Our Picks
PETRA
Upstairs, after dark
Petra sits above Sarde, hidden inside a restored house in Roma. The moment you walk upstairs, the city seems to fade away. Dim lighting, candles, vinyl, and a beautifully designed bar create a space that feels intimate without trying too hard.
This isn't a place to rush through a drink. It's where conversations naturally get longer.
What to order
If it's your first visit, start with the Walzer.
Their take on a martini combines gin, cucumber, kaffir lime, and roasted kombu for something clean, aromatic, and surprisingly light. If you're looking for something more adventurous, try the Dos Punto Cero or the Petra Negroni, both built around seasonal ingredients and thoughtful technique.
If you can, grab a seat at the bar and watch the team at work.
Settle in
There's a rhythm to Petra.
Music fills the room without taking over, cocktails arrive with quiet precision, and every detail, from the glassware to the lighting, feels intentional. It's the kind of place where one drink easily becomes two.
Stay for another
The first cocktail introduces you to Petra.
The second is usually the reason you stay. By then, the music has settled in, the room feels familiar, and leaving no longer seems like the best idea.
Address: Córdoba 27, Mexico City, Mexico
Photo by: @petra.hifi
LA VISTA
Hidden in plain sight
From the street, you could easily walk past it.
Inside, La Vista feels like stepping into a different atmosphere. Low lighting, handcrafted speakers, vinyl records spinning all night, and a space where every detail, from the music to the glassware, has been carefully considered.
What to drink
If you're exploring the menu, start with one of their signatures.
The Papaya Highball is light, balanced, and unlike anything you'll find at a typical cocktail bar. If you prefer agave spirits, the Leaves combines bright citrus notes with subtle herbal flavors, while the Green Almond offers a softer, mezcal-forward profile.
The menu changes with the seasons, so don't be afraid to ask what's new.
Behind the bar
La Vista treats cocktails the way many restaurants treat food.
Ingredients come from local producers, seasonal produce shapes the menu, and every part of the fruit is thoughtfully reused to reduce waste. The result is a cocktail program that feels creative without being complicated.
A place that changes the mood
Some bars are about the crowd.
La Vista is about the atmosphere. The music, the lighting, and the cocktails all work together to create the kind of evening that unfolds naturally, whether you're meeting friends, starting the night, or simply enjoying one great drink before heading home.
Address: Puebla 90, Mexico City, Mexico 06700
Photo by: @lavista.bar
MIMI DISCO
Start upstairs
Mimi doesn't feel like a night club the moment you arrive.
Hidden on the eighth floor overlooking Paseo de la Reforma, it begins as an intimate listening bar where vinyl records, warm lighting, and carefully crafted cocktails set the tone for the evening. As the night goes on, the room slowly transforms into one of the city's most exciting dance floors.
What to drink
Start with one of their signature cocktails and take your time.
The menu changes regularly, but the drinks follow the same philosophy as the music: thoughtful, balanced, and made to be enjoyed slowly before the energy shifts later in the night.
If the weather allows, take your drink to the terrace and enjoy one of the closest views of the Ángel de la Independencia.
Let the music lead
Music is the reason people come here.
Early in the evening, DJs play carefully selected vinyl sets that move between jazz, disco, and global rhythms. Later, the lights dim, the disco ball comes alive, and the soundtrack shifts toward house and electronic music.
The transition happens naturally, almost without you noticing.
One night, two experiences
Few places in Mexico City change as much over the course of an evening.
You can come for a quiet cocktail, stay for another record, and suddenly find yourself dancing a few hours later. Mimi isn't just somewhere to have a drink, it's somewhere to experience how the city comes alive after dark.
Address:
Reforma 333, 8th floor.
Photo by: @mimi.disco
SHH
Listen first
Shhh isn't the kind of place you stumble into by accident.
Hidden behind an unassuming entrance, it was inspired by Japan's listening bars, spaces created for one simple purpose: giving music your full attention. Inside, soft lighting, warm wood, and an exceptional sound system make every record feel intentional.
What to order
Start with one of their classic cocktails.
The drinks are refined without being overcomplicated, making them the perfect companion while the vinyl sets unfold. If you can, reserve a seat in the Listening Room for the full experience.
A different way to spend the night
Shhh is divided into two distinct spaces.
The front bar is relaxed and social, while the Listening Room invites you to lower your voice and let the music take over. Here, conversation becomes secondary, and every detail is designed around the sound.
For people who love music
Shhh reminds you that a great night out doesn't always begin on the dance floor.
Sometimes, it starts with a perfectly chosen record, a well-made cocktail, and a room that knows exactly when to stay quiet.
Address: CONDESA: Ámsterdam 62. / ROMA. Álvaro Obregón 273
Photo by: @shhh99r
TOKIO
The volume is just right
Tokyo Music Bar isn't a place that asks for your attention. It earns it.
Hidden above the streets of Cuauhtémoc, the room feels intimate without trying to impress. Soft lighting, vinyl records, and one of the finest analog sound systems in the city create an atmosphere where the music quietly becomes the center of the night.
What to drink
A well-made classic is always a good place to start.
The cocktail menu is understated and precise, with an excellent selection of Japanese whisky, sake, and natural wines. Nothing feels excessive, and that's exactly the point.
Listen to the room
Unlike most bars, music here isn't background noise.
Every record is chosen intentionally, and every transition shapes the mood of the evening. Conversations naturally become quieter, not because anyone asks you to, but because the room invites you to listen.
One record leads to another
Tokyo Music Bar has a way of making time disappear.
You arrive for a drink, stay for the music, and leave wondering where the last few hours went.
Address: Rio Panuco 132, Planta Alta, 1A, Mexico City, 06500
Photo by: @tokyomusicbar
CAFÉ DE NADIE
From coffee to cocktails
Café de Nadie changes with the day.
In the morning, it's a quiet café. By evening, the lights dim, vinyl records begin to play, and the space transforms into one of Mexico City's most celebrated listening bars. The shift feels effortless, almost as if the room had been waiting for the night all along.
What to order
The cocktail list is seasonal, balanced, and thoughtfully crafted.
If you're not sure where to begin, ask the bartender what's drinking well that evening. Whatever ends up in your glass, the idea is simple: let the music lead and the cocktails follow.
Find a seat near the speakers
Every record played here is selected with intention.
The sound system is one of the reasons people return, filling the room with everything from jazz and soul to rare international records. You don't need to recognize every song to appreciate the experience.
Music comes first
Café de Nadie isn't about being loud or flashy.
It's about discovering new music, sharing a well-made drink, and spending an evening in a place where every detail, from the playlist to the lighting, feels carefully considered.
Address: Chihuahua 135, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700, CDMX
Photo by: @cafe.denadie
FORM + MATTER
Expect something different
FO+MA doesn't follow the usual rules of a cocktail bar.
Behind its minimalist dining room, an open laboratory becomes part of the experience, where every drink begins long before it reaches the glass. The result feels modern, thoughtful, and surprisingly approachable.
Trust the menu
This isn't the place to order your usual drink.
The menu is built around original creations that combine unexpected ingredients with precise techniques, yet every cocktail remains balanced and easy to enjoy. If you're unsure where to start, let the team guide you.
And don't skip the bao buns.
Where cocktails become conversation
Every drink arrives with a small surprise.
Sometimes it's an unexpected ingredient, sometimes it's the presentation, and sometimes it's simply a flavor you've never tasted before. Half the fun is trying to figure out how they did it.
A different kind of cocktail bar
FO+MA proves that innovation doesn't have to feel intimidating.
It's creative without being complicated, refined without being formal, and the kind of place that reminds you how much fun cocktails can be when someone isn't afraid to experiment.
Address: San Luis Potosí 37, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc,
CDMX, 06700
Photo by: @fomabar.mx