La Opera (Mexico City; tel. 55/5512-8959): This legendary cantina, in the style of an opulent European cafe, has attracted the capital's most illustrious personalities for decades -- Pancho Villa shot a still-visible hole through the roof. In the historic center, it doubles as a restaurant, but it's best as a late-afternoon watering hole.
El Sacromonte (Guadalajara; tel. 33/3825-5447): Various dishes delight the senses with novel tastes and textures and skillful presentation. The menu describes each dish in Spanish couplets.
Adobe Fonda (Tlaquepaque; tel. 33/3657-2792): Delicious Mexican food is served inside one of those gorgeous decorative arts stores that line Tlaquepaque's Calle Independencia. The point of departure for the food is with some uncommon Mexican recipes, which are then given sparkling Italian and Argentine accents.
El Arrayán (Puerto Vallarta; www.elarrayan.com.mx): The colorful atmosphere may be casual, funky, and fun, but the food is seriously and authentically Mexican. The owner, Carmen, has taken her prime beef filet tacos off the menu -- wanting guests to try more traditional Mexican fare -- but you can still ask for them. Or take her cue and order the duck confit, shrimp pozole, or homemade ice creams from indigenous fruits. Don't miss her martini made from raicilla, Mexico's version of moonshine.
Trio (Puerto Vallarta; www.triopv.com): Most locals will tell you Trio is their favorite restaurant in Vallarta, a modest but stylish cafe where chef-owners Bernhard Güth and Ulf Henricksson's undeniable passion for food imbues each of the delicious Mexican and Mediterranean dishes.
Zibu (Acapulco; tel. 744/433-3058): This chic open-air restaurant combines Mexican and Thai architectural and culinary styles to create one of the nation's best dining experiences, including a breathtaking view of the sea.
Los Flamingos (Acapulco; www.hotellosflamingos.com/restaurant.html): If you're in Acapulco on a Thursday, you can enjoy a bowl of pozole, a traditional hominy-and-meat stew. Although you'll find it served at lunchtime throughout town, the best place to savor it is at Los Flamingos' cliff-top restaurant. Order a Coco Loco to accompany it, and you're in for a real treat.
Mariscos Villa Rica Mocambo (Veracruz; tel. 229/922-2113): Nobody else does seafood the way Veracruz does seafood, and this restaurant is the showcase for the region's cuisine.
La Habichuela (Cancún City; tel. 998/884-3158): In Cancún's original downtown, this gourmet seafood restaurant is a romantic retreat off the beaten path. An expert waitstaff attends to the diners seated in the restaurant's lovely garden patio.
La Pigua (Campeche; tel. 981/811-3365): Campeche's regional specialty is seafood, and nowhere else will you find seafood like this. Mexican caviar, coconut-battered shrimp, and chilies stuffed with shark are just a few of the specialties. Thinking about La Pigua's pompano in a fine green herb sauce makes me want to start checking flight schedules.
Don Emiliano (downtown San José del Cabo; www.donemiliano.com.mx): Don Emiliano wields farm-fresh ingredients laced with Mexican tradition and emerges from the kitchen with modern delights such as stepped-up chile en nogada for Día de Independencia and lemon atole with candied pumpkin for Day of the Dead. Apart from holiday menus, don't miss the regular menu, which combines the likes of locally made cheeses with roasted tomatillos and dried hibiscus flowers with beef tenderloin.
Palapa Azul (La Paz; tel. 612/122-1801): Best plucked straight from the ocean, almejas (clams) can be found everywhere from roadside shacks to gourmet restaurants in Baja Sur, and are prepared raw with lime and salsa or baked inside their shells. The best place to enjoy this local treat is Palapa Azul on La Paz's Tecolote beach. The shells are stuffed with cheese, jalapeños, bacon, butter, tomatoes, and a secret ingredient the chef isn't willing to reveal. They are then wrapped in aluminum foil and tossed into an oven. The result is delectable, and so is the view of the Sea of Cortez you will enjoy while eating your meal.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
