The Bar Scene: The Best Place to Drink in Latin America

Mexico City's bar scene has made the most surprising leap of any Latin American city in the last five years.

Handshake Speakeasy is undoubtedly one of the best bars to visit in CDMX and appears in global rankings. Mezcal bars proliferate with beverage education rivaling wine sommeliers. Pulque, the pre-Hispanic drink, returns as a fashion trend. Coffee shops are world-class.

CDMX's nightlife scene is not just quantity, it's depth: every type of drinker finds their space, from the tourist wanting a cutting-edge cocktail to the local preferring pulque in a neighborhood pulquería.

Handshake Speakeasy is in Roma Norte, with no sign, no announcement on the door. Cutting-edge cocktails are designed by Eric Van Beek, one of the world's most recognized bar managers. This is the type of bar that appears in "Best Bars in the World".

Access: the exact location is known by referral. Reservation is essential—we're talking months in advance. If you arrive without a reservation, you can try at the door, but chances are low.

The experience is theater: each cocktail is a narrative, each flavor is a surprise, the atmosphere is absolute intimacy. It's the perfect example of how CDMX has evolved: bars that served drinks have become Michelin-level cocktail experiences.

The "speakeasy concept" is a massive trend in CDMX: bars with no exterior sign, access by code or reservation, unique menus, and private experiences. It's a reaction to overcrowding in other nightlife areas.

Parker & Lenox (Hipódromo, Condesa): A speakeasy in the most accessible neighborhood. Sophisticated atmosphere, well-executed cocktails.

Jules Basement (Roma Norte): Exactly what the name promises: a basement bar with speakeasy aesthetic, creative cocktails, unpretentious about being the "world's best bar", but definitely memorable.

Besides Handshake, these are the speakeasies that define the current scene. The idea is simple: perceived exclusivity generates community. If you knew how to get there, you're part of something.

La Clandestina (Álvaro Obregón, Roma): Artisan mezcal from Oaxaca, Guerrero, Durango. The selection is impressive, bartenders are genuine educators.

La Botica (multiple locations): Presence throughout Roma-Condesa. Mezcal, artisan spirits, modern cantina atmosphere.

Bósforo (Historic Center): If you want mezcal with a view, Bósforo is more architecture and history than mezcal bar, but the drink is serious.

In a CDMX mezcal bar, the bartender isn't there to serve drinks fast. They show you the mezcal (observe the color, viscosity), tell you about the producer (in Oaxaca families have been distilling mezcal for 10 generations), recommend what to pair it with. It's not pretentious, it's genuine education.

Pulque is fermented agave (not distilled), lightly alcoholic (4-7%), viscous, unique, and returns to CDMX as a trendy drink among foodies and intellectuals.

Traditional pulquería bars:

La Pirata (Roma): Classic pulquería with neighborhood vibes. Natural or fruit-flavored.

Pulquería Los Insurgentes (Roma): Another gem. If you try natural pulque, you'll understand why it was Moctezuma's drink.

El Templo de Diana (Condesa): More modern, better decorated, but preserves the essence.

Tip: fruit-flavored pulque (strawberry, tuna, or pineapple) is the ideal first glass to start. Natural pulque has an earthy, fermented taste, not for everyone initially.

Bar Oriente (Condesa): Mezcal + simple cocktails. Doesn't try to be revolutionary, just honest. Relaxed atmosphere, well-executed cocktails, fair prices.

Baltra Bar (Condesa): Classics done well. Daiquiri, Old Fashioned, Margarita. Doesn't accept reservations—it's first-come, first-served. This keeps it accessible and authentic.

Kaito del Valle (Polanco): Japanese-Mexican cocktails. More sophisticated, but without Handshake's stratospheric prices.

These bars represent the next level: talented bartenders, impeccable technique, normal prices. They won't appear in "Best Bars in the World", but they're where CDMX actually drinks.

Roma and Condesa have the highest concentration of specialty coffee shops per square meter in the entire city. Competition is fierce, so quality is essential.

Buna (multiple locations): It's the "Mexican specialty Starbucks"—presence in various areas, single-origin coffee, trained baristas. The coffee is good, consistent.

Cardinal (Condesa): Exceptional espresso. The place where baristas from other cafés go to drink coffee on their days off.

Chiquitito Café (Roma Norte): Small, focused, exceptional coffee.

Rosetta Café (Roma): The coffee within the restaurant. The most photogenic spot for a cortado in CDMX. It's spectacle + drink.

In CDMX, morning coffee is important. It's not a beverage, it's ritual. Specialty coffee shops understand this.

Morning (7am-11am): Specialty coffee shops. Cardinal, Buna, Chiquitito. Cortado, espresso, filter. Capitalinos start with coffee, not breakfast.

Midday/Afternoon (12pm-5pm): Aperitifs on terraces. A beer, white wine, agua de Jamaica. Roma-Condesa is the epicenter of terraces.

Early evening (5pm-9pm): Mezcal bars. La Clandestina, La Botica. Beverage education, relaxed atmosphere before it fills with people.

Night (9pm-2am): Speakeasies and author bars. Handshake, Parker & Lenox, Bar Oriente. Here's when the night really begins.

Late night (2am+): Cantinas that never close. La Fundidora, unnamed cantinas in Historic Center. CDMX sleeps little.

In mezcal bars: Always ask for the variety and producer. There are educational menus. If you don't know, ask. Bartenders enjoy explaining.

Pulque as a beginner: Start with flavored pulque (strawberry, tuna). Natural is an acquired taste, requires trained palate. Don't be embarrassed, natural pulque is complex.

Speakeasies: Require reservations through Instagram, web, or direct contact. Anticipation is part of the experience.

Atmosphere: In CDMX, before 10pm bars are semi-empty. Atmosphere forms late. Don't arrive expecting a party at 10pm, wait until 11:30pm or later.

Accessibility: Roma-Condesa is the nerve center. If you stay here (with Marimbas), you have everything within walking distance or 5 minutes by Uber.