We found the nightlife/ bar scene to be at its finest in the heart of the capital, Mexico City. Here bar hopping is more than just hitting bar after bar; in Mexico City, bar hopping is a cultural experience! In this post, we'll share our favorite 3 bars plus 3 top secret speakeasies!
Mexico City is the city of... craft cocktails? In our opinion, Yes! We enjoyed sipping on these carefully crafted drinks while chatting with our very knowledgeable mixologist. We were super impressed with all the bartenders on this list! Not only do they make kick-ass cocktails, but they also take you through the journey of drink mixing, its history, and why it's made that way. We had a wonderful time and met so many new friends.
1. Salon Rios
With its cosmopolitan city decor, this was the perfect start to our bar hopping night. Since it's only a 6-minute walk from the iconic Angel de la Independencia in the heart of Mexico City, this bar makes a great stop after visiting the site. Being from a big city (NYC), Salon Rios reminded us of home, with its fast-paced city life vibe ( when busy ) and sleek setting.
2. King Cole Bar
This upscale piano bar is located inside the St. Regis hotel. Perfect for a classy night out with an outdoor balcony overlooking the city, or a mellow evening in the lounge area listening to live music playing old classical tunes while enjoying some of the finest handcrafted cocktails. Make sure to browse through their menu; It's filled with artsy paintings and looks like an art book instead. Another favorite spot inside this hotel is The Glass House Cafe, located on the first floor. You can enjoy pastries paired with a premium selection of teas/coffee at this cafe so, make sure to add it as a breakfast / early lunch / mid-day snack spot.
3. Xaman Bar -- Our first Speakeasy
Next is my favorite bar in all of Mexico City! Xaman bar was more than just a bar, it was an all-time experience into the bohemian/hidden/speakeasy world, and I highly recommend checking it out! It's not very hard to find, google maps will give you the address. However, we found it challenging to locate the exact venue as we kept walking past it numerous times without knowing it was there. We had to put some work into finding this spot, but later on, we found that all the other speakeasies would require the same effort, which makes them fun! I think out of all three we visited, this was the least "commercial" one.
4. Hanky Panky -- Speakeasy #2
Our second speakeasy was a super cool find. Reservations to this cocktail bar are required, and they will only disclose their full address 24 hours before your reservation time. Mysteriously exciting, no? If you want to reserve a spot at this trendy speakeasy, give them a follow on Facebook and direct message them, they'll provide you an email address to follow up with. #somewhereinmexico
5. Jules Basement -- Speakeasy #3
Our third and last speakeasy is hidden really inside a Mexican restaurant. We had so much trouble finding it we had to reach out for help from a local friend! This spot had a more edgy and trendy yet local vibe, with live jazz playing every Thursday and handcrafted cocktails. Reservation is required to enter. Upon your arrival, you're greeted by a bouncer who will ask your name shortly after escorting you to this underground hidden bar.
6. Licoreria Limantour
Yummy cocktails before a lucha libra match? Then this is your spot! Only a short walk from the arena, this bar servers delicious and inventive handcrafted cocktails.
These were our favorite 6 bars after checking out a handful on our 3 night stay in Mexico City. Do you have a favorite bar that didn't make our list? Leave a comment below, and we'll be sure to check it out next time we're in town!
