The Best Bars in Roma, Mexico City

Another up-and-coming hot-spot in the saturated Roma neighborhood is La Naciónal. While the name might make you think of a traditional cantina aesthetic, La Naciónal is anything but. Sip your mezcal cocktails under the glow of Edison bulbs or settle down with a local microbrew. Beware that a hot-spot in Roma comes with an upscale price range to match, though. This is only one place to scope out if you’re feeling flush and want access to a wide selection of mezcals, as well as bragging rights for having stopped by one of Roma’s trendiest bars.

Having recently expanded to include a Polanco location, Roma is the birthplace of Licorería Limantour, the welcoming and inventive cocktail bar that’s at the heart of all the cultural action that this colonia has to offer – and one of the top 50 bars in Latin America. Popular not just with the locals, but also with a foreign crowd, there’s always a fantastic mix of clientele at Limantour. It was in fact one of the first in the wave of cocktail bars opening in the city, and its legendary reputation only continues to grow. Spread across multiple levels, this hip art deco house is the place to be.

High ceilings, brick walls and leafy plants make up the interior décor of exclusive Gin Gin in Colonia Roma. If you’re lucky enough to be let in – reservations are highly recommended – the first thing you’ll notice is the excellent, but mainly American, music and relatively diverse crowd. Of course, given the name, gin is one of their specialties and they have some fabulous gin cocktails on offer, alongside the standard mixology concoctions. This is the place to visit if you know what you like and have already paid some of the smaller, quirkier Roma offerings a visit.

Situated in Mercado Roma, Biergarten has a buzzing, vibrant atmosphere and an outstanding selection of – you guessed it – craft brews. Mexico tends to be dominated by the traditional branded beers, but craft brewing and artisan beers are on the rise, particularly in quirky, hipster spots like Roma. Claim your seat at the communal, long wooden tables of this rooftop bar with fairy lights strung overhead and try something a little different. Weekdays are your best bet if you’re going in a large group, as it tends to be a little quieter.

Elusive Traspatio is a word-of-mouth phenomenon in Roma, with a limited social media presence. You might feel a bit like you’re disappearing into a secret and magical world when you enter this casual and chilled-out little spot, just on the corner of Colima. An uninspiring grey steel door leads you through to the patio replete with a plethora of chairs and wooden tables, improvised lighting and the whiff of barbecued snacks. A truly unique and laid-back experience, it must be seen to be believed.

The final entry is both a bar and beer store specializing in selling various types of national and imported beer. An initiative started by the Minerva Brewing company in 2009, El Depósito has three branches in Mexico City, and three branches in Guadalajara, and has the philosophy that the consumer ought to have more choice in the beer that they drink, rather than being limited to the top brands. From sweet stouts to British bitters and Belgian ales, there is a wide selection at El Depósito.