To travel through Mexico with food as your compass is to experience a culinary journey shaped by a cuisine deeply rooted in culture, place and an open-hearted generosity.

Like a carefully composed tasting menu, you’ll wind your way from dish to dish, market to market, and taqueria to taqueria. Whether you’re eating street food, seated on a plastic stool by the side of a busy road, or embracing the perfect food and wine pairing, each dish proudly embraces century-old traditions.

This is Mexico as a food journey, moving through regions where cuisine tells the clearest story.

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Botana

Every good meal needs a botana. Something that gets the taste buds working and sets the tone for what is to come. An appetiser to the whole experience.

And, if you’re serious about a culinary journey through Mexico, then Mexico City is the perfect beginning. The capital is a vast, sprawling city that is almost endlessly creative but steeped in history and tradition. It’s a living archive of Mexican cuisine.

Start your day off the Mexican way. Freshly made tortillas, still warm from the pan, banana leaf-wrapped tamales, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with locals in a cafe eating chilaquiles. This isn’t so much an introduction to the food but rather the culture itself.

As night falls, the city comes alive, and dining takes on a whole new meaning. Restaurants like Pujol and Quintonil serve up reinterpretations packed with heritage ingredients like maize, chillies and local herbs. They anchor the meal, as the whole story gently unfolds before you, bite by bite.

Our favourite stays: Las Alcobas, A Luxury Hotel Collection, The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City, or Sofitel Mexico Reforma.

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Segundo Tiempo

For your segundo tiempo, second course, it only makes sense to head to the emotional centre and soul of Mexican cuisine: Oaxaca.

Markets in Oaxaca are alive with colour and conversation, with countless varieties of maize piled high. Between these mountains of colour, vendors with mole recipes still ground by hand and crispy-edged tlayudas on the grill invite you to taste the region itself.

Patience is key here. Unlike Mexico City, you’ll need to work a little harder for those true culinary gems. But it’s worth every mile. We’d recommend joining a market-to-kitchen experience to truly understand the journey from stall to stove to plate.

Away from the dinner table, small bars, cultural spaces and boutique hotels create an inclusive, community-led atmosphere that fosters a genuine connection. Or, venture out to the quiet agave fields and enjoy a mezcal tasting guided by the same people who have been distilling the unique liquor for centuries.

Our favourite stays: Terreste, Kymaia Hotel, or La Valise Mazunte

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Plato Fuerte

For the main course, plato fuerte, there can only be one choice: The Yucatán Peninsula. Mexican cruise shifts here, deeply influenced by Mayan traditions and its proximity to the Caribbean. Flavours become brighter, citrus-forward, and shaped by fire and smoke.

Don’t miss the chance to experience the ceremony and comfort of cochinita pibil, a slow-cooked pork dish that’s wrapped in banana leaves and cooked underground for hours. Balance the richness of the pork with sopa de lima, a Yucatán soup with a bright, bitter, citrussy flavour with hints of cinnamon and clove.

Mérida is the perfect base to explore this rich culinary region. It’s an elegant place, with refined restaurants that honour traditional cooking techniques. It’s also regarded as one of Mexico’s most welcoming cities, drawing you in and through markets and haciendas until the early morning.

Our favourite stays: Chablé Yucatán, Hacienda Xcanatun, Angsana Heritage Collection, or Casa Olivia.

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Postre

It’s no coincidence that postre, or dessert, starts with the same letter as our final stop on this culinary journey. Situated on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta is where indulgence feels light and the city draws you in with an effortless charm.

No taste of Mexico would be complete without a stop in this beachside haven, where seasonal produce and seafood define the experience. Your dining options here range from casual taco stands to refined beachfront restaurants, but each experience is shaped by the sea: grilled octopus, citrus-marinated fish, and fresh shrimp straight from the bay.

If you’re looking for an inclusive night-time experience, Zona Romántica blends excellent dining with vibrant nightlife to create a celebratory atmosphere that makes it easy to move between food and connection. The perfect la última for your time in Mexico.

Our favourite stays: Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, One&Only Mandarina, or Rosewood Mandarina.

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Sabor a México

While this experience has been framed by food, a journey through Mexico is never just about what’s on the plate. It’s about the memorable moments you encounter along the way that truly reward those who travel.

Arrive with an appetite and an openness for flavour, connection, and the Mexican spirit, and you will be rewarded with a treasured memory.

If you would like to explore Mexico through its kitchens, cantinas and communities, simply reach out. We’d love to show you Mexico at the right pace, balancing markets and Michelin stars, street food and la quietud.