Raise A Glass: Best Bars In Mexico City

Mexico City is a massive metropolis full of creative cocktail venues. The bartenders in CDMX really push the envelope in terms of concepts and flavors, and some of the best drinks we have tasted were in the Mexican capital. If you are a cocktail connoisseur with an upcoming trip, we highly recommend drinking at the following bars in Mexico City:

This intimate speakeasy near the Angel of Independence monument has won awards from a variety of beverage associations, and is one of the most popular bars on the planet. It has been named the best bar in Mexico, the No. 1 bar in North America, and the 3rd best bar in the world! 

Handshake Speakeasy is “hidden” in the trendy Colonia Juarez neighborhood behind a black door with the number 13. Once you find the entrance, you will be escorted into an elegant room with black and gold decor and plush velvet seats. The well-heeled crowd is a mixture of locals and tourists, the majority of whom are under 40. 

The cocktails are extremely unique, and you will be impressed with both the taste and presentation. One of our drinks arrived with a biblical burning bush on top (steel wool lit on fire). Another was garnished with an edible piece of Lego. Flavor-wise, the bar has introduced creative concoctions such as the “Peanut Butter Jelly” cocktail and the “Caprese” martini. Its bartenders also put a spin on classics; with drinks such as the “Butter Mushroom Old Fashioned” and the “Cacao Negroni.” If you are looking for a top-notch cocktail experience in Mexico City, Handshake Speakeasy is definitely the place to start!

*Tip: Handshake Speakeasy is very popular, so they only allow you to stay for an hour and half. However, if you are loving your Handshake experience, you should ask your bartender if you can head down to Compromiso. The company’s basement “speakeasy within a speakeasy” has a completely different menu with (in our opinion) even tastier cocktails! 

If you want to continue bar-hopping in Juarez, Xaman Bar is only a stone’s throw away from Handshake Speakeasy. This hip cocktail joint is in a basement near the Angel. The dimly lit room features rustic furniture and quirky masks/skeletons. 

The herbalist bar mixes fantastic cocktails with fresh fruit juices, teas, wild shrubs, and other indigenous ingredients. One of our personal favorites is “El Buen Revez” made with local Condesa Gin, xoconostle (similar to prickly pear), lychee, violets, and mistela (a wine liqueur similar to vermouth.) If you are a coffee lover, you may want to try the “Atrapa Pesadillas.” It contains Altos Coffee Tequila, amaro, espresso, and rosita de cacao (a local white flower typically made into spices or syrups).

Rayo in Roma Norte impressed us with their unique menu. Instead of a paper menu, you are presented with a large box containing ten little jars with eye droppers. You blindly taste test a drop of each cocktail and then choose your favorite(s). The cocktails vary widely in terms of flavor — so there really is something for everyone. The drinks also have fun colors and garnishes, including a marzipan esquite, dried kale, and even beef rind!

If you can’t decide, you may want to opt for a sampler of Rayo’s bestsellers: #3, #6, “Lola Cazanova,” “Avery Milk Punch,” “Gallito,” “Mazapán Old Fashioned,” and “Golden Milk Negroni.”

The venue is lovely too, with both indoor and outdoor seating. To enter, you can go upstairs via historic elevator or bronze circular staircase. 

Limantour is another gem that ranks highly on The World’s 50 Best Bars list. It has two locations in Mexico City (Roma Norte and Polanco), but we prefer the Roma site. The relaxed split-level bar welcomes cocktail enthusiasts from around the world.

The menu is organized by spirit, and features a variety of Mexican mixers and ingredients. Tourists in Mexico often want to taste a local tequila or mezcal, so we recommend trying the Fluffy Paloma, Vicuña, or Margarita Al Pastor. 

Fifty Mils is a classy cocktail venue at the Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City. You can relax in the comfortable lounge-style bar or drink on the patio in the hotel’s tranquil gardens. Fifty Mils has been recognized for its inventive mixology, but it has also perfected the classics. We especially like the negroni there. 

Some of its signature creations the “Paper Plane” (American whiskey, Aperol, Amaro Averna, and a splash of lime juice), “Green Bees” (avocado-infused mezcal, avocado bitters, lime juice, and honey — garnished with sweet & sour caramel), and the bizarre “Turnip Martini” (gin, watermelon-radish vermouth, and dill — perfumed with basil and garnished with pickled radishes).

The foregoing are five of our favorite spots in CDMX, but the city has so many options when it comes to great cocktails! Some honorable mentions include: Hanky Panky, Café de Nadie, 686 Bar, and Deleted Souls. If you have some additional recommendations, please mention them in the comments. 

Travelers obsessed with food and drink like we are may also enjoy our articles 27 Dishes: Popular Food In Each EU Country and How To Eat Your Way Through Paris.