Mexico City vibrates on a different frequency than any other destination; the city that rarely sleeps is packed with locals and a constant flow of people passing through, kept awake by the bright lights of late-night taquerias and the sound of moving mariachi bands. Secrets abound for those who look hard enough; don’t be surprised if an unassuming door leads into a mid-century church, or if a hole-in-the-wall serves you the tastiest morsel of your trip. However long your visit, these are things you shouldn’t miss.
Cantinas are like a window into Mexico’s past. Throughout history they’ve been a place for locals (only men by law until 1988) to get together, sip (never shot) mezcal, do business and celebrate, from morning through to night. The atmosphere is always lively, the drinks are always strong, and the salty peanuts laced with chilli are always on the house. Spend an evening leading your own cantina crawl Downtown, stopping at La Faena, Cantina Tio Pepe, and El Gallo de Oro.
