7 Michelin Star Mexico City Restaurants Foodies Must Try
Ready to discover the Mexico City Michelin restaurants?
You’re in the right place because ALL 7 of the Michelin star Mexico City restaurants are listed in this article.
The highly anticipated Michelin Star Awards in Mexico took place on the evening of May 14, 2024, igniting excitement within the CDMX culinary community.
From the top Mexican chefs and their famous restaurants, to taco shop hidden gems frequented by locals — some of results were a shock!
Since you’re probably hungry (I know I am), let’s get to this Complete List of Mexico City Michelin star restaurants.
What is the Michelin Guide?
The Michelin Guides are a series of guidebooks that have been published since 1900 by Michelin, the French tire company.
The guide awards up to three Michelin stars to select restaurants in certain geographic areas — with Mexico just added for the first time in 2024.
There were two restaurants in Mexico awarded two stars; 16 awarded one star; and no restaurants received three stars.
Considered among the most prestigious culinary awards, the acquisition or loss of a Michelin star (or stars) can have dramatic effects on a restaurant’s success.
The Michelin star awards in Mexico not only recognize the individual talent of each chef, but also celebrate the diversity and richness of the traditional Mexican cuisine.
The Complete List of Michelin Star Mexico City Restaurants
1. Pujol, Mexico City
Perhaps the most-obvious winner of a Michelin award was Enrique Olvera’s Pujol. The famed Mexico City restaurant actually took home two Michelin stars.
The restaurant serves two tasting menus: one with reimagined takes on traditional Mexican dishes, including their famed mole madre (mother mole), and the 12-course Taco Omakase tasting of various Mexican tacos.
Though Head Chef Enrique Olvera owns several well-respected restaurants, including Cosme in New York City, this was his first Michelin Star win.
Since 2000, Pujol Mexico City has been a gastronomic benchmark in Mexico, and worldwide. I’ve eaten there twice, and it lives up to the hype!
2. Quintonil, Mexico City
Before Jorge Vallejo (along with his wife, Alejandra Flores) opened Quintonil Mexico City, Vallejo worked under Chef Enrique Olvera at Pujol.
Quintonil, a fine dining spot serving clever dishes made with native Mexican ingredients, also nabbed two stars. (🌱 Fun Fact: Quintonil is an herb native to southern Mexico.)
This might be a controversial statement, but I actually preferred Quintonil to Pujol — though they were both exceptional and deserving of Mexico’s Michelin Stars.
3. Sud 777, Mexico City
Known for being a place where good food and architecture meet in southern Mexico City, Sud 777 made the list with one Michelin star.
A favorite high-end Mexican spot, and one of the 50 Best Latin America restaurants, it is led by Chef Edgar Núñez.
Formerly of Noma in Copenhagen and El Bulli in Barcelona, he combines his knowledge of international cooking techniques with local ingredients.
The prestigious guide Michelin Guide says this: “Chef Edgar Núñez offers a multi-course tasting menu, along with a wide menu featuring appetizers like kampachi tostada with fermented tomatoes or Oaxacan tamal soup.”
4. Restaurant Rosetta, Mexico City
Rosetta is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Mexico City, and yet another entry on this list that’s also on the 50 Best Latin American Restaurants list.
Mexican Chef Elena Reygadas serves up contemporary Mexican food, hand-made pasta dishes and other international fare at this popular Colonia Roma restaurant.
Chef Elena Reygadas is clear: “My number one goal has always been to make our guests happy by offering simple food based on Mexican ingredients. We try to be pure and respect the ingredients as much as possible…” (quote from Vogue Mexico)
5. EM, Mexico City
An intimate restaurant in Mexico City’s hip Roma neighborhood, Chef Lucho Martínez named EM after his daughter, Emilia.
Both the a la carte and the tasting menus overlap well enough, so you can’t go wrong with either since both have refined, bold flavors that come through clearly.
Don’t skip the signature dessert which celebrates the mamey fruit. Layered with flavor, this thin, delicate tart, has light tiramisu, and a refreshing ice cream.
🥂 Pro Tip: Head upstairs to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail at 686 Bar. Chef Lucho Martínez and his wife, Fernanda Torres, also own the bar.
6. Esquina Común, Mexico City
Created by Chefs Ana Dolores and Carlos Pérez-Puelles, this restaurant began in a secret location in Mexico City.
With food that speaks for itself, Esquina Común (literally meaning “Common Corner”) got popular by word of mouth alone.
While the address is no longer a secret (it’s located in the trendy Condesa neighborhood), reservations at Esquina Común are hard to come by — and only available via their Instagram.
Provided you can get one, their cozy terrace offers great options with the catch of the day and colorful presentations with fresh seasonal ingredients.
If you’re a foodie looking for unique things to do in Mexico City, this is your spot.
7. Taquería El Califa de León, Mexico City
This of Michelin star restaurants Mexico City has wouldn’t be complete without an authentic Mexico City taquería (taco shop).
The one chosen by the Michelin Guide Mexico 2024 was Taquería El Califa de León — which has been open since 1968.
They are famous for their taco de gaonera, as well as other taco options like with bistec (steak), chuleta (pork chop), and costilla (ribs).
El Califa de León is located in Colonia San Rafael, just a quick Uber ride from the main tourists spots in Roma, Condesa, and Reforma.
More of the Mexico Michelin Star Restaurants
Mexico City is just one of several culinary destinations in the country that earned a coveted Michelin star (or two).
While it does have the highest concentration of with Michelin stars in the country, here are the other restaurants in Mexico with a Michelin star:
- Levadura de Olla, Oaxaca City
- Los Danzantes, Oaxaca City
- Animalón, Valle de Guadalupe
- Conchas de Piedra, Valle de Guadalupe
- Damiana, Valle de Guadalupe
- Cocina de Autor, Los Cabos
- Cocina de Autor, Riviera Maya
- HA’, Playa del Carmen
- Le Chique, Puerto Morelos
- KOLI Cocina de Origen, Monterrey
- Pangea, Monterrey
Additional Mexico Michelin Awards & Accolades
There Were 97 Restaurants Recognized by the Guide
In all, the Michelin jury recommended 97 restaurants from various Mexican states for the guide — with these standouts:
- Quintonil (CDMX) and Pujol (CDMX) both earned two Michelin stars
- 16 restaurants earned one Michelin star
- 42 restaurants earned Bib Gourmands
- 6 received Green Stars
On a personal note, I’ve been to about 15 of the 97 restaurants, including Arca in Tulum, Contramar and Máximo Bistrot in Mexico City, and Itanoní in Oaxaca City.
Of those, I’ll say Michelin knows what they’re talking about — and foodies will want to add as many of these restaurants to their Mexico itinerary as possible.
Special Awards in the Michelin Guide Mexico 2024
- Young Chef Award: Thalía Barrios García (Levadura de Olla in Oaxaca)
- Service Award: Marcelo Hisaki and Reyna Venegas (Amores in Baja California)
- Best Sommelier Award: Lauren Plascencia (Animalón in Baja California)
- Exceptional Cocktails Award: Felipe Acevedo (Koli in Nuevo León)
Michelin Green Guide Award
This category includes restaurants and initiatives committed to sustainability in the kitchen:
- Acre (San José del Cabo)
- Conchas de Piedra (Ensenada)
- Deckman’s en el Mogor (Valle de Guadalupe)
- Flora’s Field Kitchen (Ánimas Bajas)
- Los Danzantes (Oaxaca)
- Lunario (Valle de Guadalupe)
Frequently Asked Questions About Mexico Michelin Star Restaurants
Are there Michelin star restaurants in Mexico City?
As of May 2024, Mexico City has seven Michelin star restaurants, including Pujol and Quintonil, which both have two Michelin stars each.
Are there Michelin starred restaurants in Mexico?
As of May 2024, Mexico has 18 Michelin star restaurants including Rosetta in Mexico City, Levadura de Olla in Oaxaca City, and Pangea in Monterrey.
How many Michelin stars does Pujol have?
Enrique Olvera’s Pujol restaurant received two Michelin stars at the awards ceremony in May 2024.
Who was the first Michelin star chef in Mexico?
Carlos Gaytán was the first Mexican-born chef ever to earn a Michelin star. He owns Mexique restaurant in Chicago, and is head chef at HA’ restaurant in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Who is the Michelin star chef in Mexico?
There are several Michelin star chefs in Mexico as of May 2024, but perhaps the most famous chef in Mexico is Enrique Olvera, who has two Michelin stars.
How much is the tasting menu at Pujol Mexico City?
The regular tasting menu is $2,565 pesos per person (not including drinks), which is about $155 USD.
For one of the world’s best restaurants, it’s not too steep for a 7-course tasking menu.
How much is the Omakase menu at Pujol?
The Pujol taco omakase is a 10-course taco meal fashioned after a traditional Japanese omakase, that costs $3,332 MXN pesos per person (about $200 USD).
Unlike at most fine dining restaurants, some alcohol is included in the price of the tasting, with Mexican beers, wines, or mezcals available.
Why is Pujol so famous?
Pujol has won numerous awards, and has been called one of the best restaurants in the world.
It is the flagship restaurant of world-famous Mexican chef Enrique Olvera, though he has others like Cosme in NYC and Criollo in Oaxaca City.
How many Michelin stars are in Mexico?
While 97 were recommended for the coveted Michelin guide, just 18 restaurants in Mexico have a Michelin star.
This includes 16 restaurants that earned one star, and two restaurants that earned two stars (Pujol and Quintonil, both in Mexico City).
In addition, 42 restaurants earned a Bib Gourmand award, and six received Michelin Green Stars. No restaurants in Mexico have a three Michelin star rating.
