BY AMANDA McCOY

LEGACY

The toughest reservation to nab in the city is well worth the effort, as Pujol consistently ranks among the globe’s best-of lists. The chef Enrique Olvera-founded hotspot opened at the turn of the new millennium and has since become the capital city’s go-to haunt for haute Mexican cuisine. With a focus on sustainable ingredients, legacy techniques, and Mexico’s rich culinary heritage, chef Olvera serves creative reinterpretations of his homeland’s classics in an ever-changing tasting menu. Former highlights include blood orange aguachile with lime, sea snail ceviche, lobster taco with salsa macha and macadamia nuts, and fresh tuna topped with a creamy squash sauce. Be sure to leave space for cactus sorbet for dessert. pujol.com.mx

GLAMOUR AND GRIT

Reaching 58 stories toward the sky, the Ritz-Carlton serves some of the best views in the city, stretching from the Chapultepec Forest all the way to the grand Paseo de la Reforma, one of Mexico City’s principal avenues. Sip chilled Clase Azul from the private terrace of your cloud-piercing urban suite, finished with floor-to-ceiling windows, commodious living/sitting areas, built-in wet bars, and spa-rivaling bathrooms with glossy marbled walls and deep soaking tubs. Kick back and drink in views of the sprawling cityscape in the Art Deco-fashioned Carlotta Reforma Sky Bar, located on the 38th floor. When cravings strike, SAMOS Sabores Míos whips up Mediterranean fare with a fresh local twist. Rooms begin around $700 per night. ritzcarlton.com

CULTURE CRUSH

The brainchild of art dealer Cristobal Riestra and seasoned restaurateur Joaquín Vargas (CEO of CMR, a prominent hospitality group with more than 140 labels), LagoAlgo is a fascinating hybrid concept that blends gastronomy, art, architecture, nature, cinema, wellness, and music. Set along a lake in charming Chapultepec Park, the cultural center was carved from a modernist building circa 1964 and debuted in 2022. It features an ongoing program of experiential shows, creative workshops, healing sessions, and world-class exhibits from global artists, musicians, filmmakers, and more, plus community-inclusive events and a food trading platform. The bi-level farm-to-table restaurant is exceptional, offering a white tablecloth experience with plates curated from the earth and sea. (Suckling pig with martajada sauce, anyone?) lago-algo.mx

FARM FABULOUS

Nestled along a quaint drag in Polanco, Quintonil has been making mighty waves in the city’s culinary landscape since its launch in 2012 (and has even secured a spot on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List for the past nine years). Led by the dynamic husband-and wife duo chef Jorge Vallejo and Alejandra Flores, the intimate eatery shines a spotlight on Mexican agriculture and indigenous flavors. Using locally grown ingredients like corn, beans, squash, chiles, and mushrooms, the chef takes intrepid epicureans on a nine-course journey through Moroccan crab, bluefin tuna, duck tamales, and Baja California lobster (a la carte options are available, as well). The setting is equally earthy and organic, dressed with wild vines and light-washed woods. quintonil.com

HOUSE GUEST

Marked by leafy, mansion-dotted streets, swanky eateries, and designer storefronts, Mexico City’s Polanco borough serves prestige on a silver platter. One of its gems is the Casa Polanco, a 20-room boutique experience set in a renovated Spanish Revival-style estate. The five-star hotel offers all the modern appointments as its big-name cousins, but with an intimate, locals-inspired touch. A calm, neutral palette dresses the oversized suites, intermixed with patterned accents like houndstooth and plaid. Be sure to pencil in time for afternoon tea in the hotel’s signature restaurant, the Veranda, before sitting down to read the daily paper with a premium mezcal in hand in the library, where you’ll feel like a guest in someone’s home. casapolanco.com/the-library