Explore the Best Women-Led Restaurants in Mexico City for 2019

by The OpenTable Team

Updated February 03, 2023

At OpenTable, we love to honor women for their culinary entrepreneurship, and that’s why we’re sharing the love just in time for International Women’s Day. Mexico City brims with innovative chefs like Martha Ortiz at Dulce Patria, cuisine-preserving chefs like Lucila Molina de Merlos at Casa Merlos, and food-sharing chefs like Elena Reygadas at Rosetta and Lardo. Other women like Laura Santander, Gabriela López, and Daniela van Beuren show their exceptional talent through inclusive business management. The women at these restaurants inspire others around them to savor flavors and share stories across culture and time. We invite diners to learn their stories and book a table in support of their dedication to all things food!

Maximo

4.7

4.7 (3009)

MXN500 and over

Global, International

Condesa / Roma

About the restaurant

Co-owner Gabriela López is passionate about local food, so when she and husband-chef Eduardo Garcia opened Maximo Bistrot in 2012, they made sure that fresh produce featured prominently on the menu. She also wanted sustainable furnishings and supplies, sourcing out secondhand or Fair Trade finds wherever possible. López works hard to welcome all customers, inviting them to a restaurant that made the list for one of Latin America’s 50 best restaurants in 2018. Maximo Bistrot has simple, chic decor and an international menu offering a taste of French, Spanish, and Mexican dishes.

Top review

AlonsoVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing food, I loved all the dishes I tried. The house wine is also very good.

Carmela y Sal

4.7

4.7 (2216)

MXN500 and over

Mexican

Lomas / Reforma

About the restaurant

A childhood spent in Tabasco surrounded Gabriela Ruiz Lugo with plantains, cacao, tropical fruit, and coconuts. When she opened her first catering restaurant, Gourmet MX, in 2012, she stepped away from hyperlocal cuisine to offer inventive Mexican cuisine on a broad scale. Chef Ruiz Lugo moved to Mexico City in 2017 but couldn’t keep Tabasco off her mind, opening her second restaurant, Carmela y Sal, with Southeastern Mexican cuisine as the focal point. Receiving the award for Best Chef in Mexico 2019 highlighted her immense talent, inspiring her to continue spreading her love of simple yet elegant ingredients.

Top review

Elsa

Dined 1 day ago

Every time we visit Carmela y Sal we have the best time. Food and drinks are delicious, and service is great. Highly recommend!

Casa Merlos

3.9

3.9 (91)

MXN310 to MXN500

Mexican

Poniente

About the restaurant

Lucila Molina de Merlos knew from a young age that cooking was in her blood. She ran a sandwich catering service before delving into her true passion — restaurant ownership — in 1985. Merlos was determined not to create cuisine that customers could find in neighboring restaurants. At her restaurant, she would bring back the past, and she asked her father-in-law to guide her journey in creating authentic, 18th-century, Puebla-focused dishes. Merlos’ culinary efforts earned her the 2016 Silver Molcajete and the Universal Excellence Award from the Government of Puebla. Casa Merlos has an upscale yet intimate atmosphere, where herbs and spices bring out depths of flavor, and casserole stews are a meal by themselves.

Top review

Mariela

Dined on Aug 18, 2024

Very nice experience, we would recommend the venue to accept payment with credit cards, having an only cash policy is outdated.

Casa Virginia Mónica Patiño

4.6

4.6 (870)

MXN500 and over

Comfort Food

Condesa / Roma

About the restaurant

Mother–daughter duo Mónica Patiño and Micaela Miguel have long shared a love of food and intimate conversation, and that’s why they fell in love with the 1920s building that would become Casa Virginia. Chef Patiño, who trained in France at L’École de Cuisine, wanted to bring European and Mexican cuisines together. Along with Micaela, she created Casa Virginia to celebrate rustic French dishes and local Colonia Roma cuisine, welcoming guests into a bright, airy restaurant with high ceilings and a South France ambiance. Patiño is passionate about local and seasonal ingredients, sourcing some of their fresh produce from the rooftop garden.

Top review

Bridget Anne

Dined 1 day ago

Casa Virginia is my new favorite restaurant in Mexico. The calming and stunning interior immediately transports you to the beginning of the last century and makes for an oasis in a loud and bustling city. Every member of staff was welcoming, attentive, and friendly. And the food! The food is mouthwatering and full of flavor, and it speaks to the eyes and well as to the stomach. I enjoyed a range of delights from tender sea bass to the most scrumptious asparagus and beyond, and my only disappointment was that I had no room for dessert. I’ll be sure to visit Casa Virginia at least once on every trip to Mexico City and I would urge you to do the same and enjoy the culinary magic of Mónica Patiño. Written by my co-worker: Katie La Storia, Cambridge University Press, New York, US

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Experience

New Year’s Eve dinner / Maridaje incluido

Experience

New Year’s Eve dinner / Maridaje incluido

Meson del Toreo - Parque Toreo

4.7

4.7 (58)

MXN500 and over

Mexican

Satelite / Naucalpan / Lomas Verdes

About the restaurant

Daniela van Beuren is proud of her family’s history of restaurant ownership, which began when her grandmother, Judith Ortega de van Beuren, first opened Fonda el Refugio back in 1954. Daniela took over ownership before moving on to open her own restaurant, Mesón del Toreo, in 1977. Along with head chef Gabriela Bernal, she creates a menu of traditional Mexican dishes with bold presentation. Guests at Mesón del Toreo can expect authentic flavors as they dine in an elegant, upscale setting.

Top review

SophipalateATVIP

Dined on Apr 16, 2019

Long tradition as one of the best Mexican food kitchens in Mexico, superb service! Capt. Martin is awesome!

La Taberna del León

4.8

4.8 (862)

MXN500 and over

Mexican

Altavista / San Angel / San Jerónimo

About the restaurant

As the first restaurant of Chef Mónica Patiño, La Taberna del León opened in 1978 to unveil a menu of traditional Mexican cuisine with a hint of international flair. In 1994, Patiño moved her restaurant to a 1916-era house, completed with dark wood paneling and European charm. After opening La Taberna del León, Chef Patiño went on to experience a successful culinary career. She later took part in several international gastronomic festivals and authored a cookbook that won the Gourmand World Cookbook award in 2004. The menu at La Taberna del León celebrates Mexican cuisine, but Patiño’s French training makes European dishes likewise plentiful.

Top review

Mauricio

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Food is good but prices are slightly high for conventional dishes

Eloise

4.7

4.7 (1135)

MXN500 and over

Contemporary French

Altavista / San Angel / San Jerónimo

About the restaurant

Partner and certified sommelier Laura Santander is a vibrant part of the Eloise team. She brings superior wine knowledge to the restaurant, which opened in 2014, and is proud of her 2012 award for Best Nose in Mexico. Santander loves sharing her wine recommendations with guests, helping bring their dining experience to a new level. She invites guests to dine on haute French cuisine in a dining room reminiscent of upscale New York City. Eloise Chic Cuisine has earned the Mexico Food and Travel award for Best New Restaurant in 2014 and Restaurant of the Year in 2014, 2015, and 2017.

Top review

Mariana

Dined on Nov 16, 2024

Amazing food, outstanding service. I had a really great time celebrating my wedding anniversary.

Loretta Chic Bistrot

4.7

4.7 (902)

MXN500 and over

Mediterranean

Altavista / San Angel / San Jerónimo

About the restaurant

As the second restaurant Laura Santander opened with her two business partners, Loretta Chic Bistrot — which took shape in 2017 — takes a dramatic swing away from French cuisine to highlight elegant Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare. Traditional Greek, Turkish, and Israeli dishes enter a dining room clad in stark contrasts — white, black, and copper. Santander once again displays her wine knowledge, proving why Wine Spectator bestowed her with the Award of Excellence in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Top review

TatianaVIP

Dined on Oct 6, 2024

Perfect. I loved it. I highly recommend the chicken was delicious.

Lardo

4.6

4.6 (1402)

MXN310 to MXN500

Mediterranean

Condesa / Roma

About the restaurant

A childhood cooking with her grandmother taught Elena Reygadas the basics she needed to delve into a fruitful culinary career. After training at NYC’s International Culinary Center, she moved back to Mexico City with endless enthusiasm for Italian cuisine. Lardo, which opened in 2015 as her second restaurant, puts its focus on sharing plates full of Italian and Mediterranean fare. Reygadas wants to inspire guests to share not only food but conversation as well, and she often stops by to inquire how they liked each dish.

Top review

Matthew

Dined 4 days ago

always outstanding, top to bottom, food and service.

Suntory Del Valle

4.8

4.8 (513)

MXN500 and over

Japanese

Del Valle / Nápoles / Narvarte

About the restaurant

First opened in 1970, Suntory now has several locations around Mexico City that create fine dining experiences rich in traditional Japanese cuisine and culture. As director of the Suntory restaurant group, Yoko Kase stresses the importance of authenticity for every diner who comes to a Suntory location. In addition, she took the lead in introducing Healthy Life, a lighter menu for guests interested in eating a reduced-calorie diet. At Suntory, diners experience an intimate connection with the food, watching chefs prepare their dishes at the table.

Top review

Tom

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

Their food and overall attention is amazing! From the valet parking to the kitchen everything is good. The atmosphere is great and their decoration is lovely When it comes to their food the flavor is amazing and in top of that while being cooked in front of you, you get a very different sense of what you are going to be having for lunch. Definitely a must try!

Shu - Santa Fe

4.8

4.8 (297)

MXN500 and over

Japanese

Santa Fe / Bosques

About the restaurant

A modern take on Japanese cuisine, Shu is an intriguing addition to the Suntory Group’s restaurants in Mexico City. Yoko Kase, as director of the restaurant group, takes a hands-on role in Shu’s operations as well. As at Suntory, she incorporated Healthy Life menu options to help guests make healthy dietary choices. Shu is a bold departure from Suntory’s warm color scheme, with glamorous lounges and dining areas, decorative lighting, and a water feature. Guests experience a fusion menu featuring haute cuisine of an international and Japanese blend.

Top review

Rodolfo

Dined on Dec 6, 2024

Excellent service and food as always delicious. Overall very good experience.

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