Where are the best tequila bars in Mexico City?
Mexico City’s craft agave scene leans heavily toward mezcal, so the best way to experience tequila here is inside a classic cantina. Salón Tenampa in Plaza Garibaldi remains the historic heavyweight for sipping tequila alongside live mariachi music. For a more relaxed, food-focused environment, modern cantinas like Salón Ríos in Cuauhtémoc stock deep, high-quality tequila rosters. You order a pour, ask for a side of sangrita, and sip it slowly.
What locals actually do
Chilangos do not typically seek out dedicated tequila bars. Instead, tequila is the default group order at traditional cantinas. A local table will order a bottle of reposado to share, which arrives with limes, salt, and sangrita—a savory, spiced citrus chaser. You alternate sips of the tequila and the sangrita; nobody is doing shots. When locals want a tequila cocktail, they order a Paloma, made with grapefruit soda and a salted rim, rather than a margarita. If you visit cantinas like El Mirador near Chapultepec, your rounds of tequila will be accompanied by complimentary plates of food called botanas.
Order a neat reposado with a side of house sangrita at Cantina La Ópera in Centro. It blends Gilded Age architecture, complete with a bullet hole in the ceiling, with traditional Mexican drinking culture.
Practical notes
- 01Order your tequila neat with a side of sangrita, a traditional savory chaser made from citrus, pomegranate or tomato juice, and chili.
- 02Blanco tequilas are unaged and sharp, reposados rest in oak for a few months for smoothness, and añejos are aged longer for a sweeter, warmer profile.
- 03Traditional cantinas often serve complimentary botanas (small dishes like tacos or stews) as long as you keep ordering drinks, usually starting around 14:00.
Good to know
- ✗Do not shoot the tequila. It is meant to be sipped slowly, alternating with your sangrita or beer.
- ✗Mexico City specializes in mezcalerías. If you want a dedicated tasting room experience, you will find far more mezcal than tequila.
- ✗Plaza Garibaldi is safe in the early evening, but grab a secure taxi or Uber when leaving late at night.