Mexico
Where to eat really well in Mexico
In Mexico, food is never far away. Whether you are walking through the streets of Mexico City or sitting on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, you will smell freshly made food everywhere. September is a good month to visit: it is quieter than during the peak months and the warmth is still in full swing. In this article, you will read how to eat like a local, from early in the morning until late at night.
21 September 2026 · Wayloha editorial · 3 sources
Breakfast
Mexicans eat breakfast early and heartily, before the September heat really kicks in. In residential neighbourhoods, you will see people sitting quietly at a table for their first meal. The mistake many visitors make is arriving too late. By around midday, the atmosphere of a real breakfast is already gone and many places switch over to lunch dishes.
- Go early, as soon as the day begins, for the best atmosphere.
- Choose a place where many locals are sitting, not just tourists.
In Mexico, the day revolves around food, from the first breakfast to the last taco of the night.Mexico
Coffee breaks
Between two sights, a short coffee stop is a fixed moment of the day. In Mexico City, you can find a place to sit on almost every corner. In September, when it can be warm and oppressive during the day, this is also a good moment to cool down for a bit before continuing on to a museum or ruin.
- Use your coffee break to rest between two visits.
- Don't look for speed: just take your time to sit.
Lunch at the taco stall
You won't find the best lunch in Mexico in a restaurant, but at a taco stall along the street. These stalls are cheaper than restaurants in tourist areas and are often much tastier. A common mistake visitors make is choosing the stall closest to a landmark, instead of the stall where most people are standing.
- Choose the stall with the longest queue of locals, as that is usually the best.
- Skip the special tourist menu and order what the people in front of you are ordering.
Afternoon drinks
When the afternoon sun is at its highest in September, it is time for something cool. On the coast, for example near the clear water of the Laguna Bacalar or on the islands offshore, this is the moment of the day to do nothing for a while. Don't count on an extensive meal here: this is a pause, not a dinner.
- Don't go straight to dinner after your drinks; wait until the evening becomes cooler.
- Seek out the shade in September between midday and the late afternoon.
Dinner
Dinner in Mexico is the moment for a real dish, served with time and attention. In the regions around the Maya ruins in the southeast, you can taste regional cuisine that you won't find elsewhere. Don't just order the dish you know from home: ask for the speciality of the place, as that is usually much more interesting.
- Ask for the regional dish instead of ordering a well-known dish.
- Don't book too early: Mexicans often dine later in the evening.
Late at night
As it gets dark, life in Mexican cities only truly starts to pick up. In Mexico City, you hear mariachi music late at night as the nightlife really begins. In September, it stays pleasantly warm in the evening, ideal for sitting outside for a final bite or drink.
- Don't expect silence early in the evening; it only becomes lively later.
- End your evening in a lively neighbourhood with music.
