FOOD TOUR PRIVATE TOURS

Your English-speaking local expert will be waiting for you at your hotel or Airbnb lobby in Mexico City with a great smile at 11:00 a.m. We can change the pickup time if you wish, but we recommend it — it’s the perfect time for a Mexican lunch.

We do our best to avoid traffic, and since this is your private tour, we won’t make any additional stops unless you want to. On the way to the first stop, your local expert shares stories about Mexico City, Mexican traditions and local life, plus a broad look at the cuisines that make up Mexican food culture. The van carries plenty of cold water for you.

Mexican cuisine has been recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010, thanks to the variety found across the country. Our first stop is to taste taco al pastor — pork marinated in achiote, a mix of chilies, orange juice and vinegar — an emblematic dish of Mexico City.

You’ll try it at one of the most famous taquerias, El Huequito, which started in 1950 in a tiny spot and is now a local institution. You’ll have the “taco especial,” a generous serving of this meat with two different spicy sauces.

After the famous taco al pastor, the experience continues at San Juan Market — popular with chefs and locals alike for its exotic ingredients section. If there’s a rare ingredient you’d like to cook with, this is the place.

Here you’ll see what a Mexican market is really like, and enjoy a mezcal tasting of two to three different types of agave. Your guide shows you the correct way to drink mezcal, along with some history of the spirit. Alongside it, you’ll get a Mexican snack that pairs well: crickets — or, if you’re feeling adventurous, a scorpion.

From the market, we head to Plaza Garibaldi — a popular spot for a fun night out with mariachis. The plaza took its current name in the 1920s, in honor of a general from Francisco I. Madero’s government. In 1925, Salón Tenampa restaurant started the tradition of live mariachi with two bands, Cocula and Reyes.

People still gather here to sing along with the mariachi, have a few drinks and eat traditional snacks — tlacoyos, pambazos, sopes, guacamole and gorditas. You’ll have a tasting of two tequilas and more Mexican snacks, with live mariachi songs at your table.

We close the tour with dessert: churros. The origin of this treat is debated, with several versions of its story — but we’re here for the food, and it’s a beloved tradition in the city. We’ll visit El Moro, one of the oldest churro shops, which opened its doors in the 1930s in the Historic Center. You can choose to visit the original store or one of the newer branches in Polanco or Condesa. Don’t miss fresh churros with sugar and cinnamon alongside hot chocolate or a milkshake.

Everything is done at your pace and you can stay as long as you want. Your guide, fluent in English, gives you an extensive narrative about the food and culture and loves answering questions.

When you’re ready, we head back to your hotel or Airbnb — traffic into the city can add about an hour to the ride. The tour is planned to be back around 5:00 p.m., but since everything runs at your pace, the exact return time is up to you. You’re free to head back early or skip any activity you don’t want to do.