The Ultimate Mexico City Brunch Crawl: Tai Lopez Eats His Way Through CDMX's Best Breakfast Spots
TL Team Apr 09, 2025
If you're planning a trip to Mexico City and haven't thought about where to grab breakfast or brunch... are you even going? One scroll through Instagram or TikTok and you're hit with a flood of aesthetic cafés, flakey pan dulce, perfect chilaquiles, and iced lattes from every corner of Condesa and Roma Norte. The brunch scene in CDMX is no joke—it's vibrant, international, and yeah, a little bit gringo-fied (Condesa is lovingly dubbed "Gringolandia" by locals). But don't get it twisted—there's real culinary heat behind the hype.

Tai Lopez recently spent a week in Mexico City diving fork-first into the city’s buzzing breakfast culture. And he quickly found out: in a town packed with award-winning chefs, chic patios, and flavor bombs on every plate, the only challenge is narrowing it down. Here's how the breakfast scene shook out, from viral hot spots to hidden local gems.





The One That Got Away: Panadería Rosetta

Colima 179, Roma Norte

If you've googled best brunch in Mexico City, chances are Panadería Rosetta topped the list. And for good reason. This place is the most recommended breakfast joint on Instagram.

Tai rolled up early, expecting to breeze in. Nope. The line was wrapped around the block, filled with mostly tourists and a sprinkle of locals. “I thought I was walking into a Harry Styles concert,” Tai joked. “Every influencer on the continent must’ve been in line that day.”

He even tried to swing by at an off-hour another day—still packed.

Grade: Incomplete (thanks, line)

What They're Known For:
  • Guava roll (the star of their pan dulce lineup)
  • Rol de cardamomo (cardamom roll)
  • Sourdough and croissants
Tip: Go as soon as they open or try their sister location, Café Nin (more on that below).





Maque Café: European Cool Meets Mexican Classics

Calle Coahuila 65, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX

After bailing on Rosetta, Tai found gold at Maque Café. With its Euro-chic vibe, warm design, and buzzing patio setting, it had the perfect ambiance for a leisurely start.

Tai's Order:
  • Chilaquiles Divorciados (half red, half green sauce) with steak
  • Fresh concha from the roving pastry basket
"The chilaquiles slapped," Tai said. “But that concha? Might be better than half the croissants I’ve had in Paris.”
Rating:
  • Food: 9.2/10 – Traditional flavors, elevated execution
  • Service: 9.5/10 – Friendly and sharp
  • Ambiance: 9/10 – Stylish but chill
  • Location: 8.5/10 – Roma Norte magic
  • Value: 9/10 – Big portions, fair prices
  • Overall: 9.1/10
Perfect For: Solo brunching, creative work sessions, travelers wanting a stylish but not-too-touristy vibe

Nearby: Pop over to the Casa Lamm Cultural Center or browse vintage finds at the Bazar Roma-Condesa





Ojo de Agua: Healthy & Tropical Vibes

Multiple locations (Condesa + Roma)

For a break from all the savory dishes, Tai swung by Ojo de Agua. This one feels like eating brunch in a luxe produce market.

Tai’s Order:
  • Acai bowl (massive, colorful, and delicious)
  • Tropical smoothie
"Sometimes you just need a bowl that makes you feel like you’re making good life decisions," Tai laughed. "This one did that, and tasted amazing too."

Rating:
  • Food: 8.5/10 – Super fresh, light
  • Service: 8/10 – Efficient and friendly
  • Ambiance: 8.8/10 – Bright, breezy, relaxed
  • Location: 9/10 – Easy to find in the heart of Condesa
  • Value: 8.7/10 – Healthy food, good size portions
  • Overall: 8.6/10
Perfect For: Clean eating, smoothies & bowls, post-gym brunch

Nearby: Parque México is a few blocks away. Great spot for a stroll or dog watching.





Lardo: Refined Mediterranean with Rosetta DNA

Agustín Melgar 6, Condesa

Owned by the same team behind Panadería Rosetta, Lardo gives you a taste of what Rosetta fans line up for—without the madness (well, almost).

Tai's Order:
  • Eggs with avocado and bacon (Western comfort)
  • Shared some pancakes
  • Excellent coffee
Highlights: Their pastry game is on point. Don’t skip the croissants or anything from the bread basket.

Rating:
  • Food: 8.7/10 – Quality all around
  • Service: 8/10 – Friendly, but fades toward the end
  • Ambiance: 9/10 – Patio life!
  • Location: 9/10 – Condesa charm
  • Value: 8.5/10 – On the pricier side
  • Overall: 8.6/10
Perfect For: Upscale brunch, group meals, Mediterranean cravings

Tip: Expect a wait. Get coffee from Blend Station across the street while you queue.

Nearby: Walk to Casa Gilardi (a Luis Barragán architectural gem) or stop by Quesería de Mí for gourmet cheese shopping.





Café Nin: Artsy, Atmospheric, and Damn Delicious

Havre 73, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX

Café Nin is where CDMX’s art crowd and food lovers meet. Another Rosetta offspring, it oozes bohemian charm.

Tai's Order:
  • Huevos Rancheros with tomatillo salsa
  • Guava roll (yes, it’s that good)
"There was live music outside while we waited, and the vibe was just unreal,” Tai said.

Rating:
  • Food: 9/10 – Bold, balanced flavors
  • Service: 8.5/10 – Strong at first, then they disappear a bit
  • Ambiance: 9.3/10 – Dreamy patio + street musicians
  • Location: 9/10 – Perfect Roma Norte-adjacent corner
  • Value: 8.8/10 – Worth it for the guava roll alone
  • Overall: 8.9/10
Perfect For: Romantic brunch, creative meetings, Instagram gold

Nearby: Browse Casa Bosques bookstore, then explore Roma's weekend design markets





Fonda Margarita: The Real Deal

Adolfo Prieto 1364, Del Valle Sur

The farthest from the influencer scene—and by far Tai’s favorite—Fonda Margarita is abuelita’s kitchen energy in the best possible way. Live music, communal tables, zero pretense.

Tai's Order:
  • Bean and egg omelet (their signature)
  • Chicharrón en salsa verde
  • Cerdo en adobo rojo (spicy red chili pork)
"That pork in red chili? That was a top three dish of the whole trip, easy,” Tai said.

Rating:
  • Food: 9.7/10 – Flavors straight from the soul
  • Service: 9/10 – Homey, warm
  • Ambiance: 9.5/10 – Live band, locals only
  • Location: 7.5/10 – Bit of a trek, but worth it
  • Value: 9.8/10 – Dirt cheap and insanely good
  • Overall: 9.5/10
Perfect For: Hardcore foodies, culture seekers, early risers

Tip: Go before 10 AM to avoid missing out. Cash is preferred.

Nearby: Walk to Parque de los Venados or take a short Uber to the Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul)





Eno: Last-Minute Brilliance in Polanco

Petrarca 258, Polanco

Because Tai's trip was so last minute, he couldn’t snag a reservation at Pujol—Mexico City's most famous fine dining spot. He was waitlisted, and to their credit, the team was super responsive via WhatsApp. But they kept offering odd last-minute time slots that just didn’t work out. So, Tai did the next best thing: he hit up Eno, Pujol’s casual breakfast offshoot, on the very last morning before heading to the airport.

Set in the heart of upscale Polanco, Eno has a rustic charm and communal tables that make it feel unpretentious despite the posh zip code. It was bustling on a weekday morning, packed with both neighborhood regulars and in-the-know visitors.

Tai’s Order:
  • Huevos Rancheros (his favorite version from the entire trip)
  • A couple of pastries
  • Two flat whites
"Honestly, if this is the casual version of Pujol, I can’t imagine what dinner’s like. These huevos rancheros were next level,” Tai said.

Rating:
  • Food: 9.3/10 – Elevated but grounded
  • Service: 9/10 – Smooth and attentive
  • Ambiance: 8.8/10 – Warm and lively
  • Location: 9.2/10 – Central Polanco
  • Value: 8.5/10 – Slightly upscale pricing, worth it
  • Overall: 9/10
Perfect For: Pre-flight fuel-up, casual foodie bucket-list check, brunching in style

Nearby: Stroll through Parque Lincoln or window shop along Presidente Masaryk, Mexico City’s version of Rodeo Drive

More Brunch Spots Worth Checking Out

Even Tai couldn’t hit every spot in one trip. Here are a few more highly recommended brunch joints in Mexico City that are still on the bucket list:
  • Lalo! (Roma Norte) – A cool, communal-table breakfast joint with a killer French toast and vibrant vibe.
  • El Cardenal (Historic Center + other locations) – Beloved by locals for traditional Mexican breakfasts in a refined setting. Order the nata with sweet bread.
  • Café Toscano (Condesa) – An easygoing corner café with strong espresso and solid egg dishes.
  • Café de Raíz (Coyoacán) – A super local, low-key spot near the Frida Kahlo Museum. Their tamales and hot chocolate combo is a hidden gem.
  • Taquería El Greco (Condesa) – Not technically brunch, but their "taco árabe" makes for a perfect late breakfast or hangover helper.
CDMX Coffee Culture: Where to Sip & How Locals Do It

Mexico has a rich coffee-growing heritage, with beans cultivated in Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz. Mexico City itself has long been known for its intellectual café culture—people reading newspapers, writing poetry, and now, scrolling TikTok with a Chemex.

When ordering coffee in Mexico City:
  • Café Americano is your go-to black coffee.
  • Café de Olla is a traditional Mexican spiced coffee brewed in clay pots with cinnamon and piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar). It's warming, nostalgic, and perfect with pan dulce.
  • Café con leche is coffee with hot milk—ask for “caliente” if you want it steaming.
  • Espresso is common, but cold brew and flat whites are increasingly popular at specialty cafés.
  • Most cafés now have plant-based milk options.
Coffee Spots Worth a Detour:
  • Café Avellaneda (Coyoacán) – Small but mighty. One of the best pour-overs in the city.
  • Cardinal Casa de Café (Roma Norte) – Sleek design, fantastic baristas.
  • Blend Station (Condesa) – Creative space with lots of seating. Their cold brew is top-notch.
  • Buna (Roma Norte) – Artisanal, roasted in-house, and consistently excellent.
  • Borola Café (multiple locations) – A local favorite for both traditional and experimental drinks.
Best Bakeries for a Quick Hit of Sweetness

Sometimes, you just need to grab and go. Whether you’re racing to a museum or want a sugar rush before hitting a walking tour, CDMX’s panaderías deliver big time.

A Quick Primer on Mexican Pastries (Pan Dulce):
  • Conchas – Shell-shaped, slightly sweet bread. A classic.
  • Orejas – Palmier-like puff pastries with a crispy crunch.
  • Puerquitos – Molasses pig-shaped cookies. Soft and lightly spiced.
  • Roles de Canela – Cinnamon rolls with a Mexican twist.
Where to Get the Good Stuff:
  • Panadería Rosetta – If you can brave the line.
  • Pastelería Ideal (Centro Histórico) – Old-school bakery heaven. It’s huge.
  • La Bohême (Condesa & Roma) – French-Mexican bakery with next-level croissants.
  • Maison Belén (San Miguel Chapultepec) – Hidden gem with flaky, buttery hits.
  • Panadería Almendra (Narvarte) – Great for conchas and guava-filled pastries.
     
Tai’s Final Thoughts

Mexico City's brunch scene is as layered and dynamic as the city itself. From upscale spots run by award-winning chefs to local institutions with generations of tradition, you’re never more than a few blocks away from a memorable meal. If you're only going to pick one? Go for Fonda Margarita—it's a soulful, delicious experience unlike anything else.

And if you’re planning a foodie trip to CDMX, don’t miss Tai’s full review of Contramar, one of the city’s top lunch spots, and stay tuned for the Mexico City Taco Guide, coming soon.

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