23 of the Best Mexico City Cafes Worth Visiting

Mexico City is also home to third wave coffee culture, and has recently seen the rise of a host of specialty coffees.

Exploring the wide range of coffees in Mexico City, we learned a lot about Mexican coffee and what parts of the country it comes from!

Reading: Best coffee in mexico city

We like to spend time in cafes, either with friends or working while connected to some Wi-Fi, so our favorite cafes are the ones with a unique atmosphere.

We’ve detailed their offerings below, as well as what they do best, in terms of coffee and atmosphere.

why we wrote this guide to coffee shops in mexico city

We wrote this guide in the style of something you’d receive from a friend before or during your trip. For any place we haven’t eaten or visited, we’ll say so, to be fully transparent.

Also see our guide on how to make coffee on the go. you can support these cafes and try some of their local roasts with your coffee at home!

As an update for 2022, we’d also like to make sure you’re aware of security issues in Mexico City, namely cafe theft among travelers and expats who have laptops or nice bags. We suggest checking out our Mexico City safety guide to read about keeping your belongings safe at outdoor cafes, even if you’re a seasoned or veteran traveler.

the best coffee in mexico city

Where is the best coffee in Mexico City? As coffee lovers, we set out to rate both interesting coffee shops and great beers.

quentin coffee

quentin cafe is a group of four cafes in the roma and condesa neighborhoods of mexico city that has earned an excellent reputation for its drink menu, cool atmosphere, and great locations.

With its Rome location on Alvaro Obregon Avenue, this Quentin is close to many area restaurants and bars. It’s easy to rush by, but why would you want to run when you could stay longer and try more of their signature menu items?

quentin’s specialty drinks include the ‘espressonic’, a mix of espresso and tonic (intrigued yet?), the ‘cascara’, made from the wrapper of coffee beans, the ‘funky cascara’ , the spicier cousin of the original cascara, flavored with ginger and carajillo, a famous Mexican coffee drink made with fresh espresso and liqueur 34 (this is to die for, and we had it for breakfast).

The owners of Quentin opened this succession of coffee shops after being inspired by visiting coffee farms first-hand in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, Colombia, and Peru.

now there are more quentins! You can find the newest Quentin cafes in Condesa on Avenida Amsterdam near Parque Mexico, in Roma on Avenida Yucatan, and more recently in the new location on Calle Bruselas in Juarez.

quentin seems to be a favorite with digital nomads and people who want to work remotely, so check out the outdoor seating. just be careful with your bag, as we point out in our safety tips guide.

see more about quentin →

buna

buna was where we tried Mexican coffee our first few times, and you could tell it was a big deal for us. buna is inside a restaurant that shares her address. both are carefully designed, in a modern yet simplistically retro style.

buna is where you can try locally sourced mexican coffees from a few different regions surrounding mexico city.

cafe staff are proud to talk about where coffees come from and how their coffee started.

Also, you can have dinner or lunch at the neighboring buna restaurant, which serves buna coffee. Do you want to combine delicious and beautiful food with amazing coffee? this is the right place.

You can also buy coffee by the bag at Buna. They bag all the roasts that come from the buna roasting plant, located a mile away in mexico city.

the bags have modern designs based on the Nahuatl names given to roasts, tying the whole experience together.

check out buna →

blacksoul coffee

look closely and you’ll find cafe almanegra on a quiet street in rome. there’s a little sign on the wall of an old building about a cactus, and it says blacksoul coffee.

Step inside and you’ll see a minimalist coffee shop with lots of devoted regulars. almanegra is big on black and white, square borders, basic boards and avant-garde music. they’re also great at serious coffee brewing.

fans of almanegra are those who adore coffee, and adore almanegra for being a serious coffee, serious about its beans, its ways of creating drinks, its vibes and its clientele.

We were lucky enough to meet one of Almanegra’s partners, Octavio, who told us a little about the history of coffee. he started out in a smaller cafe a few neighborhoods away.

To expand into a neighborhood where they would have more foot traffic, they opened the location in Tonalá as a new location where their devotees can enjoy craft coffee.

we tried some delicious drinks, like the nitro brew, the coffee tonic, and the chemex brew.

learn more about almanegra café →

coffee ephemeral

ephemeral cafe is an adorable specialty cafe located in the condesa neighborhood.

When you walk past the pop-up, you’ll see some wicker chairs outside and a cozy interior with a coffee bar in the back.

The owners and creators of Efimero are a couple from Mexico who dreamed of opening a café that would feel like home. they both worked corporate jobs and left their positions to pursue this dream.

ephemeral, down to earth, it opened in early 2018 and soon became part of the fabric of the condesa neighborhood, which is one of the best neighborhoods for expats. this is a cozy cafe where you can have a standard coffee or a more special drink, like the ones we tried.

Of the drinks we sampled at ephemeral, the most memorable was the Vietnamese pressed coffee, iced and mixed with sweet coconut milk.

this is the kind of coffee drink that leaves you wanting another one! We also tried an espresso and a pour over coffee. ephemeral uses both international and local coffees.

learn more about ephemeral coffee →

coffee shop the pendulum

thank goodness the pendulum has several locations, because we’ve been to three so far, and we’d go to three more.

the pendulum is a bookstore-cafe, and from what we have seen, all of their bookstores are located in old houses and they all have interesting interiors with natural light, outdoor spaces or terraces, creative ways to display books and wonderful atmosphere .

wifi is also free! Even if you don’t like books, relaxing on the pendulum for coffee or their brunch (or even better, dinner and drinks! Yep!) is a great thing to do.

If you love books, you’ll be happy to know that their stock of books caters to both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking audiences. They also have some non-book items to buy, like great gifts and fun things to have around the house.

You can find the pendulum in Condesa at Nuevo León 115, in Polanco at Alejandro Dumas 81, in Santa Fe at Centro Comercial Santa Fe, 2nd floor, in Roma at Alvaro Obregón 86 and in San Angel at Av. revolution 1500, posada guadalupe.

special drip coffee

drip special coffee started as a window where you could order coffee, and has now expanded into a full coffee shop on calle guadalajara.

stop by to learn about the Mexican coffee that is used in all of their drinks and to sit outside on this beautiful street.

drip has a variety of beverages, from Mexican coffees brewed in various ways to espresso, matcha, and chai lattes.

It’s hard to choose! we tried some asados de oaxaca and sat outside to read the coffee (table) books they have on the shelf inside, and tried a croissant.

goteo has the theme of sharing coffee and making friends. Their original location was shaken by one of Mexico City’s largest earthquakes in recent history, forcing them to move to Calle Guadalajara near Avenida Sonora.

this was a good thing though, because now they have made friends with the neighbors in this place, and the neighborhood has been welcoming!

drip is all about awareness in your products. you can buy coffee in a brown paper bag to take home (marked with a cute slogan in Spanish) or you can buy their other fair trade product… honey! delicious.

learn more about specialty drip coffee →

cicada coffee

scar cafe is cool, located in juarez, on denmark 44. the cafe is open from 9 to 11 every day and is both a cafe and a bar.

I originally went to Scar Cafe at night to have some mezcal and chocolate, and came back later in the day.

With a clean, modern feel and cool interior loft area, this is a place with a great menu and is an amazing place to meet up with friends or fellow travelers.

On the coffee menu there are (to note), cold brew, affogato, espresso, macchiato, Americano, and latte, and for those who don’t drink coffee, there’s tea and juice.

But the best part is their variety of baked goods, which you’ll find on the “desserts” menu. don’t miss the cookies, muffins and foccacia bread.

And lastly, for your morning visit, there’s a brunch menu that includes yogurt & granola, chia pudding, egg cake (this is dan’s favorite food in mexico city) and more.

You can also find this cafe in our guide to the best bars in Mexico City!

mixing station

how can you not like blend station?

blend station is immediately special with its fresh and unique design featuring pastel colours, eyes and modern art.

Turns out the cafe was professionally designed by a design team, and as you peruse the art on the walls and the postcards, it all matches the same cool “mysterious eyes” theme.

then you’ll notice the tree in the middle of the cafe, which is a huge, open space, especially when they open the roof awning. this is an indoor and outdoor experience!

Blend station baristas are self-described coffee geeks, and they’ll make you a great espresso, cold brew, or perfect latte (with art).

people come to blend station to escape the hustle and bustle of the street. inside, you can focus on your work (laptops are welcome here) or your coffee or food. You might also consider that we named Blend Station one of the best cafes to make it a photo spot in Mexico City.

You can sit with a fleece blanket on the back steps, at a high table on a stool, or at one of the tables that line the back wall.

there’s also food! Blend Station makes its bread in-house, which is good to know, when ordering any meal (the menu includes toast, salads, some types of bowls, and English muffins in some styles). We’ll be back for lunch!

new update: blend station has new locations. you can find them in hippodrome, roma north and polanco. they are all unique, especially the one at the amsterdam racecourse, av sonora 282 corner, because it is also a bike shop!

learn more about the mixing station →

little coffee

chiquitito café is a neighborhood café that has a lot of people. just like its name, chiquitito is a tiny little place, where some baristas are crammed behind a coffee counter, but still seem to have space while they brew their drink. everyone is friendly.

It’s hard to leave.

chiquitito is a neighborhood place, so it’s fun to see the locals ordering their usual, in a friendly way. you can sit inside at several tables that line the wall, or outside at high tables or on a bench.

The little guy’s theme is coffee, and they do it well. In terms of products for sale, there are gooseneck kettles, home brewing tools (v60, anyone?), and of course bags of coffee for sale.

The coffees are roasted by Jiribilla roaster in Mexico City, and the beans come from farms in the states of Oaxaca and Veracruz, also in the central regions of Mexico.

Our locally sourced beverages came in the form of an espresso, a seasonal special, a cold beer, and an Americano. all coffees had roots in nearby Mexican coffee plantations.

little boy now has four locations too! They are in Condesa (in the photo above), Cuauhtémoc (in the photo below) and now there are two in Lomas de Chapultepec.

learn more about chiquitito café →

finca don porfirio, sears (zocalo)

This is your secret to getting a million-peso view of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, a downtown art museum with a multi-colored ceiling (photo below).

If you come at a busy time, you may have to wait in a small line, and that’s because they don’t let anyone stand – all guests sit at tables or bar stools. that line the wall from where you can contemplate the view.

the menu consists of coffee drinks and teas. It’s great to cool off with something icy when you’ve been hanging around downtown and taking photos like us!

To get to the cafeteria, take the elevator back when you enter sears and go to the top floor. there you will find the coffee shop near the section of household items.

after sitting down, you can enjoy the view! We recommend coming at the end of the afternoon or at sunset to enjoy an incredible illumination of the Palace of Fine Arts and the surroundings of the central alameda.

coffee house

Located at 64 Fernando Montes de Oca in Condesa, this newcomer to the area is a pleasant surprise with its cozy interior and good amount of outdoor seating.

With a coffee menu of classics (Americano, cappuccino, double espresso, latte, and cold brew) and a few surprises like a honey latte, you’ll also be inclined to try a milkshake.

for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, a menu of tostadas, empanadas, and chilaquiles is also sure to delight, as is the super-friendly barista, who suggested I go with the turmeric (turmeric) latte when I arrived.

I enjoyed the little touches like tiny flowers in tiny vases on the tables, as well as the sun-filled outdoor dining on a wooden patio on the street.

When I get back I’d love to try a chemex infusion or a tonic espresso and hang out with a book at this cute Condesa cafe we hope you’ll try.

hazelnut coffee

head to coyoacán to try this special treat of a cafe our local mexican friend took us to. the place is small and cozy, with hardly any seating space, and the coffee drinks are quite a surprise.

I would say that café avellaneda specializes in unique cold drinks that combine flavors, which makes you rethink how you considered coffee.

there is the “drink 2”, a cold beer with ginger ale and hibiscus syrup, and the “calm”, a mixture of espresso, coconut cream, pineapple and tonic water.

The menu at this cafe is practically cocktail-style, but with coffee, cold beer, and espresso.

If you don’t like caffeine, try this cafe anyway, because the cake menu may have sold you. they also sell coffee beans.

with so many drinks and in such incredible and great varieties, café avellaneda makes a great instagram moment.

The cafe is located at Higuera 40-A, La Concepción, Coyoacán, 04020 Mexico City.

regina coffee

if you are in the center and you find yourself in the quiet pedestrian street of calle regina, stop for a coffee or an americano at café regina. this place is old school and has kept its old charm.

Sit on wooden benches or under outdoor umbrellas and after ordering your coffee, you’ll wish you had ordered food when you see it arrive at the other tables. so save your appetite for breakfast and sit down at cafe regina for some eggs, bread and coffee.

also, despite the old-fashioned decor and location in the historic center, this cafe has wifi. you might see anyone from locals to digital nomads trying to get some work done on laptops.

The setting of this car-free stretch of street is also a plus, as there is little noise from the street and the atmosphere is fairly quiet.

coffee cone

With a fun name, you’ll find this Mexico City cafe in a few places, including Polanco, Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, and Roma Norte. Although we wish we had stopped for everyone, we had to make a decision.

We find ourselves admiring the exterior of Cucurucho Condesa, with its minimalist exterior, large windows, and cool black and white signage.

inside, instead of too many tables with chairs, they have tables as kitchen islands, where you can stand with your drink and maybe even strike up a conversation with a fellow traveler or local.

Founded on some great principles like freedom, innovation, and creativity, you can see by visiting this cafe that the owners were very thoughtful in their design and menu.

As for drinks that stand out, try the sonic espresso, horchata with espresso (yum), latte, and yuzu lemonade, for those who don’t drink coffee. You can visit their online store to get coffee from Oaxaca, Nayarit, Guerrero, Veracruz and Chiapas (the main coffee-producing states in Mexico) by the bag.

congratulations coffee

yes, her favorite way to write the name of the café is “congratulations cafÉ”.

This cafe is perfect for hanging out or working, and is a neighborhood favorite. It has a laptop-friendly environment and a large open window for good airflow.

the food is really good but limited to what they can make in their small kitchen area. We tried the chilaquiles and wow: it was great.

There are plenty of power outlets, so it’s helpful if your laptop is running low on battery.

check out the cafe’s instagram and website.

countess tomasa

if you like a modern vibe, tomasa is a great cafe and bakery to try both as a place for a nice photo and for some treats.

As soon as I saw photos online of Tomasa, I marked my map and knew I had to give it a try. With the pinks and teals and the rounded shapes, this was an aesthetic I wanted to see with my own eyes.

with its location in c. Atlixco #74, not far from Parque España, Tomasa is on a quiet street with some sidewalk seating and an open cafe that really stands out.

There are “sweets” on the menu, including lattes, americanos, espresso, chocolate abuelita (“your grandmother’s hot chocolate”), and “conchas,” the big, fluffy cookies that look like shells.

the shells come in a list of flavors, and if you want a picture moment, you can look at all of them before choosing. there is dulce de leche, vegan vanilla and chocolate and also gluten-free (and many more).

the otilia (polanco)

finally, a gluten-free friendly cafe that’s good for working remotely!

the otilia has a garden-themed outdoor space where you can sit with delicious baked goods and drinks, and not feel bad about it.

If you’re traveling with a gluten allergy, you’ll be glad to know they take gluten very seriously! La Otilia is the only 100% gluten-free baked goods establishment in all of Mexico, according to the story on its website.

Check out the cafe’s instagram and website, especially to check out their little market, where you can get almond flour tortillas, fresh jarred salsas, and coconut yogurt.

our friend melissa took this photo of a delicious instagrammable drink that you can find at otilia.

nin coffee

cafe nin is a cafe and restaurant in juarez, and it has a lot of charm.

if you like the atmosphere, we suggest you go for coffee and brunch at cafe nin, because its design elements and aesthetics deserve a photo.

On the menu for caffeine are coffee classics like Americano, Cappuccino, “Moka” (Mocha), and Double Espresso, plus an affogato for fun. There are also house juices such as grapefruit, orange, carrot/ginger/jicama and I would like to try this one, which is macadamia/coconut/cardamom.

For eating, though, there’s plenty to fill you up at cafe nin, and I’m just referring to brunch and breakfast. from sweet bread to Berliners, there are also eggs and lunch boxes and sandwiches.

see our photos of the indoor and outdoor dining at cafe nin. the address is havre 73 in colonia juarez.

raku coffee

raku cafe is rome’s japanese-themed cafe that takes specialty coffee seriously. It’s new for the last few years, which means we certainly didn’t know it when we spent over a month on Calle Sinaloa in 2018.

raku cafe is located in sinaloa 188, roma norte. here you’ll find a concise and straightforward menu of classics like flat white, cortado, americano, and latte, followed by specialties like Vietnamese coffee, “cafe de metodo” (coffee from one brewing method), and cold brew.

if you like teas, they have those too, along with san pellegrino mineral water, which sounds like something I’m always looking for.

with its tiny and elegant interior, raku cafe is bound to make you feel like you have been transferred to japan, during your trip to mexico city. we have no problem with that.

after hours, it becomes a beer and wine bar; just be aware that they close at 7 p.m. m., so you better act fast.

tomas – tea publishing house

There’s no coffee here, but Tomas’ staff really knows their teas. you can take a few puffs and get an idea of what you want to try. to work there are some standard armchairs, tables and chairs. you can also sit outside!

This is a favorite of digital nomads and is almost always cited as a favorite for places where you can sit with constant internet. the location is ideal, on a beautiful tree-lined street.

coffee mother

mother café was recently recommended to us by a friend, and we can’t wait to try it the next time we’re in cdmx.

Located at Orizaba 131, Colonia Roma, it is housed in an old mansion, and its owners want you to come and experience originality and creativity.

madre cafe is proud of its coffee, which comes from puebla (in mexico). In order to raise awareness among those who consume her coffees, she can contact the staff and organize a trip to the coffee farm itself.

All we can say is that we wish we knew about this sooner, and it’s on our list of upcoming trips to Mexico City, one of our favorite places to be.

eye of water

ojo de agua is an earthy yet modern idea where you can have coffee, eat brunch and then shop for groceries. It is all in one, for a healthy and comfortable experience.

While your Wi-Fi may not work everywhere and we don’t suggest going there specifically to work or do things online, you can always sit outside at the water hole and people watch.

Next, you can peruse their harvest of produce, ranging from fruits (sapotes!) to vegetables (mini eggplants!). They also have cold drinks and some less perishable food items like granola and the like.

Cordovan coffee

café el cordobés was a gem we found while walking through the historic center of mexico city. café el cordobés has all their coffee beans for you to see, and super friendly staff who kept asking us where we were from.

The location near Chinatown makes it a good stopover while you explore. the place is full of life! They do takeout if you ask.

Be sure to keep an eye out for the staircase leading to the second floor. there is a terrace with a balcony! we missed this, so now we have to go back.

Did you find our guide to the best cafes in Mexico City useful? looking for more? Ready to learn more places to go in Mexico City? Check out our recommendation for the best bars in Mexico City.

last updated on November 6, 2022