More than mere hot chocolate, this cozy café serves ancient Mesoamerican cacao drinks. Try a Quetzalpapalotl recipe spiced with ginger, rosemary and cinnamon. Spice lovers will enjoy the chile-spiced options. The owner is passionate about sharing the traditional beverages known as “precious water.” He sells packets of ready-made powders for you to recreate the drinks at home. Though we prefer the shop, where books, chocolate pots, and cacao-grinding stones add to the historical heft.

Proving there is a growing appetite for artisinal baked goods, baker Rafa Rivera opened the flagship Forte in Roma Norte in 2021, with a focus on small-batch, quality pastries and coffee from Pólvora Coffee Roasters. A self-described “fermentation freak,” Rafa tries to work his sourdough starter into most of his recipes. Here you’ll find something a little less old-school in the form of flaky croissants and decadent cinnamon buns, but our favorite is the rustic rosca de reyes.

A local institution since 1935, El Moro’s stained-glass windows depict idyllic green fields and smog-free skies – an urban getaway. The menu is beautifully simple: freshly fried churros dusted with sugar, cinnamon, or nothing at all, accompanied by a selection of classic dips like chocolate, condensed milk, and cajeta (caramelized goat's milk). The churros themselves are the stars of the show, with a perfectly crispy exterior and a soft, doughy interior.

Chef Elena Reygadas has one of the best bakeries we’ve visited almost anywhere. Though she’s deeply inspired by the Italian kitchen, she cooks passionately with Mexican ingredients. Don’t miss the benchmark pan dulce called a concha or the pan de pulque (leavened with the natural wild yeast from the fermented agave sap). Really, you can’t go wrong here.

La Suiza is Catalan – not Swiss, as its name might indicate – and has been around since 1947. It’s best known for its selection of European breads and baked goods, but we love the seasonal pan de muerto and rosca de reyes because of their luscious nata filling.

In Colonia Juárez you’ll find a refreshing departure from traditional ice cream shops. Owner Jose Luis Cervantes, a master gelato maker, crafts innovative flavor combinations inspired by his travels to Italy and his Mexican heritage. Think hoja santa and lime, or green tea ash with jasmine – unexpected creations that have garnered Jose invitations from Italian gelato masters.

Mercado Medellín (local 507), Corner of Campeche and Medellín, Colonia Roma Located within Mercado Medellín, Helados Palmeiro brings a taste of Cuba to Mexico City. Owner Eugenio Palmeiro, originally from Cuba, was inspired to create his own ice cream parlor after longing for the ultra-creamy treats of his homeland. Don't miss their mantecado (shortbread), made with a cherished family recipe.

Sprawling across 12 blocks, this market houses a 70-year-old association of 154 dulcerías, offering artisanal sweets like alegrias, a blend of amaranth, nuts and honey. Navigating its colorful corridors requires a strategic approach to spot the best deals, especially in the traditional sweets section (our favorite) accessed via a tunnel. In the heart of the tunnel, check out Local 17 Dulcería EMI, a great spot for bargains. Visit during daylight hours for the best experience.

Explore the traditional side of Mexican sweets at a candy store that goes back to 1874. Its interior – walls covered in French mirrors, handmade wooden displays, green floor tiles – hasn’t changed in over 100 years, nor has its recipes. The founding Guizar family wanted to sell candy from all over Mexico under one roof, but over time they began producing their own. Today, every single candy, cookie and cake on display is produced in the company’s own factory.

Founded by Vicente Lozada in 1921 as a small street stand selling homemade helados (ice creams), La Especial de París, on the edge of Colonia San Rafael, is an old-school parlor that still makes all its ice cream by hand and with fresh, all-natural ingredients. It turns out that vanilla, the old standby, continues to be La Especial’s most famous flavor, drawing loyal customers from across the city for generations.

La Chubechada, a tiny storefront with a cutout window, has become Netflix-famous for its over-the-top micheladas. Owner Raúl Raya, who doesn't drink himself, has created a mecca for those who like their drinks big and sweet. While this isn’t a dessert place, the michelada add-ons are endless, featuring candy flavor combinations that Mexican kids learn to love at an early age, like gooey strawberry chamoy and spicy Miguelito chile powder.