Worth The Splurge
in Mexico City

My take: Two Michelin stars in Polanco and one of the most talked about restaurants in the world. The tasting menu runs about four hours and every course is rooted in Mexican ingredients and technique. The baby corn with chicatana ant mayo was the one we kept thinking about after. Don't skip the Mole Madre, aged for thousands of days. Book months ahead. Jules Basement is the move for after, the Polanco speakeasy you enter through a fridge door.

My take: One Michelin star on Avenida Álvaro Obregón in Roma Norte, in a former auto repair shop with vaulted ceilings, white brick and a room you want to stay in all night. French technique, Mexican ingredients, menu changes daily. The abalone tostada was the standout, and the octopus ceviche with leche de tigre is just as good. Do the tasting menu and add the wine pairing. Licorería Limantour is a few blocks down Álvaro Obregón, one of the world's top 10 bars.

My take: One Michelin star inside a mansion on Colima in Roma Norte, high ceilings, plants climbing the walls, and one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city. Chef Elena Reygadas blends Italian and Mexican naturally. Order the ricotta ravioli with lemon sauce and the tagliatelle with chile de árbol. Salón Rosetta is just upstairs for a drink, it sits above the restaurant and is another world.

My take: Colonial building on Allende in the historic center, stone walls, candlelight, and a menu rooted in ancestral Mexican cooking with modern technique. The flautas de lechón are shatteringly crisp and the mole negro with wagyu is the standout. Good dinner before the Ballet Folklórico at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, which is a few minutes walk away.

My take: On Masaryk in Polanco with a live DJ, fashion shows, and a Lucifer tomahawk that gets flambéed at your table. The dry aged ribeye and the colossal octopus are both standouts. The whole night felt like a show and the food kept up with it. Area Bar on top of Hotel Habita is the spot for after, cocktails with Polanco views.

My take: In the courtyard of a 17th century colonial palace on Isabel la Católica, candle-lit trees overhead and a woman making fresh tortillas near the entrance. Chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita does traditional Mexican classics and nails them. Order the buñuelos con pato and the mole negro with short ribs. The Zócalo is right there, the Cathedral and National Palace lit up at night.