Mexico

Mexico City 

Nightlife

Party

Drinks

Queer

Tyler Henry

Tyler Henry will travel for spice. Born in DC, he’s lived and worked in foodie meccas across the world such as NYC, New Orleans, Peru and now, Mexico City. Here’s his take on the magical ciudad. “Mexico city is this chaotic urban sprawl of street food, bright colors and bustling culture. I came down here to cook for a few months, and ended up moving here after falling in love with the food, art, people, and city. For me the the coolest neighbourhood in CDMX is Roma Norte, it’s the soul of the creative part of the city. The best restaurants and bars of the city are here, and it’s a lovely place to stay as a visitor. Juarez is a bordering hood I spend a lot of time in – its had a recent upswing in cafes, bars, restaurants and general feel and a lot of the creative happenings of the city are here. When it comes to getting around the city, the best way for me is by bike. I highly encourage renting one or using the public shared bike system.When it comes to eating – do not miss the street food here! Just be a bit careful where you stop. As a general rule of thumb only go places where there are plenty of locals of all ages and types enjoying the food.

This is my restaurant! Come say hi. Choza is a Thai-influenced restaurant and listening bar. The vibe is for drinking cold beer, eating with your hands and sharing spicy food. Music is a priority, and there is a custom hi-fi system always grooving something psychedelic, global, funky, etc. – usually with someone selecting vinyls. You won’t find choza on Google. It’s walk-in only and only open on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, but the experience is made with a huge amount of love and deliciousness.

This is the type of place that makes me fall in love with Mexico city. Go here for a relaxed lunch of people watching and crazy delicious flavours. If you have one meal in all of Mexico city, this should be it. The concept is just “RURAL MEXICAN FOOD” based around heirloom corn they source, nixtamalize, and grind in house (as well as supplying many other restaurants in Mexico). Jesus, the chef and owner, is from the countryside in Guerrero and he cooks with a pure soul. Many of the ingredients come directly from his farm or surrounding land in Guerrero.

Make a reservation for 3pm, preferably on a Thursday or Friday when they have live music, and go for a superbly long meal. It’s far, yes, probably a 30min Uber from your Airbnb or hotel, and its in the middle of nowhere, and its only open for lunch - but it’s one of most soulful meals in CDMX. Its traditional Mexican dining at its absolute best, showcasing much of the diversity of the food of different regions of Mexico, as well as interesting Mexican ingredients and ancient Mexican recipes. Ask about the “teporocho” (alcoholic tea) to end the meal. In fact, ask lots of questions about everything! The menu changes often and the waiters are very educated on the food they serve so just ask for suggestions.

Tiny little taco joint in San Rafael with only standing space - it pains me to include this spot here because I want to keep the tiny, so fucking flavourful taco joint all for myself. The Al Pastor and the Tripa tacos are perfect. The Torta with pastor and queso is awesome too. The whole experience of eating tacos here is perfect. Im here at least once a week.

Yucatecan home-cooking. Soulful and spicy and always hits the spot. I will often be here eating alone relaxing to good music with a book. My go to order is the Sopa de Lima followed by panuches de Cochinita, an agua de Chaya, and a few beers. Run by a lovely woman Jocyln who started the place using her mothers recipes.

One of the cities best and most extensive mezcal lists coupled with trippy amazing music, well educated and friendly staff. Go here for a psychedelic night of heavy mezcal drinking with a good homie. The restaurant next door (same owner but the restaurant is unnamed/unmarked) is also absolutely delicious and focuses on unique regional cuisines of Mexico. This is an extraordinary bar.

One of the cities best mixologists, Kristian, opened a tiny bar tucked away in Roma where he is the only employee and you’re basically drinking in his home - a home with an absurdly fucking stocked bar. He built everything from the lighting to the bar by hand. A normal night might include a cocktail with juice squeezed fresh in front of you and a root that makes your mouth go numb, a sample of some sotol, a mezcal sample, a sample of some weird liquor he just got from a friend, a mezcal negroni style drink, a big beer you’re now splitting with the people next to you, a joint or two being passed around at 1:30am, and a fernet. You get the idea. Go here and drink till it closes and enjoy the amazing work and friendliness of Kris. Please do tell Kris that I sent you! To me, Tacobar is probably the best bar in all of Mexico city. It’s great when it’s slammed on the weekends, but it’s best experienced on a Tuesday or Wednesday when it’s a bit more intimate and Kristian can take his time taking care of you with delicious drinks.

Absolute, absolute, must go experience for anyone who likes dancing or is interested in nightlife. This is a legendary dance club that’s only open on Friday nights and has been going for like 30 years. It feels like you're walking into an insane dance party in the 80s. Its mostly “high energy” techno, its got the craziest diversity of people who go every week and are every age and wear every color and are very friendly. What defines the club is that EVERYONE dances, without pretention or care, and its known for insane dance circles with choreographed groups of people letting loose. Go here!!!

A perfect market for someone who wants to see a larger Mexico city market but isn’t quite ready to hit la Merced. Jamaica is best known as the OG flower market, and it has an insane selection of flowers. But it also has very good food and very good selection of ingredients I often go here for more special things like wild mushrooms, kefir limes or weird spices.

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Chef Tyler Henry’s Guide to CDMX

Paurro

Born and raised in Mexico City, Paulina Rodriguez (aka Paurro) has built a name for herself with her style of Latinx club music, 90s house, breakbeat and UK garage.

Paurro's career spans over a decade. It's seen her work as the label manager for Berlin imprint Cómeme, and as a booker and programmer for Aire Libre radio station where she hosts her radio show. Her latest EP, 

was released under SOS Music and explores her chosen theme of female warriors and forgotten women. The producer also has two residency nights in CDMX called House of Paurro and Konichii where she hosts national and international talent.

As someone with an extensive knowledge of the underground music scene, it's only right her guide covers her top clubs in CDMX – from the best parties to local bars and clubs.

 The No System House is a spot created by people that are deeply involved in the underground music scene in Mexico. It’s a great DIY space that hosts different events like album release parties, ambient happenings, art exhibitions, and parties with great local artists. It also has a space for rent to practice your DJ skills, record a set or a radio show and do live streaming. 

This club is a staple and an institution in CDMX’s nightlife. The night to go is on Fridays for its HI-NRG night and you should really get ready to do some serious dancing. There is a community going there for years to compete in the middle of the dance floor which makes the vibe of that place incomparable. There is nothing like that anywhere else in Mexico City  

This spot works as a rehearsal space and a music production studio during the week. However every Thursday they host events in the afternoon with DJ sets from local artists which are also streamed plus beers and mezcal for sale. It’s a great plan if you want a taste of the emerging electronic music scene. 
 

Club Colima is a small but very cute bar/club with great cocktails, great sound and a very diverse program of mostly local DJs every week. The spot is inside a delicious fried chicken sandwich spot called Frito y Cruel so you can get some food there if you get hungry. The vibe feels like the next-door bar where all your friends go and the music range goes from cumbia to afro beat to house and a little bit of techno too. 

Yu Yu has become a true classic to CDMX nightlife. With the recent opening of its own radio station called Drama plus the bar upstairs (with a delicious cocktail menu), the place has come full circle. This club is the one with the riskiest music programming and variety of genres but always with amazing taste. You can jump into a footwork, a techno, or a reggaeton night, there is something there for everyone. 

Salón San Luis is a time capsule to the romantic Fichera years of modern Mexico. This ballroom with 73 years of tradition is a complete experience with a live salsa and cumbia band, beautiful and skilled dancers, old-school bottle service, and red velvet with mirrors all over. I always feel nostalgic after leaving, it’s legendary. 

This is a spot with three floors with different atmosphere’s to hang out, eat and try different flavors of Pulque. The top terrace has commercial music, on the second floor they host different DJ’s every night and the first floor has cumbia, salsa, hip hop, and a more eclectic vibe. 

Funk is an electronic music club hidden in a basement located in Colonia Condesa. Its sound system and lighting are amazing which makes every night memorable. Its music programming is pretty diverse musically with a great combination of national and international talent every night. You definitely can’t miss this one. 

Faena is an extravagant cantina and a Taurine museum that has been open for more than 80 years. It is an ideal spot to pre-game before a night out. Its vibe is super old school and zero pretentious, just what a cantina should be. They serve some appetizers like caldo de Cameron and tostadas de pata but the main purpose of going there is to have a drink and a long chat with friends. 

The Best Clubs in Mexico City Selected by Paurro

Pau Rodriguez is a DJ, radio host, PR, label manager and the ultimate plug into Mexico City.

CDMX born and raised, Pau describes her home as “a really awesome mess, a chaos that works and a place [where] you can find a little bit of everything”. Not only can you catch her behind the decks at some of the best festivals and club nights around CDMX, but she's often working behind the scenes too. An influential figure within CDMX's creative hub, Paurro is also on the team behind the revered label Cómeme, where she works as the imprint's manager. As someone who works at events that range from music to gastronomy, art to film via animation, Pau is often found connecting people to spaces, shows and experiences that bring together the best of local and international talent.

In her guide, Paurro highlights a wide spectrum of spots to visit. In need of a break from the bustle of the city? Looking to take in some of the best art, or sample locally sourced food? Below, you'll find her definitive guide to Mexico City's capital.

My favourite coffee spot. They only use Mexican beans and they work directly, and sustainably, with their producers.

This record store has everything. A very good selection of 90s house. Everyone that works here really knows what they’re talking about.

I really love seafood. The format of this spot is like a Mexican cantina, but the food is Spanish-style seafood.

Really good food and mezcals; DJs play on the weekends. This is a good spot for pre-gaming in Coyoacán.

A weekend art market in San Angel where you can find Mexican artists selling their works. Perfect weekend activity.

University Museum of Contemporary Art. Always amazing exhibitions on here and it’s just awesome to walk around the campus – the buildings are insane. There’s also a botanical garden.

When I need to escape the city, I love to take my dogs here. It’s 45 minutes from the city and you can do a barbecue, go hiking, walking and fish.

For a good cocktail and record selectors. This is a nice date spot.

A Guide to CDMX, Mexico City, Mapped Out by Paurro

Moe Saavedra

Moe Saavedra is a tattoo artist, born and raised in CDMX. Five years ago he opened his own studio, 

 specialising in American Traditional Tattoos. It’s worth booking a tattoo with Moe just to hang out at his studio, it’s full of weird and wonderful art and books collected from his trips and he always has the best playlist of 90’s Hip Hop and Stoner Rock on rotation. When he’s not behind the needle, Moe is usually spending time with his family, skateboarding, hitting up conventions or planning his next trip. His favourite hood is Centro Historico, “You can find anything here, it’s got something for everyone”.

My studio where you can find me tattooing most days.

This is an amazing mix of art & technology. It’s a fountain / water system / sculpture designed by Diego Riviera in the Chapultepec forest. There’s also a skatepark nearby here that I like to skate at.

This is a food market, famous for it’s mariscos (seafood). I always get the 'alambre de camaron’ and a corona.

This place is famous for it’s 80s high energy music vibe. It’s a must-experience for Mexico City there’s nothing else like it.

I find lots of cool weird stuff at this flea market. A lot of frames for art in my studio. Be warned this market is next to a trash station so I’ll shop there but I would never eat there haha. There are other good flea markets such as Lagunilla but now there’s a lot more tourists so the prices are higher. La Bufola is where you can find weird stuff super cheap.

Patrick Miller

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