The food and drink scene in Mexico City keeps garnering international attention and accolades. Tourists are flocking to the country’s capital to experience its high end restaurants, famous street stalls, and award-winning cocktail bars. Thanks to this influx, hotels are popping up across the area, bringing new dining and drinking options for visitors and locals. Here are two recent openings worth adding to your list.
Andaz Mexico City
The new Andaz Mexico City Condesa, located in an architecturally renowned and recently reimagined complex in the eclectic Condesa neighborhood, is home to three unique dining venues: Derba Matcha Café, Cabuya Rooftop, and Wooftop Beer Garden & Canine Club.
Responsible for overseeing kitchen operations across them is executive chef Davide Preziuso, who boasts 24 years of experience in hotels and fine dining restaurants throughout Italy, Switzerland, France and Mexico. The concepts are different but complement each other perfectly to provide an all-around drinking and dining experience.
Derba Matcha Café
Patrons of this laid back cafe can enjoy a wide variety of better-for-you items, from energizing shots and mushroom coffees in the morning, to light dinner fare like salads, flatbreads, and grilled salmon with roasted veggies. Pair them with beer, wine and non-alcoholic and adaptogen infused cocktails, but make sure to save room for dessert and pastries, some of the best the city has to offer.
Cabuya Rooftop
Lush with greenery, colorful murals, swaying rattan chandeliers, and cozy banquettes, poolside Cabuya Rooftop evokes the look and feel of a seaside resort, juxtaposed with the spectacular city views from 17 stories high. Cabuya serves lunch and dinner daily and a new weekend brunch executed by chef de cuisine Donovan Correa, who aims to showcase classic Mexican preparations with a modern, global approach.
The space lends itself for a leisurely afternoon or lively evening spent with hand-crafted cocktails and coastal inspired fare. Correa sources from local producers and purveyors to showcase artisanal, sustainable products that best reflect what’s in season. For example, for the aguachile – which is more like a chunky ceviche – he marinates the catch of the day with grilled citrus, pineapple juice, lemongrass, red onion and serrano, finishes with chili oil and coriander, and serves with crunchy rustic blue corn tostadas.
For brunch, classics like eggs Benedict with guajillo Hollandaise share the bill with hangover curing antojitos like the sope de lechon, slow roasted pork over a grilled masa base, spread with thick refried beans and topped with minced radish and creole cilantro.
Cocktails here stand out on their own, with a focus on creative, refreshing libations by bar supervisor Rodrigo “Rocco” Luna Ramirez. His Pechuga Tonic, made with Bruxo 12 mezcal, fresh tangerine juice, peach liqueur and tonic was the ideal foil to the aforementioned aguachile on a hot afternoon.
Wooftop Beer Garden & Canine Club
On a sunny terrace on the hotel’s third floor is this lively venue serving treats for both people and their furry companions, complete with a fenced agility course, a game room, a food truck and a full bar.
The menu includes simple patio fare like salads, burgers and tacos, and the bar offers refreshing drinks to wash them down, including local artisanal beer, wine and zero-proof and craft cocktails also created by Luna Ramirez. Standouts include as La Rosa, made with gin, fresh guava, basil syrup and lime, and El Valiente, featuring Bacanora, cucumber, ginger, lime, mint, passion fruit, honey and tonic.
But since this is a canine club after all, doggos take center stage. While pet parents enjoy their drinks, pups can play in the dedicated fenced playground and enjoy drinks and snacks of their own like simple burgers and even a special dog beer. The indoors lounge is also dog-friendly, of course, with TVs to watch the game and a pup boutique with some proceeds going to local rescues.
Hotel San Fernando
On a quiet street in the heart of Condesa, Hotel San Fernando occupies a lovingly restored 1947 Art Deco apartment building. Located across the street from Parque México, the hotel features 19 rooms, an eclectic art program with many pieces sourced locally, a lobby bar and lounge and a rooftop terrace. It’s the latest hotel to open from Austin, Texas-based Bunkhouse group, whose iconic aesthetic and relaxing vibe is evident throughout the building.
While the peaceful rooftop terrace is reserved exclusively for the use of guests, the lobby bar and lounge is open to the public, offering coffee and pastries by day, and a curated menu of snacks, wine and specialty cocktails in the afternoon and evening.
The food menu features unfussy yet tasty fare like a grilled three cheese sandwich with caramelized onions served with house made potato chips, tuna crudo served on a tostada with chipotle mayo, and cheese and charcuterie boards with homemade condiments. Items are designed so guests can take them to their rooms or enjoy on the rooftop terrace if they wish.
The bar program, while short, is well executed and includes house creations like the Rosa Mexicano, made with Siglo Cero pox infused with red cabbage, topped with fresh grapefruit juice, and the Laika, a slightly savory drink featuring vodka, celery, and fresh raspberries. For a nightcap try the Buen Maiz, made with Nixta liqueur, Frangelico and fresh coffee.
Starting today, July 11, the bar is launching happy hour from Tuesday through Thursday, featuring 2 x 1 classic cocktails – mojito Tuesdays, margarita Wednesdays and G&T Thursdays – from 5:00 to 7:00pm.
Source : Forbes
