5 Best Cocktail Bars in Mexico City [Reviewed + Rated]

🍸 🍸 🍸   =   Ultimate trifecta: exceptional and unique cocktails, inviting ambiance, and attentive warm service

🍸 🍸   =   Well-crafted cocktails but lacking in either ambiance or service or both

🍸   =   Decent cocktails but not a repeater

Baltra Bar was a (pleasant) surprise.

Rated #83 on the World’s 50 Best Bars, it was lower in the expert ratings compared to the others we visited. Our reservation was booked the first night we arrived in Mexico City. We were so tired, we almost didn’t go.

I’m so glad we pushed through our jet lag because this was our FAVORITE BAR of the trip and one I would go to again (and again and again).

Its unpretentious, relaxed vibe is incredibly appealing. Service was super friendly, and the cozy ambiance was on point. Baltra Bar hands down had the most unique cocktails we encountered during our stay in Mexico City.

Almost as unique as the cocktails at Selva (#12 on my top things to do in Oaxaca).

The mastermind behind this top cocktail bar is Head Bartender José Luis Leon, who also manages another highly acclaimed bar, Licorería Limantour.

We arrived on a Wednesday, so we missed Baltra Bar’s famous Martini Tuesdays.

You have three options of where to be seated: at the bar, the adorable lounge with sofa or chairs, or outdoors. We cozied up on one of the couches for a delightful chill evening.

Maybe we shouldn’t have visited Baltra Bar on the first night because expectations were now quite high.

Licorería Limantour was Mexico City’s first cocktail bar, led by Benjamin Padrón and José Luis Leon. It holds the #32 spot on the World’s Best Bars.

It’s much bigger than Baltra Bar, sprawling out over two levels and a terrace. If you want a more intimate experience, I would strongly advise sitting at the bar so you can chat with the bartender.

Although we did not enjoy the cocktails as much as we did at Baltra, the bartender showed us the warmest hospitality.

This emphasis on the human approach is key to Licorería Limantour’s long-standing success.

According to a Bar Magazine interview with Benjamin Padrón, “You can have the best cocktails in a bar, but if the bartenders treat guests coldly and aren’t on the same wavelength, it doesn’t make sense. Human relationships are truly crucial.”

Handshake Speakeasy was another cocktail bar where expectations were high.

Ranked at #1 on the World’s 50 Best Bars, it achieved the highest position on the list for Mexico City. Pretty impressive ranking for a bar that’s only been opened several years.

Award-winning Dutch bartender Eric van Beek is the driver behind its success and innovative menu. The bar’s semi-hidden location located in a former shoe store can be difficult to find. Look for the door marked #13.

Once you’ve been granted access, everyone greets you inside the bar with a loud bienvenido! The ambiance is cozy, dark, and Art Deco-inspired with a grand chandelier as the focal point.

There are three seating options: high-top table, at the bar, or the cozy chairs lining the periphery of the room.

We were seated at the high-top table, which is situated in the middle of the room. I always recommend sitting at the bar to watch the bartenders concoct their magical creations.

I appreciated the cocktail menu had tasting notes to help guide your choices. For example, the Matcha Yuzu had a bitter and herbal flavor profile whereas the Once Upon in Oaxaca was fresh and smokey.

Service was professional but was far from the warm interactions we received at Baltra and Licorería Limantour.

Hanky Panky is yet another Mexico City cocktail bar that is one of the World’s Best, #93 to be exact.

It should be ranked MUCH higher because it has a killer combination.

Not only does it boast unique, elaborate, well-balanced cocktails, but it also has bartenders who have some of the best showmanship I’ve ever seen. Watch how they mix drinks from side to side.

The story behind the bar is interesting. The owner Walter Meyenberg created Hanky Panky as a private bar for his friends. It then evolved into a members-only bar and is now open to the public via reservation.

When you walk in, you can’t help but gravitate towards the bright neon sign loudly stating “We are Hanky Panky.” Seating options are at the bar in the comfy red leather bar stools or at the tables along the wall.

The entrance (and exit!) is pretty creative. Enter through an actual taco shop and out a … (I won’t reveal and ruin the surprise)!

The menu is a passport, where the cocktail’s flavors are representative of the country you pick. Just like Handshake, the flavor profile of each drink is listed at the bottom to help guide your selection.

Last but not least is Tlecan, the coolest mezcal-based cocktail bar run by some incredible bartenders.

It wasn’t on the World’s 50 Best Bars list when we went, but I’m super happy to see it’s now #20 on that coveted list!

There was a friendly bouncer on the night we went who kindly led us in. It feels like you are walking into a pre-Hispanic tomb.

I would describe the ambiance as a cool, cozy Aztec vibe with lots of geometric shapes and monochrome terra cotta colors. Regional music plays in the background.

There are only a few stools. Most of it is standing room only. We stood near the bar to watch the action. Our first-class server expertly guided our cocktail choices and was extremely knowledgeable about the drinks.

Tlecan uses Mexican ingredients and artisanal mezcals from small producers to concoct their exceptional cocktails.

Five of the World’s Best Bars are located in Mexico City. The cocktail scene is booming! It’s not enough anymore to just have exceptional cocktails.

Discerning travelers also place importance on hospitality and service. The standard is consistently being elevated.

Make sure to include these cocktail bars in your Mexico City itinerary during your next visit!

¡Salud!

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