San Ángel Inn

"If The Godfather had a Mexican sequel, this hacienda-like San Ángel institution would be the setting for the wedding scene. It’s in a former monastery with a stunning, kid-friendly courtyard in the center that’s full of fountains and the greenest grass you’ve ever seen. Gobble down steak tacos, puff on a cigar, and sip on a margarita that’s shaken right at your table. The food is primarily traditional Mexican plates, like decadent chicharrón in green tomato sauce and Veracruz-style grilled sea bass you’ll remember for weeks. This spot is popular and slightly touristy, so make sure to snag a reservation before you go and plan on an extra-long lunch." - guillaume guevara

"Fancy margaritas in a fancy garden in a fancy neighborhood are San Ángel Inn’s formula for success. So it’s no surprise that it’s the stage for everything from ruby jubilees to big Sunday family meals. The restaurant fits around 600 people and features beautiful green areas with colorful flowers, and a bar with caoba chairs that could be the setting for a Bond movie, all set against the backdrop of a colonial hacienda. The outstanding margaritas are served in martini glasses with a salt rim and placed stylishly in a silver bucket filled with shaved ice. Since the menu of mainly traditional Mexican food with an elegant twist has hits and misses, it’s best to keep it simple with the duck or ribeye tacos. But stopping in just for a drink and an aperitif is a fantastic plan, too." - mariana camacho

"Admittedly there are plenty of other places to experience great Mexican food in the city, but few are as legendary and stunning as the San Angel Inn. Located in a colonial ex-monastery, with a beautifully manicured courtyard, cozy interiors, and an ever-present trio who make the dining room rounds, it's pretty transporting. In fact, before the city sprawled in the '50s and '60s, it was a weekend countryside retreat, hence the name."

"After you visit the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo house, walk next door to San Angel Inn. If the wedding scene in The Godfather actually took place in Mexico City, it would have been filmed here. Located inside a former monastery with a beautiful courtyard, this is the kind of legendary place that makes you feel like you should be simultaneously eating steak tacos, smoking a cigar, and drinking a margarita (that was shaken at your table). Yes, it can be a bit touristy, but is definitely worth a trip anyway." - Natalie Cohen