The Best Cafes & Restaurants in Coyoacan, Mexico​ City

I hate to start with the obvious but no self-respecting Coyoacan food guide could miss this local institution.

There are no prizes for guessing what Tostadas Coyoacan serve! Tostadas are one of my favourite Mexican dishes: crispy fried corn tortillas, piled high with toppings of your choosing.

At this casual market stand inside Mercado de Coyoacan, there are almost too many flavours to choose from. Chicken and mole was my favourite combo, although shrimp & avocado was also delicious.

You’ll pay 30-40 pesos per tostada making this one of the cheapest and tastiest places to eat in Coyoacan, Mexico City.

Opening times: 11am-6pm.

This second contender for best restaurant in Coyoacan is metres from Tostadas Coyoacan, still within Coyoacan Market. Cafe de Mama is a homey sit-down restaurant known for their hearty breakfasts, fresh juices and coffee.

Be sure to order the chilaquiles. If you don’t know this dish yet, get ready for your life to change for the better. Chilaquiles are tortilla chips topped with salsa roja or verde (red or green), onions, cheese and egg or chicken depending how you order.

Opening times: 8am-6pm daily.

More of the best food in Coyoacan is served at modest cafe, Tortas don Coyotes. They exclusively serve tortas: giant Mexican sandwiches packed with ingredients. I knew I was onto a good thing when this oozy, meaty sandwich arrived at my table.

There are plenty of options at this relaxed Coyoacan restaurant but I would recommend the cochinita pibil, slow-cooked pork originating from the Yucatán Peninsular. For 80 pesos ($4), you can’t beat this for a quick and tasty lunch in Coyoacan.

Address: Felipe Carrillo Puerto 31 Loc 5-6, Coyoacán.

Opening times: 10am-9.45pm.

Ecos del Mundo

This is one of the best restaurants in Coyoacan for veggies and vegans. They serve classic Mexican dishes as well as world cuisine. Tuck into spicy curries, noodle dishes, veggie burgers, couscous, sandwiches and salads.

With organic ingredients, homemade bread and fresh juices, Ecos del Mundo is a Coyoacan hidden gem, nestled away from the central square on Higuera.

Although they serve decent coffee, it’s worth crossing the road for the best coffee shop in Coyoacan (keep reading to find out which!)…

Expect to pay around 120 pesos for a main and drink.

Address: Higuera 25, La Concepción, Coyoacán.

Opening times: 10am-8pm daily.

For a cheap and cheerful place to eat in Coyoacan, look no further than this authentic market. It’s no means as big or busy as Mercado de Coyoacan but I liked the local vibe, as well as the prices. These cheesy quesadillas only set me back 30 pesos.

Mercado de Antojitos doesn’t feel at all touristy which is part of its charm. There are about 15 stalls where you can grab a seat and tuck into some of the tastiest food in Coyoacan.

Address: Antojitos Mexicanos Market, Higuera 10, La Concepción, Coyoacán.

Another fantastic restaurant in Coyoacan is Meson Antigua, a 20-minute walk from the centre beside Plaza de la Conchita. This colourful restaurant is decorated with papel picado (paper flags) and beautiful wall murals.

I was introduced to this Coyoacan restaurant by my Airbnb host, a local with 30 years experience in the area.

Meson Antigua serve classic Mexican classics like tortilla soup, tacos and chilaquiles as well as fish, meat and veggie dishes. They also serve coffee and cake if you choose to drop by for an afternoon snack.

Prices are affordable with main dishes starting from 80 pesos.

Address: Jardín Sta Catarina 6, Santa Catarina, Coyoacán.

Opening times: 8am-11pm daily.

Dessert restaurants in Coyoacan

It’s time to throw some sugar into my Coyoacan food guide. These are my top picks for dessert in Coyoacan…

Don’t leave Coyoacan without eating ice cream beside Plaza Hidalgo. This famous deli takes up four shopfronts, serving every ice cream flavour you could possibly dream up!

In case you’re wondering about the difference between paletas and helados…

Types of Mexican ice cream:

• Helado – ice cream usually made with diary
• Nieve – a frozen ice treat without dairy, more like gelato
• Paleta – popsicles made with frozen fruit.

Eat your helado or paleta while wandering Plaza Hidalgo’s gardens and popping into Mercado Artesanal Mexicano (Mexican Artisan Market) and shopping for souvenirs.

Address: Ignacio Allende 15, Del Carmen, Coyoacán.

Street food in Coyoacan

If you’re in rush or on a budget, ditch the restaurants and cafes in Coyoacan! One of the most authentic ways to eat in Coyoacan is on the streets.

Around Plaza Hidalgo and running along the street leading to the Frida Kahlo Museum are plenty of food stands. Look out for:

• Spicy potato chips – I can’t get enough of these potato chips drizzled in Valentina (Mexican hot sauce).
• Elotes and esquites – elotes are grilled corn on the cob, and esquites are corn kernels served in a cup with cheese, mayo and chili.
• Tacos – dur!

Best cafes and coffee shops in Coyoacan

As well as fantastic restaurants in Coyoacan, these are also some lovely Coyoacan cafes and coffee shops. A few are local institutions with decades of history while others are third wave (aka hipster) coffee shops.

Drink the best coffee in Coyoacan at…

This is the cafe across the road from Eco del Mundo that I mentioned earlier. Cafe Avellaneda always gets mentioned as one of the top Coyoacan coffee shops and I can’t argue.

Not only is the coffee excellent but so is their conscience: they donate money from every sale to rural coffee farmers and allow them to sell beans at the price they think they deserve.

This Coyoacan cafe is tiny with just a few seats. Visit early or get your coffee to go.

Address: Higuera 40-A, La Concepción, Coyoacán.

Opening times: 9am-9pm daily.