurants.

Brujas

Best for: Plaza-side drinking rooted in folklore
Address: Rio de Janeiro 56 Local B, Roma Norte Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Mexico City
Price: $$$

Brujas is a female-led bar overlooking Plaza Río de Janeiro, a charming neighbourhood square in Roma Norte. It occupies the ground floor of the late-19th-century Casa de las Brujas, known as “Witches’ House” for its pointed roof. The landmark is long associated with local folklore and urban legends, partly due to its connection with the renowned shaman Panchita. The building’s mystique carries through to the drinks menu, infusing cocktails with Mexican botanicals, herbs and regional flavours, served in a low-lit, intimate setting.

Bar Mauro

Best for: A Mexican take on Italian aperitivo culture
Address: Tabasco 149, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Mexico City
Price: $$$

Bar Mauro is widely recognised as one of North America’s leading cocktail bars for its interpretation of Italian aperitivo culture. Siblings Ricardo and Eduardo Nava, both seasoned Mexico City mixologists, draw on their grandfather’s appreciation of the social aperitif hour for their menu of Italian classics. Sleek design has a retro sensibility, with warm lighting and mirrored surfaces, with a small patio at the back for balmy evenings.

Despacho Margarita

Best for: Margaritas inside a compact bottle shop
Address: Córdoba 115, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Mexico City
Price: $$

Despacho Margarita is a tequila and mezcal bottle shop that also moonlights as a cocktail bar. Mixologist Mixologist Oscar Valle focuses on a single drink – the margarita – reinterpreted as a frozen frappe or served clean on-the-rocks version for a sharp finish. Snag a stool inside the small retail space or outside and enjoy a casual drink in the heart of Roma Norte.

Bars in Condesa

Baltra Bar

Best for: A cosy spot for sharp martinis
Location: Iztaccihuatl 36D, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, 06100
Price: $$

Found in the creative neighbourhood of Condesa, Baltra Bar’s outdoor seating is an ideal spot for a pre-dinner aperitif. The bar takes its name and inspiration from the Galápagos Islands, nodding to the spirit of exploration associated with Charles Darwin’s voyages. The martini is the bar’s lead draw, with discounted drinks on Martini Tuesdays.

Bars in Cuauhtémoc

Le Tachinomi Desu

Best for: Standing for for sake, whisky and natural wine
Location: Río Pánuco 132-1a, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, 06500
Price: $$

Le Tachinomi Desu is a standing bar in the Japanese tachinomi tradition, designed for small groups gathering around a tightly packed counter. With no seating, the space holds around 20 people, creating an intimate, lively atmosphere.
The drinks list is carefully curated, focusing on rare sakes from traditional Japanese producers alongside natural wines and Japanese whisky, making it one of the most distinctive selections in the city. A small omakase-style menu is also available at a fixed price, and it’s no surprise that reservations are a must.

Bars in Centro histórico (historic centre)

La Opera

Best for: A historic cantina with theatrical grandeur
Location: Avenida 5 de Mayo #10, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, 06000
Price: $

La Ópera is one of Mexico City’s most historic cantinas, set in a grand Porfirian-era interior in the heart of the Centro Histórico. Dating back to the 19th century, the space is defined by ornate ceilings, carved wood detailing and a sense of preserved old-world theatre.

The service and drinks are old-school, think margaritas and cold beer. Pencil in your visit to La Opera after a day spent exploring the streets, museums and colonial architecture of Mexico City’s downtown district.

Bars in Polanco

Ticuchi

Best for: A sculptural stone setting for refined mezcal drinks
Location: Petrarca 254, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City, 11560
Price: $$$

Ticuchi is a cocktail, mezcal and tequila bar from chef Enrique Olvera, also behind revered Mexico City restaurant Pujol, which holds two Michelin stars. As expected, the drinks menu is refined, with a focus on house-made bitters, herbal infusions and small-batch local spirits. The sculptural space is built from local stone, cut by a central skylight, creating one of the city’s most atmospheric drinking spaces.

Bars in Juárez

Handshake Bar

Best for: World-acclaimed mixology in a speakeasy setting
Location: C. Amberes 65, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Price: $$$$

Handshake Bar is recognised among the world’s leading cocktail bars. The menu balances precise takes on classics such as piña coladas and martinis with more experimental serves, including a standout matcha yuzu highball with whisky, vanilla, yuzu and whey. The interiors are polished and atmospheric, defined by dark wood, velvet, brass and black marble, creating a refined speakeasy setting. Reservations are required, with two-hour seating slots for all guests.

Cananea

Best for: Dive-bar energy with Norteño music
Address: Marsella 28, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600, Mexico City
Price: $$

Cananea is a local to-go spot for midweek drinks in Juárez, blending Northern Mexico’s old-school dive-bar aesthetic with well-crafted drinks. Expect to rub shoulders in the lively ground-floor space, or head to the mezzanine for a game of pool. Keep some pesos for the jukebox by the entrance, which plays everything from old-school Norteño music to reggaeton and cumbias.

Sorbo

Best for: A pocket-sized wine bar
Address: Ingenieros 41, Escandón II Section, Miguel Hidalgo, 11800, Mexico City
Price: $$$

Oenophiles will love Sorbo and its strong list of natural, low-intervention wines. Diego Zubiliaga opened the bar as a pop-up before settling on a permanent, pint-sized location in the Escandon neighbourhood. Choose from niche and interesting options by the bottle or by the glass, sourced primarily from small European producers alongside a handful of highly regarded young Mexican winemakers.

There are just a handful of candlelit tables, alongside outdoor seating. Look out for Diego working the room, always eager to offer a recommendation.

Still thirsty? Discover the complete ROADBOOK Mexico City guide, including brilliant boutique stays, top-notch restaurants and the art galleries you won’t want to miss.