Home to 22 million people, Mexico City is huge. It can be daunting to visit due to the sheer amount of things to do there. Strikingly, according to Statista, there are over 9,000 cafes! That’s a lot of coffee. I tested out quite a few cafes myself and found the 8 best and most inspiring cafes in Mexico City. I am now definitely a caffeine addict…
(Not into coffee? Check out my 3 top hot chocolates in London. I get around a lot…)
There’s a whole range of cafes in which to spend time drinking coffee in Mexico City. I don’t think I’ve even come down from the high of drinking so much caffeine! From the many, many cafes in Mexico City, you are sure to find one that suits you. This article provides a good overview of the different kinds of styles to expect. There are some alternative locations, as there is more to the city than the historical centre (as fantastic as it is).
Add them to your bucket list and let’s get that caffeine kick! (Don’t have a bucket list? Find out how to create one here).
The best and most inspiring cafes in Mexico city
1. Cafe La Habana
We will start with a scandalous one. Revolutionary, you could say. Cafe La Habana is an open-area cafe bustling with activity. There’s a range of people sipping their morning coffee here; from business suits to families having breakfast. The tables sit close together to form a big mass of morning people. The smartly dressed waiters squeeze through the gaps efficiently.
According to legend, Fidel Castro and Ernesto “Che” Guevara would meet here, plotting the Cuban revolution over a hot brew. It’s fascinating to imagine which seats they would have sat in as you gaze around.
But it’s not just revolutionists that used to frequent this cafe. Many famous writers and journalists used to also. The walls are decorated with old photos, and the coffee machine churns away in the background. It’s the original machine and the old girl has been working hard since the cafe’s opening in 1952.
The staff are friendly and are more than happy to give you a quick history of this cafe.
I would suggest visiting in the morning. After a visit, you will leave feeling rejuvenated and ready to explore the rest of Mexico City.
Read more about this cafe here.
Address: Av Morelos 62, Juárez, Mexico City, 06600.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday 7am – 12am.
Sunday 8am – 11pm.
2. Cafe De Tacuba
Every morning there’s a queue to have breakfast and coffee here, a good marker for a great cafe. Founded in 1912, this coffee spot is still thriving. As you walk in, the tightly packed restaurant is full of people enjoying their breakfast. Waitresses walk through in their signature white uniform, offering Mexican pastries at the table. The brightly adorned walls feel more like the Mediterranean than the middle of a densely populated city; painted and real flowers frame windows, stained glass throws glittering colour throughout, and Renaissance paintings add a delicate age.
Sitting at the table it’s difficult to stop looking around at the intricate designs.
Walk up the tiled stairs to explore the further rooms tucked away, with people having their morning conversations.
In this cafe in Mexico City, it’s best to take your time in and enjoy the surroundings. It truly feels like another world, with Mexico City shut out beyond the doors. It costs $188 for two cappuccinos and two pastries.
There may be a slight wait to get a table, but it’s worth it.
Read more on their website here.
Address: C. de Tacuba 28, Centro Histórico de la Cdad, de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06010.
Opening times: Everyday 8:30am – 10:30pm.
3. Estanquillo museum
This third one is a little different. It’s a great reward for making your way through this multi-story museum. It will be thirsty work if you decide to walk up the stairs to every floor!
The Museo del Estanquillo is a private collection by Carlos Monsiváis and the museum was founded in 2006. Estanquillo refers to the 19th and first half of the 20th Century in Mexico. Then it was possible to acquire a lot of different goods. Now the collections are used to show the different social, political, and cultural life of Mexico throughout recent history.
On the roof, there is a terraced cafe. The coffee is cheaper here than in the surrounding area, and there are great views of the nearby streets. It overlooks the busy Av Francisco I. Madero where thousands of people cross below. On a sunny day, it’s delightful to sit outside, sipping iced coffee after exploring interesting exhibitions.
Take a look at their website here.
Entry is free.
Address: Isabel La Católica 26, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000.
Opening hours: Wednesday to Monday 10am – 6pm.
Tuesday closed.
4. Cafebrería el Péndulo
Coffee and books – two of my favourite things. They go together so well! Cafebrería el Péndulo is one of the best cafes in Mexico City. It’s not located in the city centre, but it’s worth the trip. Located above Bosque de Chapultepec, the area is gorgeous and worth a walk through itself.
The entrance is enclosed but the heart of this cafe is wide open with lots of light. Brightly coloured books adorn the walls with green plants giving it an airy feel. The ceiling is opaque glass and lets in a lot of natural light. Making this cafe feel natural and alive.
They provide a range of coffees, other hot and cold beverages, and food. It’s enough to grab a coffee, sit on one of the sofas in the bright space and absorb the ambience.
Even if you have a little bit of work to do there are tables to sit at and lose yourself.
Read more about this bookstore/cafe here.
Address: Alejandro Dumas 81, Mexico City, 11550.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 8am – 11pm.
Sunday 9am – 10pm.
5. Blend Station
This cafe takes quite a different turn from the others mentioned so far. Blend Station is a modern and trendy cafe. Their style is more minimalist than cafes like Cafebrería el Péndulo. They also have their coffee roastery.
You walk through a narrow corridor with the counter running along the left wall. Then the cafe opens up to reveal a comfortable working space. The communal high-top table in the middle houses a large tree growing in the middle of it. The high ceilings and this greenery make the cafe feel fresh and vigorous.
Indeed, it’s usually busy with people working energetically on their laptops, fueled by caffeine. There is more of a hush to this cafe than there is in Cafe La Habana. Less chaos, more focus. A great atmosphere for deep conversations or getting some much-needed work done if you work remotely. Smaller tables line the walls if you don’t feel like sharing your space.
Take a look at their website here.
Address: Avenida Tamaulipas 60, Col. Condesa C.P06140, Hipódromo, 06140.
Opening times: Everyday 8am – 8pm.
6. Helus Productos Arabes
This cafe in Mexico City won’t be what you expect to come across. That’s what makes it a great place to grab a coffee. Many Lebanese people made Mexico their home in the late 19th century. Fleeing from their country for many reasons, their beautiful culture can now be tasted here.
Their coffee and pastries are rich, hidden behind the simple exterior of this store. It’s located down one of the many narrow streets of Mexico City and can be easily overlooked. Don’t make that mistake though.
The staff were happy to talk to us and tell us about themselves as we sipped our drinks. The atmosphere is quiet and relaxed. Watch the world go by through the floor-length windows and reflect on the two rich cultures that have intertwined.
Address: Mesones 90, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Centro.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday 11am – 6pm.
Sunday closed.
Check out their website here.
7. La Casa de los Azulejos
The House of Tiles is unique inside and out, and a real gem. The building is adorned with intricate blue and white tiles and makes for a great photo location. It’s also surrounded by things to do, like the Palacio De Bellas Artes. So after you’ve worn yourself out taking photos of yourself and everything around you, stop off for refreshments. I didn’t even realise there was a cafe inside, so imagine my surprise when I wandered in to be met with… style.
A musician played the piano whilst the clinking of china and chatter filled the rest of this spacious hall. On the first floor, a balcony occupied three sides of the building, and the middle was open to create a light and airy feeling. This seems to be a popular theme in Mexican architecture; nothing feels cramped and closed. High ceilings are the norm.
It’s a bit pricey for coffee and some breakfast, but it’s worth it for a treat. The waiting staff are dressed immaculately. It’s busy here, and there’s usually a queue, but the splendor of this cafe is a feast for the eyes. It’s one of the prettiest cafes in Mexico City.
The blue and white tile decorations extend inside the building and it’s a stunning way to spend an hour, if you ask me.
As is the norm with Mexico City, there’s a history to La Casa de los Azulejos. Read more about it here.
Address: Av. Madero 4, Centro Historico, Mexico City, 06500.
Opening hours: Every day 7am – 1am.
8. Minichelista
An artists’ paradise, Minichelista is an adventure in itself! It’s out of the city centre but it’s worth the trip. This place is filled to the brim with art and knick-knacks of all kinds. It would take a long time to stand and look at everything. There’s a bathtub refurbished into a comfortable sofa, and handlebar stools to perch on. Even the bathrooms are super interesting and weird. In the best possible way, of course.
Take a seat at a table or snuggle up on the couch for a coffee. This place is designed for intimate conversations and deep debates. There’s no alcohol served here, but the coffee is good enough. This is the kind of cafe you want to keep revisiting and will find something new to marvel at each time.
It can be a little finicky to get here, and I would suggest taking a taxi back to the metro station if you’re heading back late. It’s best to visit this cafe after dark to fully experience this quirky place. Get more information here.
Address: Guanabana 197, Hogar y Seguridad, Azcapotzalco, 02800.
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 3pm – 10:30pm.
Sunday & Monday 3pm – 10pm.
Bonus - Expendio de Cafe Chingón
There’s no seating here, but I had to include this one in the list of the best cafes in Mexico City. Sat in the neighbourhood of Guerrero, we followed our noses to this one. The freshly roasted coffee beans – which they do right outside the shop – smelled like heaven. The people that work there are so friendly and knowledgeable about coffee too, and we quickly became regulars.
It’s so cheap to buy coffee here compared to Centro Historico. In my opinion, it was also the best-tasting coffee we found in the whole of Mexico City. Dane and I would get this coffee in the morning before setting out for the day. It’s right next to Mercado Martinez de la Torre and Guerrero metro station too, making it a useful location. Highly recommended!
This is their Facebook page.
Address: Zarco 107 -E, Guerrero, 06300, Ciudad De Mexico.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday 07:30am – 9pm.
Sunday 07:30am – 6pm.
These cafes are all great to explore with someone and make great date ideas. Read my article 9 easy romantic date ideas when travelling long-term to find more romantic gestures.
[…] Another fun thing to do is cafe-hopping, and I’ve written an article about the best and most inspiring cafes in Mexico city. […]