Breakfast in Mexico City

Tucked into the central courtyard of the Bazar del Sábado building on Plaza San Jacinto, OXA sits under a towering jacaranda with a menu dedicated to Mexican ingredients and techniques with a modern touch. The tortillas are made by hand with hoja santa folded inside, and signature dishes include mole blanco, chilaquiles topped with generous portions of cecina, and huevos revueltos with slow-roasted lechón served alongside frijoles caldosos and salsa tatemada.The space balances contemporary design with Mexican touches — modern furniture, potted succulents, and a tree-shaded courtyard that keeps things calm even when the surrounding artisan market is buzzing. Open Monday through Saturday from 9:30am to 1am and Sundays until 6pm, OXA is moderately priced for the area and draws a steady mix of international visitors and locals. On weekends, the bazar wraps around the restaurant with craft and jewelry stalls — arrive early for breakfast to beat the crowds, or come for a late dinner when the plaza quiets down.

Garabatos blends traditional European pastry techniques with Mexican flavors, a fusion its founder Abraham Bleier built into a chain of bakery-cafés across the city. The Santa Fe location sits on the fourth level of the Centro Comercial Santa Fe and serves breakfast and brunch all day — think huevos Veracruz, chilaquiles with arrachera, and enchiladas suizas with adjustable spice levels — plus a full bakery counter of cookies, cakes, and pastries baked in-house.The signature garabato cookies live up to the name, and the pastry case includes sugar-free options. Coffee is solid, and you can order off-menu items even during breakfast hours. The terrace has clean sightlines over the mall and doesn't rush you out after you've eaten.

Carolo serves Mediterranean-inspired breakfasts and brunches in Santa Fe, with a focus on fresh bread, pastries, and seasonal ingredients. The menu includes items like goat cheese ravioli, grilled chicken, and tamales in green salsa with verdolagas, plus a standout matcha concha — warmed to order and served at the right moment. The seven-seed bread that accompanies most plates adds real texture to the meal.The space shares an entrance with a furniture gallery, which can be confusing on arrival, and seating is tight, especially on the upper level. Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend brunch. Valet parking is available through the adjacent hotel and validates with a restaurant ticket.

For over a decade, Restaurante Torino has been Santa Fe's go-to Italian restaurant, serving traditional recipes from different regions of Italy along with its own fresh-baked breads and pastries. The goat cheese ravioli, arrabiata, and pizza — with fresh, quality ingredients — are what regulars order, and the squid ink pasta offers something different if you're feeling adventurous. The cannoli and tiramisu are both excellent.The space is calm enough for easy conversation, with seating indoors and on a covered terrace, plus an on-site bakery selling house-made goods, oils, sauces, and preserves to take home. Breakfast and brunch are also strong here — chilaquiles verdes with cecina and fresh orange-papaya juice stand out. Reservations are recommended, especially during lunch hours. Valet parking available.

American comfort food lands in Roma Norte at this casual all-day café serving brisket, ribs, wings, and a solid breakfast menu. The french toast and egg sandwich are standouts, and the brioche gets called out often. Chilaquiles come with an option to add extra brisket — worth the upgrade.The space is laid-back and pet-friendly, with sidewalk seating and access for wheelchairs. Breakfast runs roughly 300 pesos per person with a drink. Open Tuesday through Saturday 9am to 10:30pm, Sunday and Monday 9am to 5pm.

Cerrajería Restaurante occupies the ground floor of Brick Hotel on Orizaba, named after the building's original use as a locksmith shop. The kitchen turns out both breakfast staples and dinner plates with international touches — French toast and avocado toast in the mornings, and pasta dishes like goat cheese ravioli and duck-stuffed pasta at night, plus a Tom Kha Kai soup that regulars order by name.The dining room opens to an outdoor terrace in the heart of Roma Norte, with service that runs Monday through Saturday from 7am. Portions are moderate and prices sit in the mid-range for the neighborhood. The house coffee and fresh pan dulce are breakfast highlights.

Piel Tostada turns classic Mexican comfort food on its head with inventive breakfast and brunch dishes served in a small, stylish Escandón space. The chilaquiles divorciados let you try both salsas at once, the tatemados bring a smoky, charred flavor without any bitterness, and the asoleaditos pack serious heat. Hot cakes rotate by season — recent standouts include grapefruit and strawberries and cream — and the café horchata, served hot, is a local favorite.Expect a wait, especially on weekends: the dining room is small and fills quickly, so arrive early or add your name to the list and grab coffee nearby. The team is fast and friendly, and presentation is thoughtful even for takeout orders. Molletes come encrusted with cheese, and you can add proteins like crispy panko shrimp, chicharrón, or sautéed mushrooms with sesame to most plates.

Serving traditional Mexican cuisine since 1969, El Cardenal occupies a beautiful Porfirian-era building in Centro Histórico, with multiple dining rooms including the stunning Salón Vitrales. The restaurant is known for its exceptional breakfast and brunch service — servers greet tables with hot chocolate or coffee and a basket of fresh-baked pan dulce (try the anise sweet bread or the concha with cream), all before you order.The menu represents regional Mexican dishes from across the country: chilaquiles with cecina, enchiladas mineras, lamb flautas drowned in sauce, and liver with caramelized onions. During chile en nogada season (mid-July through September), El Cardenal's version is distinguished by its subtly sweet nogada sauce. Service is formal and professional, with servers in traditional uniforms and most wearing masks.Weekdays move quickly, but expect a wait on weekends when reservations aren't accepted. Arrive by Uber and walk to Eje Central afterward — parking in Centro Histórico is difficult.

Bistró 83 serves classic Mediterranean fare in a garden setting tucked into the Plaza Grand San Ángel. The menu runs from goat cheese and asparagus omelets with bacon to grilled octopus, beef filet with risotto, and grilled artichokes — plus Mexican breakfast staples like chilaquiles and eggs Benedict. The house bread and seasonal cocktails round out the offering.The terrace and garden seating are the draw, especially for weekend brunch or Sunday afternoons when live guitar and vocals set the tone. Service is attentive, portions are generous, and the setting makes it easy to settle in. Book early for patio tables — they go fast on weekends.

A traditional British pub on Calle Lisboa serving English breakfast all day, Indian-British fusion dishes, and a solid beer selection. The full English breakfast — eggs, English sausage, black pudding, bacon, sweet beans, tomato, mushrooms, and toast — is the go-to order, along with tea served in proper teapots. The menu also includes fish and chips, sandwiches on house-made bread, and a mix of national and imported beers, though the craft beer list runs limited.The space is small and designed to look like a proper English pub, complete with football on the screens and a lively crowd during matches — expect noise and packed tables when games are on. Reservations recommended, especially on weekends and match days. Open Monday through Thursday 1pm–11pm, Friday until 1am, Saturday varies.