What are the best cocktail bars in Mexico City?
Mexico City has more bars on the World's 50 Best Bars list than any other city in the Americas. Here is the shortlist that actually matters.
- •Handshake Speakeasy (Juárez) is currently #1 on the World's 50 Best Bars. Book a month out.
- •Licorería Limantour (Roma) is the classic — order the Margarita al Pastor.
- •Cocktails run 180–280 MXN at top rooms; 15% tip is standard.
- •Weeknights before 9 p.m. give you the best walk-in odds everywhere except Handshake.
Handshake Speakeasy (Juárez)
Currently #1 on the World's 50 Best Bars list. A hidden entrance on Amberes, a menu that changes seasonally around a specific concept, and drinks that use clarification, fat-washing, and ferments at a level most kitchens don't reach. Reservations required, released roughly a month out.
Licorería Limantour (Roma / Polanco)
The bar that put CDMX on the global cocktail map, still going strong on Álvaro Obregón. Order the Margarita al Pastor — it is not a joke.
Baltra (Condesa)
Small, warm, sibling of Limantour, more focused menu. Less scene, better for a quiet second drink.
Kaito del Valle & Rayo
Kaito is a Japanese-influenced program in Del Valle worth the trek. Rayo in Juárez is on the World's 50 Best list and brings a rooftop, playful angle.
Common mistakes
- ✕Trying to walk in to Handshake. You will not get in.
- ✕Ordering the Margarita al Pastor as a joke. It's genuinely one of Limantour's best drinks.
- ✕Skipping Baltra because it looks small. That's the point.
Handshake on a reservation night, Limantour for the classic, Baltra for the quiet second drink. That's the CDMX cocktail circuit.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need reservations for cocktail bars in Mexico City?
For Handshake Speakeasy, yes — they release seats about a month out and sell out. For Limantour, Baltra, Rayo, and Kaito: walk-ins are possible on weeknights before 9 p.m., but a reservation is safer on weekends.
What is the drinking age in Mexico?
18. Bars will typically ask for ID, especially at higher-profile spots.
How much does a cocktail cost in a top Mexico City bar?
180–280 MXN at Handshake, Limantour, Rayo, and Kaito in 2026. Neighborhood cocktail bars run 140–200 MXN. Tip 15%.
What is the dress code at Handshake Speakeasy?
Smart casual. No dress code enforced but the room skews dressier than a typical Roma bar — closer to what you'd wear to a nice dinner than a taquería.