Let’s be honest here, it’s no secret that I love food! From cooking classes to hunting out the best brunch spots and sampling street food, there is nothing better to me than eating my way through each destination I visit. One thing I was dying to do in Mexico City was a food tour, to really dig down into the delicious corners of the city. There are lots of food tours in Mexico City to choose from, and they all look delicious!
When Sabores Mexico offered me the chance to review their food tour in Mexico City I was thrilled. I was even more excited when they told me they had two tours I could join!
Know Before You Go to Mexico City
Before travelling to Mexico City, make sure you book accommodation and popular attractions ASAP as hotels and tickets can sell out.
🛌 MY FAVOURITE HOTELS IN MEXICO CITY FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS:
$$ Casa Mannach – Excellent location in Condesa with a shared kitchen
$$ NaNa Vida CDMX – Lovely hotel in Roma Norte with a roof terrace
$ Hostel Home: I volunteered here for 3 months and loved it!
⭐ TOP 3 MEXICO CITY ACTIVITIES TO BOOK IN ADVANCE:
1. Mexico City: Teotihuacan, Guadalupe Shrine & Tlatelolco Tour
Find Deals to Book Your Trip
Which is the Best Food Tour in Mexico City?
Sabores Mexico offer two different types of food tour in Mexico City; the Historic Centre Food Tour, and the Colonia Roma Food Tour:
If you are staying in a different part of the city, take this chance to explore Roma on the Colonia Roma Food Tour. It is a beautiful neighbourhood, with tree-lined avenues, boutique shops and stuffed with trendy bars, restaurants and cafes. Hipsters will love it for its cool young feel, and other not so trendy folks will enjoy the leafy streets and easy-going vibe.
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Bear in mind though that this tour includes a Mezcal shot, a craft beer tasting and a coffee tasting, so isn’t as focused on the food as the Historic Centre tour. This tour emphasises the variety of food and drink available in Mexico City, and includes stops to sample food at a French bistro, a traditional Oaxacan-style kebab, tamales and (some amazing) fish tacos.
Want More Mexico Travel Ideas?
Check out these blog posts for your Mexico vacation inspiration, or click here to read all my Mexico blog posts.Classic foodies will love the Historic Centre Food Tour. This was all about the food! My favourite stops included a Oaxacan restaurant for enchiladas in a rich, chocolatey mole sauce; a street food stand for incredible seafood toastadas, a tour of San Juan market and a traditional cantina.
I loved the market stops; we tried different cheeses & cured meats, the brave ones among us sampled chapulines (grasshoppers) and other creepy crawlies, and we had the chance to chat with one of the stall owners as she showcased her fruit, vegetables and wonderful micro-greens and edible flowers! This was also the prettiest dish we ate; a quite wonderful dessert garnished with fresh flowers.
READ MORE: The Best Things to Do in Mexico City
It was a long tour though, and by the end I was very full and very tired! There are perhaps a couple of stops that could have been skipped, but for value for money and a full day experience for me, this tour wins hands down.
What I loved about both Sabores Mexico Food Tours:
At the beginning of each tour we were given a (small) bottle of water, to help wash down our food. I’d also advise bringing a bottle yourself, especially on a hot day!
We were given a detailed map including each location we were going to visit, their contact details & opening hours, as well as discount vouchers for some of them so we could return & enjoy the food in slower time. The booklets also had other recommendations for restaurants in the area and other places of interest, so it can a really useful resource if you’re staying in town for a few days.
The guides were both excellent. They were clearly very knowledgeable about Mexican food, culture & history, and spoke excellent English. At one point in the busy centre a couple of us lost sight of the guide, but she soon realised & came back for us. Trying to herd a bunch of tourists who keep stopping for photographs isn’t easy! Also, on the Roma Tour there had been a mix up with one of the bookings who reserved through their hotel, and this was quickly resolved by our guide who easily accommodated the two extra guests, although this did make the tour group larger than expected it certainly wasn’t a problem for us. We had 10 on our tour, which was manageable, but the maximum is 14 which would be a little crowded I imagine!
At some of the stops we had the chance to chat with the vendors & restaurant owners; if you speak Spanish you’ll have more luck with that, or just ask your guide to translate! These stops such as the edible flowers at Rosse Gourmet in the market on the Historic Centre Tour were my favourite, as these people are experts in their field.
Sabores Mexico offer excellent value compared to other food tours. I also looked into other options for a food tour in Mexico City which were more expensive, and having to pay $85 USD for a street food tour (knowing that street food costs around $1) was too much for me. I liked the mix of food and culture that this tour offered, as we went along the guides paused & shared more information about the history of the area, and of Mexico City in general.
Both tours had enough walking between stops to allow our digestion to get busy! Sometimes the walks between locations seemed too long, but when faced with so many plates of food, I was glad of the rest. In a city as large as Mexico City, Sabores Mexico managed to find good food stops at a reasonable distance from each other.
What I Didn’t Like about the Tours:
In most cases, special dietary requirements were well provided for, but on one stop on the Historic Centre Tour meat-eaters had a wild boar stew & the vegetarian alternative was a salad of mixed leaves, which felt like a rough deal for the veggies. For me, that stop could have been skipped altogether as we had more than enough food throughout the day, and exotic meats (after trying crickets and various creepy crawly bugs) didn’t feel particularly Mexican, although perhaps the point was to show that Mexico has food you wouldn’t expect.
On the Roma Tour, for me the food was a little hit & miss. The first stop was incredible, and in all honesty set the bar very high, so after that nothing was quite as good! I love fish & seafood, and the fish taco at Tres Galeones was incredible. We then moved on to try tamales, which aren’t my favourite food, but are typical in Mexico, and the Oaxacan tlayuda was interesting to try as I’d never had anything like that, but wasn’t that flavourful as other foods & a little dry for my taste.
In creating any food tour, it is difficult to find a balance between cultural importance and food quality – and demonstrating the different dishes that are available, that perhaps European or North American palates aren’t used to. We kept away from the ‘usual’ tacos, but perhaps a sly stop at a street food vendor for an ‘al pastor’ taco wouldn’t have been a bad thing – they are delicious and a typical Mexican food after all.
I thought the mezcal was important to try – as an integral part of the culture – and from the beer drinkers in the group I gather the craft beer was very good, but with my sweet tooth I would have definitely preferred a dessert stop over a coffee. Of course, you can’t please everyone, and I think I’m in the minority for not drinking beer or coffee (or mezcal)! The beer and coffee stops also meant we ate less food than the Historic Centre tour, so I wasn’t as full as I had been for the other tour. Others who were on the tour though said the portions were too large, so I suppose it depends on your appetite!
So really, which is the best food tour in Mexico City?
Overall, I enjoyed both of the tours, but the Historic Centre one was my favourite. Keeping everyone happy is not an easy task, but you can see from Sabores Mexico’s Tripadvisor reviews they are doing a pretty good job! Compared to other food tours, Sabores Mexico offer excellent value for money, and their talented guides offer interesting insights into the culture & history of Mexico. If you are looking for a food tour in Mexico City, Sabores Mexico is definitely a great choice!
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How to Book with Sabores Mexico:
For more information, visit the Sabores Mexico website which has full details about each tour, and the prices.
Currently, it costs $50 USD per person for the Roma Norte Tour (plus taxes) which last for 3.5 hours, visits 7 places and samples 12 tastings
The Historic Centre tour costs $60 USD (plus taxes), lasts for 4.5 hours, visiting 8 places and samples 12 tastings.
Where to Stay in Mexico City
Each area in Mexico City has its own distinct personality and vibe. Most visitors stay in Condesa, Roma, the Historic Centre, Polanco or Zona Rosa. My favourite neighbourhood in Mexico City is around Roma and Condesa. This area is full of cool bars and restaurants, leafy streets and a hip crowd, and is very safe.
You could also choose a hostel or hotel close to the Zocalo in the Centro Historico to get your fill of history, although the area is a bit dodgy at night during the day you are perfectly placed to explore the city.
Polanco is another option where there are more hotels than hostels, or the Zona Rosa which is traditionally a student area with lots of bars, although I’d say that is better if you are travelling in a group.
Hotels in Mexico City
Casa Mannach – Excellent location in the heart of Condesa with a shared kitchen to prepare your own meals and socialise. Choose from apartments or suites, some with balconies. >>>CHECK PRICES & REVIEWS
NaNa Vida CDMX – Lovely hotel in Roma Norte with a roof terrace, spacious rooms and helpful staff. >>>CHECK PRICES & REVIEWS
Kali Centro Mexico City – In the city centre, this beautiful hotel is close to the popular Mercado San Juan gourmet market, La Alameda Park, and many other sites. Enjoy the on-site breakfast and many other amenities offered. >>> BOOK NOW
Hotel Flamencos – Highly rated overall, but especially for its staff, this 4-star hotel is conveniently located near Zocalo Square, Metropolitan Cathedral, and National Palace. Their full suite of amenities make for a comfortable and memorable stay. >>> BOOK NOW
Hostels in Mexico City
Hostel Home
When I travel alone, I often prefer to stay in hostels so I can meet other travellers more easily. I loved Hostel Home in Roma, it really did feel like home.
They have a private room, a female dorm room, and two mixed dorm rooms to choose from, although they do fill up fast so book in advance if you can. There are plenty of bars and restaurants close by, although if you do go out alone at night, I still recommend taking an Uber home. >>>CHECK PRICES & REVIEWS
Other top-rated hostels in Mexico City Include:
Casa Pancha – This modern and chic hostel has a female-only dormitory and 24-hour reception and security making it perfect for solo female travelers. Plus, they offer free breakfast and a free city tour for those stretching their travel budget. >>> BOOK NOW
Hostal Regina Centro Historico Ciudad de Mexico – Offers a number of options for solo female travelers including a female-only dorm room and private rooms with shared or private bathrooms. Plus, an on-site restaurant and entertainment, and amenities helpful to solo female travelers like 24-hour reception and security. >>> BOOK NOW
Apartments & Airbnbs in Mexico City
There are also plenty of options for Airbnb in Mexico City too although I usually prefer to book apartments on Booking.com as they often have better cancellation terms.
Have you taken a food tour in Mexico City? What was your favourite dish? I’d love to hear your thoughts, please leave your comments below.
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Want More Mexico Travel Ideas?
Check out these blog posts for your Mexico vacation inspiration, or click here to read all my Mexico blog posts.Like this post? Pin it to read later:
Thank you to Sabores Mexico for inviting me on their food tours. Both tours I attended were complimentary, but as always all views are my own.
Ooh you should definitely come to Mexico City – there are tons of veggie friendly places, especially if you eat seafood too! That fish taco was unreal 😀
Oh wow I would love to try legit Mexican food someday. I am a vegetarian, but those fish tacos look absolutely incredible. That veggie dish also looks so yummy. I’m hungry now!
Oh my this food looks all so yummy, especially the cured meats and cheese. I wish I knew about this tour when I was in Mexico because one I love Mexcian food and two I would have definitely done the tour.
I have never had the courage to go on a food tour till date. Mainly because I eat only vegetarian and chicken and I don’t eat the red meat. But after looking at your post, it looks interesting and I should book a food tour to explore the local cultural food when I travel.
I am new to food tours, which seems so silly, but I am HOOKED! I want to do them all the time now and Mexico is no exception. It’s cool to hear that the craft beer was good – I’m a bit of a hophead myself – and I actually just had mezcal for the first time, and if I had the choice of mezcal or dessert, I’d be joining you for dessert! 😉 I agree though that the foods can be hit or miss, but that’s part of the experience I guess.
You’re easily becoming one of my favorite bloggers just because your food posts are so in-depth! I am going to Mexico City in October and am in need of as many tips for food as I can get so I’m bookmarking all your CDMX posts now 😉 Are you gonna be in Mexico City still during that time?
What a fantastic way to experience the city! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about both tours. Looks like Sabores Mexico is the one to go and I’ll keep it in mind when I travel to Mexico City!
I love food tours so much. It’s a great way to try new foods and also learn about them. I recently did two in Barcelona. All of the food you tried looks so yummy!
Amazing honest feedback, thank you! As a vegetarian I honestly even appreciate they would include us, though you’re right it might be a bit unfair. Reviews like this may help them better their options though! From the sounds of it I would enjoy the hipster tour, since I am all about that hipster food and culture when traveling!
I love Mexican food! I love the way you have also written about the flip side of the tour. Any food tour is I think most of the times a mixed experience since it could include dishes we don’t like as well. I would love to try both the tours anyways 😉
Thanks for the detailed review – I think the Historic Centre Food Tour is something I would enjoy – I’ve been on a couple of food tours in the past and loved that they integrate a historic tour of the city, because you see the main sights and learn about the heritage of the area at the same time.
Very cool that they give you a detailed map of the places you visit and vouchers to come back later too – haven’t experienced that before, so they’re definitely going above and beyond.
And as you said, you can never please everyone with every single stop, but it sounds like they do a pretty good job 🙂
Thanks!
I fear I would be a waste of space after the mescal. Much as I love that hot taste, I cannot handle the potency. These sound great though. I’m not into cooking experiences but I like the idea of sampling different foods and burning at least some of it off with the walking.