Guillaume Guevara

If you’re in Mixcoac and want a torta that’s big enough to count as two meals, El Capricho is your best bet. You’re here for the La Sánchez torta, busting with pierna española, queso oaxaca, and pork milanesa and a messy feast that demands extra napkins. For a lighter take that’s not as overwhelming but just as satisfying, roll with the queso oaxaca torta. Whatever you choose, pairing your sandwich with a slice of their silky yet dense flan horneado is very much not optional. If downstairs is packed (and smoky thanks to the kitchen), ask for a seat on the much quieter and less hazy upstairs.

At Tortas Biarritz, you’ll never go wrong with the Biarritz Torta, their version of a cubana and a certified flavor bomb. For about $6.50, you’ll get stacked pierna, milanesa, ham, gooey cheese, and avocado, elevated by their signature caramelized onions made with tomato paste. This spot that’s been around since 1940 might have a fancy name, but there’s nothing French about it. Biarritz is pure Mexico City torta culture. It’s always busy, yet somehow never overcrowded, and despite the popcorn ceilings, harsh lighting, and lack of music, it still retains an old-school charm.

This diner chain is the master of the stacked torta cubana with pierna horneada, jamón, and melty yellow cheese. It’s not giant, but the ratio is balanced, and cranked up to the next level with the side of tangy, spicy pickled vegetables. We prefer to enjoy it at their energetic, two-story Nápoles location, where waiters wear bow ties and black aprons, and a soundtrack of dishwashers, blenders, and coffee machines plays. Don’t sleep on the sweet wonder that is their chocolate banana milkshake.

Open since 1936 in Centro Histórico (their younger Juárez sibling has been around for a breezy 35 years), this tiny, standing-room-only tortería with tremendous old-school charm is a legend for nailing the four-to-five-bite cold torta. Their carnitas torta layered with guacamole and smoky chipotle salsa is made right in front of you at a curved glass counter by someone who’s clearly been perfecting the move for decades. The bacalao torta, a rare year-round offering that’s salty and garlicky, is also a must, especially if you tack on an extra avocado for a few extra pesos, which you can since a torta here clocks in at only $2–$3. So go ahead and order two.

Antesala Bar is a low-pressure date spot in Roma that feels special.

Lucky is a great rooftop drinking option in Condesa.

This small bakery in Escandón has quietly become the place to stock up on baguettes that are crunchy on the outside and extra tender on the inside, plus great sourdough loaves. The catch is you have to get here early to score them—by the end of the breakfast rush, there’s a good chance the pastry case has already been picked clean. If so, you can still order from a stellar menu that includes a croque madame with enough cheesy richness to make it feel indulgent without being heavy, and the Parisian baguette with strong dijon mustard, emmental, and cornichons that’s simplicity at its finest. This spot has sidewalk seating and a covered terrace, so order a fig leaf kombucha and settle in.

Franz 145 feels a little mysterious and is impossible to get into, which only adds to this spot's cool-kid allure. When you do get in, you’re greeted with an intimate, polished energy that’s more suited for couples than chaotic group nights. There’s a giant tree growing through the glass roof and a massive terrazzo bar that will immediately make you thirsty for something off their menu of mostly classic drinks—think moscow mules, mojitos, and a surprisingly great cosmopolitan. The food is fun, too, from a bikini de champiñones with melted cheddar to the tinned pulpo a la gallega, served with thick, fresh bread, all perfect for sharing.

El Desconocido is the place you bring someone when you want the night to feel more like an experience and not just “drinks somewhere.” This old Roma house that resembles a speakeasy unfolds across three separate rooms. The move is to head to the right once you reach the top of the stairs and into the Sonido salon, where you’ll encounter only eight tables, velour booths, purple carpet, and a tiny wooden bar that all feel like something Wes Anderson would build. Order a Sazerac, sink into your seat, and enjoy the live music, ranging from soul to eclectic experimental, that starts around 9pm almost every day. Tarot readings are also a thing Thursday through Saturday.

Amano has the cookie croissant mastered. It's perfectly laminated, stuffed with cookie dough, and topped with a melted chocolate chip cookie that miraculously doesn’t make the whole thing overly rich. And that's just the start of the incredible sweet treats you’ll find at this no-fuss Polanco bakery near El Turix