11 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Mexico City, Mexico

Decorated with brightly colored papeles picados and tables with Talavera tile tops, friendly and traditional Antojería Nacional is a bit of a contrast with the many hip and modern spots in this neighborhood of Cholula close to the campus of Universidad de las Americas. The specialty of this hugely popular spot is traditional street food—tortas milanesas, chicken pelonas, chorizo gorditas, and more.

This sprawling, open-air restaurant in an affluent neighborhood northeast of downtown has a lush garden setting that makes it a perfect choice for a relaxing meal on a balmy day, of which there are many in Cuernavaca. The farm-to-table-inspired menu features a mix of classic and contemporary dishes, such as shrimp tacos with a mildly spicy sambal salsa, aguachile with tangy passionfruit sauce, or pasta with classic fettuccine carbonara.

Among the city's countless restaurants specializing in Pueblo-style mole sauces, this relaxing spot set in a gracious galleried building with wood-beam ceilings, soaring arches, and tile floors is one of the finest. The sampler plate with chicken or cheese enchiladas smothered under three different kinds of mole sauce are a delicious way to learn about the differences in preparation of these complex sauces. Other beloved dishes like Tacos árabes with shaved lamb and albóndigas (meatballs) with a slightly spicy jalapeño sauce are executed perfectly here. The friendly staff can help explain the differences among the many kinds of mole sauces offered. 

Walk a couple blocks south of Tepotzotlán's main plaza, which is lined with mostly unmemorable restaurants, to reach this beautifully designed modern Italian spot set in a handsome old building with towering windows and brick walls. The extensive menu features creative pastas, pizzas, and sandwiches served on house-baked artisan breads---try the linguine with shrimp and octopus sauteed in garlic or the Argentinean-style choripán sandwich, with chorizo, a mix of cheeses, and chimichurri sauce. 

Although there's a charming downstairs seating area, the rooftop terrace of this delightful bistro serving creative Mexican dishes as well as pizzas and gastropub fare is hard to beat, with its views overlooking the town's central plaza and the steep cliffs that frame Malinalco. Highlights from the diverse menu include a tiradito of raw cecina with serrano chiles, marinated wild-boar tacos, and trout topped with pineapples, ham, and cheese in a lightly spicy sauce. Among the pizzas, the Yucateca-inspired pie with tender cochinita pibil and cured purple onions is a favorite. Save room for the traditional corn cake with whipped cream and berries for dessert.

This stylish restaurant set on the rooftop terrace of the enchanting Hotel Boutique Pueblo Lindo offers not only some of the best views in town, but also delicious, beautifully presented modern Mexican dishes. Start the day with huevos rancheros, fresh seasonal fruit, and one of the decadent house-baked pastries; later in the day, try the grilled fish of the day with pureed potatoes and a mango salsa, or enchiladas with chicken and hibiscus flowers. Everything is prepared with care and using fresh, often seasonal ingredients. 

The marvelous view of the Palacio de Cortés is a major draw of this rambling restaurant with sprawling patios, leafy plants, and traditional artwork. The menu mixes Mexican and international foods; you might try the breaded veal stuffed with Serrano ham and manchego cheese, the trout stuffed with shrimp and roasted red peppers, or the tacos filled with grilled cactus.

Although the food is consistently good---omelets, chilaquiles, tamales with mole sauce at breakfast, and salads, pastas, and pizzas in the afternoon—the best reason to dine in this home that once belonged to famed silversmith William Spratling is the elegant setting. The high-ceilinged dining room and terraces of the gracious colonial building exude old-world charm, and tables have wonderful views of the town's red-roofed homes. The restaurant closes at 6 pm, making it an option for only for very early dinners.

Located across the street from Malinalco's striking Agustino de la Transfiguración convent, this convivial taverna filled with whimsical artwork and lush hanging plants serves creative, eclectic fare with both Mexican and Mediterranean influences. You might start with beef carpaccio seasoned with lemon and olive oil or marinated-tuna tostadas with chipotle dressing, before graduating to grilled pistachio-crusted sea bass with roasted vegetables or linguine with a sauce of goat cheese, basil, and white wine.

Many are drawn to this restaurant for its dramatic setting in an early 19th-century former Jesuit college that now contains a museum filled with pre-Hispanic artifacts and exhibits, but the superbly crafted traditional Pueblan food is excellent, too. Start with a breakfast of eggs in a stew of poblano chiles, corn, and epazote, or later in the day, try the pork chalupas or guacamole with chapulines (grasshopper) followed by chicken in a green pumpkin-seed mole sauce. There are also a number of international dishes, too, like tuna tartare, and bananas Foster for dessert.

Head to this friendly and festive open-air café and shop that hosts a range of musical and literary events for a delicious breakfast. The eclectic options include traditional English bangers and mash with sautéed tomatoes and mushrooms, chilaquiles verdes, and baguette French toast. Lunchtime options include healthy salads and sandwiches, and there's an extensive selection of pastries, cookies, and other baked good for dessert.