Mexico City has a reputation for having some of the world's best bars. Their location in Roma,…read moreMexico City, was ranked #52 in the world and in the top 10 in North America. While we didn't book the acclaimed Roma location, we sought out their sister location located closer to our hotel in Polanco. We were required to purchase an appetizer to go with our drinks (maybe it's a local requirement for bars?). Got a quesadilla, which had nice flavor from meat, chile morita, and cheese, but it was tiny. Drinks were liquor forward, but balanced. We were impressed to get clear flavors from each of the ingredients of the cocktail. Was it a vibe that I'd want to enjoy again? Probably not - I personally prefer restaurants with really strong entrees and cocktails to support the food than the other way around. Nevertheless, I'm glad that I was able to visit this world renowned bar close to where I was staying. Drinks were creative, flavors were clear and assertive, but balanced. If you are looking for interesting cocktails, this is a great option for you

Licoreria Limantour is a cocktail bar in Mexico City that has consistently appeared on the North…read moreAmerica's 50 Best Bars and World's 50 Best Bars lists. There are actually two locations: this one in Roma Norte (Alvaro Obregon) and another in Polanco. You can make reservations online ahead of time but we were able to snag a table for our larger party. The bar spans two stories and has a dim and lively ambiance. I had the margarita al pastor ($240 MXN) which had a really salty salt rim and I couldn't really taste the taco mix they were going for. I also had the dirty mango martini ($240) and while I couldn't really taste the mango the drink was good. The vibes were cool and I liked the drinks here.

Not easy to find, but a lot of fun when you do!…read more One of my favorites spots, among many, in the heart of Polanco.

Jules bar is advertised as a hidden speakeasy in Polanco that is located underneath a taqueria. The…read morebar is tourist friendly and cocktails are reasonably priced. Come early as there is usually a line before entering the bar. Atmosphere: to enter into the bar, you have to go downstairs through a refrigerator. In contrast to the bright colors of the taqueria upstairs, Jules was adorned with leathered walls, studded ceilings, and skeletons as table centerpieces. While trendy, it did come off as a little cheesy. Nonetheless, decor did reflect the vibe it was going for. There was limited seating, so if you have a large party would recommend going there early if you have a big party. Later in the night, there is a DJ who plays techno/dance music tends to draw in large crowds of people. Brings in a mixed crowd. Service: Service at the beginning of the night was good, although servers were less attentive as the night got later and more people were entering the bar. Cocktails: The bar offers a good variety of drinks and cocktails--which I can see why people would want to go back to Jules again. My group of friends and I tried about 8 different cocktails and the only one I enjoyed was the Low Key. The Low Key is comparable to a whiskey soul with mezcal garnished with tamarind candy. I did not care much for the other drinks, as some of them were overly sugary.

Handshakes all around for Handshake! I was determined to get a reservation for this bar considering…read moreit's one of the best bars in North America that I even put a reminder on my phone when reservations were released. Honestly, I couldn't find the place at all. In fact I had to call my friend to see where it was. It's hidden inside a hotel and there's construction going around so it was definitely hard to find and walk through especially with heels on. Luckily we had a reservation because there were plenty of people waiting for seating! The man directed us downstairs to the actual speakeasy. What a super cool neat spot! It was quite dim, but we of course got the best seat in the house because of our party size. The music was top 40 which was an interesting touch considering the ambience of this place, but I wasn't complaining. Onto the drinks. I got the infamous - Peanut Butter & Jelly 100000/5 - I honestly think this is the drink that put them on the charts! The different flavors coming together within the drink and the little sandwich. The 'peanut butter & jelly' sandwich cookie was made from white chocolate and jam. I was honestly thoroughly impressed. I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't think it was going to be THIS good! Cookies n cream 5/5 - I'd still give this a 5/5 because it was also a great cocktail, but not as great as the peanut butter & jelly. I love that a lot of the bars have a little sweet treat to 'chase' the cocktail with. It definitely helps to add the uniqueness of the cocktails you're sipping on!

We stood in line for hours to finally get into Handshake Speakeasy because of all the hype…read moresurrounding it. Honestly, while it was nice to experience it once and see what everyone talks about, I personally felt it was overrated. I've definitely been to better speakeasies. The atmosphere was extremely loud, the service was average at best, and the drinks were just okay. Some of them looked interesting and creative, but overall they were very alcohol forward and not particularly balanced or memorable to me. Would I go again? Probably not. It was more of a one-and-done experience. That being said, if you're curious because of the reputation and rankings, it may still be worth trying once to experience it for yourself. For me personally, though, it just wasn't anything special compared to other cocktail bars I've visited.

It was a good experience, the food was flavorful and the atmosphere was taken up a notch. It…read moredefinitely had the vibe of work parties. I was able to try: - Jumbo Shrimp Skewers - Bone Marrow and Beef Tenderloin tacos - Roasted Beef Tenderloin The shrimp was very tasty and I preferred the tenderloin to the tenderloin tacos. Overall pretty good!

Our group of 7 were exploring Polanco during the Festival of Flowers and were able to get a last…read moreminute reservation at Porfirio's for dinner, or just walked in. The restaurant was extremely lively and it seemed like it would be a great place for a birthday dinner and groups. All of the kids ordered from the kids menu and my daughter really enjoyed the fettucine with butter and bacon. She didn't love the lemonade, which was probably made with limes and a bit tart for her liking. The adults shared a variety of things because we had a large lunch. A highlight was the mini trompo of al pastor, which made delicious tacos. We also shared the shrimp tacos with a fresh shrimp and a generous smear of black beans. The elote came in a little corn boat and was very rich with mayonnaise and cheese. The chicken milanesa was surprisingly heavy, with a cream corn sauce, rajas and mushrooms. The was a roving mariachi band and they were very good, adding to the lively environment and ambiance. We skipped dessert, but were still given oblejas, the sweet wafer dessert. The service was impeccable and everything was attended to quickly.

Overall, liked my experience here. Came here with a friend on a weekend night and it was packed,…read morebut we didn't have to wait more than 5-10 minutes to get "seated". I say seated with parenthesis because most people end up standing here but we got lucky that a couple was leaving as we were right next to them after being asked our drink orders. It's kind of a weird system that they have and I think the staff didn't realize we didn't have our drink orders taken yet and asked the people behind us for theirs which was slightly annoying. It was a bit chaotic so I can see why it happened, but I do think they need a slightly better system. Anyways, the drinks were excellent and I love that they gave us a little small snack that included crickets (which I hadn't tried before yet). The vibes in here are really nice too. I love the dim lighting and the almost rock/clay atmosphere. The bathroom area is smaller than I was expecting but it was ok. I'd definitely return!

This ranks among the top ten bars in North America and as a group of 6, we probably waited for 25…read moreminutes to get in. There are no seats, this is a standing bar except a few uncomfortable bar stools. Drinks were good, but I expected more. I got the colada and it was good, not too sweet. Almost clarified colada. Everything was very spirit forward which few of our friends really liked. This felt like a one time visit for me in CDMX

Such a cool cocktail bar! The inside was warm and inviting but we got a table outside which was…read morealso nice with a lot of people watching. The servers were super friendly and brought out our drinks fast. I went with the avocado based cocktail and it was SO GOOD. I've never had anything like it and I'm glad it caught my eye on the menu 10/10 recommend.

This was a smaller mezcal bar that had been recommended to us time and time again so we decided to…read morestop in. We quickly found a table in the main bar area at a small high top so we lucked out with that! The vibe was sexy and very cool for a stop in the evening. I'm not a huge mezcal person and don't like spicy flavors so struggled to find something I loved but my boyfriend tried a mezcal flight and a spicy cocktail and he loved it all! The staff was also very friendly and happy to try to recommend a cocktail that would fit my preferences. For the vibe alone, this is worth a visit!

We went to Scotch for a few drinks but ended up walking out before purchasing any. This was due to…read morethe inflated prices and insanely loud music. Is this a bar or a nightclub? The music was so loud I couldn't have a conversation with the person I was with, and we were going to have to take out a small personal loan to drink there, so we left. The business was really busy with a lively group of customers, so someone can clearly afford it and doesn't mind the nightclub atmosphere; it just wasn't for me. No issues with the service, we were immediately attended to and offered a menu.

This place is tucked away in the back of the restaurant that's in front of it. We visited on a…read moreSaturday night. Most tables were reserved for folks who wanted bottle service, which we did not. They agreed to give us a spot in the corner without us purchasing a bottle. We ordered a round of drinks. Mine - the Aviation or something similar - was so bad that I only had a few sips. The venue for more crowded and much louder as the night went on. Definitely a night club vibe, which can be fun but didn't match our mood (we were looking for more of a cocktail lounge). It took a looong time to get our check.

Popular, expat friendly restaurant in the area of the three major brand hotels in Polanco…read more Menus is Spanish and English. Indoor or street (smoking) dining areas. Attentive service. Good guacamole, salsa and chips. Tacos were good and portions for an "appetizer" were decent (five). Flavor was decent but could have used some more pineapple. Salsa helped. Margarita was on the weak side. Beer saved it.

You can't go to CDMX and not visit Karizma. This place is legendary and the rib eye tacos are to…read moredie for.

Absolutely amazing steaks, lobster tail and sides! Cocktails were fun and delicious. The service…read morewas superb as was the ambience.

Nothing is more delicious. Good is great. Place is beautiful. Service impeccable. Even in English…read more Very expensive, but you get what you pay for. A cut above other spots.

Cool environment and had a majority of locals hanging around here. The drinks were more of the…read moreaperitif variety so while we didn't get food when we were here, I'd recommend picking something from the menu. Our waiter did seem a little surprised we didn't so maybe we ought to have . Second in my line of bars where I felt like the emphasis was less on a heavy hand but more on the light delicate notes that encourage you to sit and talk around a bit more with the homies.

Mezcal focused cocktail bar. Lighting is fairly dim but warm, lit mostly by candles except for the…read moreoutside seating which is exposed to the streetlights and traffic. Honestly the openness is welcome on this cool autumn day although the sounds of cars and people was sometimes a touch distracting. Music was fun but not particularly heavy, maybe more of a casual date than something velvety. Service was quite attentive and prompt although I did arrive quite early and there weren't very many people there. Not all the waitstaff are very fluent in English but they are happy to bring someone who is if you have questions. They are the sister bar/restaurant to La Clandestina which is literally right next door which also focusses on Mezcal. Honestly, I don't really know what the difference is between the two aside from the people who are literally mixing the drinks and serving you as the house mezcals are also under the La Clandestina name. Ordered their Habanero house cocktail which was a mix of their Espadin Joven Mezcal, orange liqueur, and a raspberry/bluebery/habanero syrup garnished with a dehydrated orange slice and rimmed with salt, chili, and maybe some more habanero. Note, the menu doesn't actually mention the syrup, I dragged that out of them since I was wondering why the cocktail was so pink and also tasted like it definitely had more than mezcal and orange liqueur in it. The end cocktail is a light and fruity affair but not particularly sweet or acidic and actually balanced out with the body and smoke of the mezcal. I normally despise salt rims, finding it overpowering on first sip and nonexistent on the next but theirs toned down the salt levels enough that each sip around the rim was actually quite pleasant. The habanero in the syrup maybe offers a smidge of vegetal notes and a little bit of spice if you're particularly sensitive to it but the rim itself was actually a delight, giving a light tingle to the lips with each sip. I wouldn't say the cocktail was particularly spicy but more tingly which I found myself actually preferring over other chili included cocktails I've had in the past. They do offer a variety of bottles of tequila and mezcal to sell and take home with you, notably the ones under the Clandestina name that are made just for the bar. Not all of these tequilas and mezcals are available to try directly but the bartenders will offer you a shot of the closest one that is available on the menu (mind you, trying a shot is just paying for an ounce/35 ml of the stuff but that's all on the menu). I decided to give that a shot before biting the bullet on a whole bottle of mezcal. The shot of mezcal comes in a glass wider than a traditional shot glass so you can actually sip the thing comfortably and they also give you a few orange slices with tajin to chase/nibble on. Apparently they offer a flight of mezcal which I'd honestly recommend, especially if you're here with some friends. Definitely recommend coming by for well executed cocktails but particularly for the chance to try Mezcal of varying regional origin, age, and abv.