The celebrated chef behind Rosetta shares her favourite places to eat, explore and find inspiration in Mexico City.
Mexico City has a way of revealing itself slowly. Beyond its celebrated restaurants and bustling neighbourhoods lies a city of extraordinary cultural depth, where centuries of history sit alongside a thriving contemporary creative scene. Few people understand that relationship quite like Elena Reygadas.
The chef behind Rosetta and Panadería Rosetta, Reygadas has become one of the defining voices in Mexico City's culinary landscape. Her cooking is thoughtful and deeply connected to the ingredients, traditions and people of Mexico, while her restaurants have become destinations in their own right.
For our Local List, we invited Elena to share the places that make Mexico City special to her. Her selections take us from traditional sweet shops and neighbourhood cantinas to remarkable public art, independent galleries and an unexpected journey above the city.
It's a wonderfully personal collection, revealing a Mexico City shaped by history, creativity and the simple pleasure of knowing where to find a good meal.
Elena Reygadas
Chef and Founder of Rosetta and Panadería Rosetta
Elena Reygadas is one of Mexico's most celebrated chefs and the creative force behind Mexico City's acclaimed Rosetta restaurant and Panadería Rosetta. Her cooking draws on Mexican ingredients, Italian influences and a deep respect for seasonality.
"I would start at the Museo Nacional de Antropología. It doesn’t explain the city, but it shows how many cultures sit underneath it."
Museo Nacional de Antropología
History & Culture · Chapultepec
If you're visiting Mexico City for the first time, Elena suggests starting at the Museo Nacional de Antropología, a remarkable institution whose architecture and collections offer a fascinating introduction to the many layers of Mexican identity.
"I love to scoot to Fugaz every time I can. Giuseppe’s cuisine is exquisite and simple at the same time."
Fugaz
Eat · Juárez
There's something revealing about where a chef chooses to eat on their day off. Fugaz is one of Elena's personal favourites, celebrated here for the simplicity and precision of Giuseppe's cooking.
Cantina del Bosque
Drink · San Miguel Chapultepec
"Cantina del Bosque, a classic cantina in San Miguel Chapultepec."
When we asked Elena where she likes to go for a drink, she pointed us towards Cantina del Bosque in San Miguel Chapultepec. It's a classic Mexico City cantina, a neighbourhood institution where people come together over drinks, food and conversation. With so many new cocktail bars opening across the city, it's nice to be reminded of the old favourites that have long been part of Mexico City's social life.
"Dulcería de Celaya, which has been making cocadas, candied fruit and traditional Mexican sweets in the Centro Histórico since 1874."
Dulcería de Celaya
Shop · Centro Histórico
A wonderfully old-fashioned sweet shop in Mexico City's historic centre, Dulcería de Celaya preserves a tradition of Mexican confectionery that stretches back generations. Its shelves are filled with colourful handmade sweets, from coconut cocadas to candied fruits, offering a delicious glimpse into the city's culinary heritage.
Mercado Abelardo L. Rodríguez
Market & Art · Centro Histórico
"Mercado Abelardo L. Rodríguez is a remarkable market. It holds Isamu Noguchi’s History of Mexico, a sculptural frieze in coloured cement and brick, along with 1,450 square metres of murals by other artists."
When we asked Elena about her favourite markets and food shops, she pointed us towards somewhere with an unexpected artistic side. Built in the 1930s, Mercado Abelardo L. Rodríguez combines the bustle of a traditional Mexico City market with an extraordinary collection of murals created during the country's post-revolutionary period. Among its most fascinating works is Isamu Noguchi's History of Mexico, a sculptural relief made from coloured cement and brick. It's the kind of place where you might arrive to browse the market stalls and end up spending just as much time admiring the walls.
"El Cardenal, for a concha with nata. The dairy comes from their own farm, and the place has kept its character for a long time."
El Cardenal
Breakfast · Centro Histórico
For a proper Mexico City breakfast, Elena keeps things traditional. Few breakfasts feel quite as rooted in Mexico City as a traditional concha accompanied by rich nata. El Cardenal is a longstanding institution, loved for its commitment to Mexican culinary traditions and the reassuring pleasure of a breakfast that has stood the test of time.
Museo Vivo del Muralismo
Art & Architecture · Centro Histórico
For somewhere that captures Mexico City's remarkable artistic history, Elena recommends the Museo Vivo del Muralismo. Housed in the former Secretaría de Educación Pública building, the museum brings together some of the country's most significant mural works, including those commissioned in the 1920s by education minister José Vasconcelos. Diego Rivera's monumental paintings are a major draw, but what's particularly interesting is the attention given to women muralists whose contributions have often been overlooked. The building itself, with its beautiful courtyards and walls covered in art, is reason enough to visit.
"The Museo Vivo del Muralismo occupies the old Secretaría de Educación Pública building. The murals Vasconcelos commissioned in the 1920s, by Diego Rivera, Roberto Montenegro and others, can be seen there alongside the work of women muralists who were left out of that story for a long time."
"On weekends I like brunch at Cana. Chef Fabiola Escobosa’s cooking is contemporary and personal, and the ingredients are excellent."
Cana
Brunch · Juárez
For a more contemporary take on weekend brunch, Elena heads to Cana. Chef Fabiola Escobosa's ingredient-led cooking brings a personal sensibility to the table, making this a particularly appealing recommendation from one chef to another.
Fonart at Los Pinos
Craft & Design · Chapultepec
"For crafts from every region of Mexico, I go to Fonart in Los Pinos."
When it comes to discovering traditional Mexican crafts, Elena heads to Fonart at Los Pinos. Bringing together work by artisans from across the country, it's a wonderful introduction to the diversity of Mexico's creative traditions. From beautifully woven textiles and handmade ceramics to intricate decorative objects, the collection celebrates the skills and techniques passed down through generations. It's also a lovely place to find something special to take home, while supporting the artisans who keep these traditions alive.
"Kurimanzutto, for the exhibitions and for its bookshop."
Kurimanzutto
Contemporary Art · San Miguel Chapultepec
Away from the kitchen, contemporary art is another source of inspiration. One of Mexico City's most influential contemporary art galleries, Kurimanzutto has played an important role in the city's international creative reputation. Its exhibitions bring together established and emerging artistic voices, while its bookshop offers another reason to linger.
