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El Mayor is located upstairs from a bookstore - you walk into the shop and take the elevator up. The restaurant is open air with a terrace section that overlooks the archaeological site. Despite being based in a central tourist area offering a view, the menu pricing was actually pretty reasonable. Now the food....well, it wasn't good, at all. I'm not super picky and hate to waste food, but it became a chore to finish my entree. I already got a bad vibe just trying the bread rolls and sangria before our main courses arrived. The sangria was clear on bottom and red on top (all show and no go) and tasted like a watery juice. The bread was no better than your grocery store rolls. I was glad I passed on the concha buns when the waiter offered it when we first sat down. Ordered the huevos divorciados. The plate was drowning in a meh tasting sauce. There were two eggs, perhaps a tortilla or two, and a small smidge of beans and two chips. Presentation was lacking and the taste was 3/10. It was initially edible, then got a little harder to eat as the breakfast mission progressed. The amount of sauce was a turnoff and everything tasted touristy, if that's a thing. It's like the restaurant knows tourists will come just once so they don't need to put effort into the taste or quality of their food. The view was pleasant, but not spectacular. Depending on where you're seated, a good chunk of the view feels like you're staring into a mini concrete jungle (ie archeological site and concrete building behind it). On the far right side is the better view of the historical buildings. Overall, if you just want a place to relax and take in some views, this spot is alright. Just know the food is mediocre at best, taste & quality are lacking. If you want to save some money, right next door is a more casual cafe (go right when exiting the elevator) that has coffee, alcohol, and some bites to eat. It may save you some money and you get almost the same views.
El Mayor was a good first taste of Mexico City. The brunch menu ends at Noon and is worth a try. Every food item we tried was flavorful and well-portioned. The omelet was nice and light, although I would have had a bit more heft to it (see photo). The chilaquiles were tasty, but the fried egg was a little rubbery around the edges (although the whites were well cooked, which is the trade-off sometimes). The huevos rancheros (or whatever was closest to it on the menu) were not too spicy with a flavorful sauce. The drinks looked really good, although I couldn't translate the juices offered fast enough so I missed out. And the service was well above average (both from hosts and servers). But, honestly, you don't come here for the food. You come for the view. The restaurant overlooks the archeological site of the Museo del Templo Mayor and the terrace is elegant and airy. As someone noted in another review, it's pleasant (not spectacular). I'd highly recommend El Mayor for someone looking for an easy and reliable brunch with a knowledgeable and courteous staff.
El Mayor is a great spot for the views, which is what gravitated us towards this spot while in the Zocalo area. The balcony area overlooks the historical area of Mexico City, which is reason enough to check out El Mayor. We visited on a Friday afternoon before sunset, and we were able to snag the last table closest to the balcony and open-air windows. Soon after, we saw that others were looking for a table, as this place was pretty busy with patrons. The menu features a lot of different items, with a full bar available. My partner and I shared the chips and guac and we had cocktails. The cocktails were solid, as well as the chips and guac. We enjoyed our time here while watching the sunset loom over the city square and buildings. Because it's an open air spot, it started getting chilly in the evening and we didn't see any heat lamps, so dress accordingly. Prices on the menu include taxes. I recommend visiting El Mayor if you're looking for a view while in Centro Historico.
Very cool place with a great view of the Temple Mayor. It is definitely a nice getaway from what can be a chaotic day visiting the historic center of Mexico City. The food was delicious, and the staff was both attentive and accommodating in finding gluten free options. One way to get there is through an elevator in the bookstore.
Stopped in here after a visit to the Templo Major. The view is excellent which made me wonder how good the food would be since this was close to a highly toured area. My wondering stopped as the chips and guacamole arrived. Delicious and we were able to try a few chicharones along with them. My kids had a few sides along with the Mexican pasta Alfredo. All delicious my wife a salad while I had a steak dish that was cooked perfectly and served with the delicious sauce. This is our last meal in Mexico and I couldn't have been more happy with it. I finished it all off with a coconut flan, it blew my mind.
The view is amazing, however, the food is mediocre. We started with appetizers. We ordered the pulpo tacos (these were actually good but the tortillas were so thin they kept breaking apart). We ordered a guacamole which was nicely presented but lacked lemon, salt and some spice. We ordered a ceviche tostada which was nicely plated/presented but it too lacked flavor. It could have used some lemon and thinly sliced chile habanero or manzano. Being that the dishes lacked flavor, there were no salt and pepper dispensers on the tables for clients to help themselves. It was super busy when we went Sunday around 2:30 pm and service was not the greatest. I waited for about five minutes for the host to come back to the reception area and then I asked him to put my name down for 2 people, he wrote down the number "2" on his list but failed to ask my name. I asked him if he needed my name and he said yes, we will call you when your table is ready but did not take my name down and proceeded to call and seat about 3 other parties on the list. I waited for him to return to let him know he did not ask for my name. Drinks. My husband ordered a mezcal drink which was watered down, so we didn't order any more cocktails. I ordered a naranjada mineral and later a mango/basil drink and both were watered down and I think the mango was spoiled. Rarely were we checked-in with but to their credit when we flagged them down, they responded in a relatively timely manner. Take away...: Recommend for food? The food itself would not bring me back Recommend for the view? Absolutely Recommend for the cocktails? No Come and enjoy the view, use the bar/cafe order either and some appetizers from there
A decent restaurant for a nice view of Templo Mayor and the Metropolitan Cathedral in the background. A little torn on the review since the service was quite good here, food was probably a 3.5, though a little issue left a blemish on my impression. The entrance is thru the elevator on the first floor inside the bookstore Librería Porrúa, you go up to the 3rd floor and arrive to a foyer area where to the right is the cafe portion of the restaurant and to the left is the sit-down section. Walking into the space the kitchen and bathrooms are to the left, a bar straight back against the far wall with maybe half a dozen tables in between. To the right about a 20 tables are placed on a split-level section under a covered rooftop open so all have views out over Templo Mayor. Retractable outdoor blinds line the edges of the rooftop to protect from inclement weather. Arriving at around 2pm, the restaurant was about 50% full though almost all the tables closer to the view overlooking Templo Mayor were occupied. The staff were courteous and professional, quickly providing menus and coming back to check on us. We ordered: - Conga (pineapple, orange and coconut with granedine) $55*: refreshing citrusy juice in combination mentioned, not too sweet which I was glad for. - Mexican craft beer Tempus doble malta $90: cool, dark and malty, though not too heavy for a warm afternoon. - Tortilla soup with tomato, panela cheese, tortilla julienne chips, avocado, pasilla chili, and epazote leaf $155: tasty! Flavorful and brought a kick with the chili spice, pretty mild though. Nice crunch from the fried tortilla strips. - Xochitl broth (chicken broth with "pico de gallo", rice, shredded chicken and chicharron (fried pork skin) $140: light broth with full chicken flavor, crunch from the chicharron. Would recommend. - Steak tips (180 grs) tacos with nopales (cactus pads) (3 pieces) $195: decent, good with the salsa. - Cochinita pibil burritos (4 pieces) $185: didn't expect these to be deep fried, flavor was ok though not sure I'd recommend these, - Rice with mole sauce $85: really tasty, we didn't leave a grain of rice! So the unfortunate that I had a couple issues bc service was overall good: - found a hair on the lime slices that came served with the tacos, I'm not a big stickler bc I get it, sometimes a piece of hair just falls down, not the most unsanitary thing that could happen. - what bothered me more was the placement of the bread rolls, the staff took each roll from a basket with tongs and placed it on what looked like woven straw coasters for drinks, they looked like they were just sitting out on the table for decoration, and not sure how those would be cleaned... If the above two issues hadn't occurred I'd be rounding up to 4 stars, though because of them this spot is a 3 for me. *all prices in pesos. read more
3 months ago
El Mayor never disappoints. The view overlooking the Templo Mayor and the heart of Mexico City. It instantly sets the tone for a great meal. The food was full of authentic flavor and beautifully done. Like most places in Mexico City, the hospitality is next level attentive, professional, and genuinely warm without being overbearing. read more
10 months ago
Great service, view and food. Felt very relaxed and enjoyed people watching as eating the yummy food. read more
El Mayor is located upstairs from a bookstore - you walk into the shop and take the elevator up. The restaurant is open air with a terrace section that overlooks the archaeological site. Despite being based in a central tourist area offering a view, the menu pricing was actually pretty reasonable. Now the food....well, it wasn't good, at all. I'm not super picky and hate to waste food, but it became a chore to finish my entree. I already got a bad vibe just trying the bread rolls and sangria before our main courses arrived. The sangria was clear on bottom and red on top (all show and no go) and tasted like a watery juice. The bread was no better than your grocery store rolls. I was glad I passed on the concha buns when the waiter offered it when we first sat down. Ordered the huevos divorciados. The plate was drowning in a meh tasting sauce. There were two eggs, perhaps a tortilla or two, and a small smidge of beans and two chips. Presentation was lacking and the taste was 3/10. It was initially edible, then got a little harder to eat as the breakfast mission progressed. The amount of sauce was a turnoff and everything tasted touristy, if that's a thing. It's like the restaurant knows tourists will come just once so they don't need to put effort into the taste or quality of their food. The view was pleasant, but not spectacular. Depending on where you're seated, a good chunk of the view feels like you're staring into a mini concrete jungle (ie archeological site and concrete building behind it). On the far right side is the better view of the historical buildings. Overall, if you just want a place to relax and take in some views, this spot is alright. Just know the food is mediocre at best, taste & quality are lacking. If you want to save some money, right next door is a more casual cafe (go right when exiting the elevator) that has coffee, alcohol, and some bites to eat. It may save you some money and you get almost the same views. read more
8 months ago
1 year ago
Good selections, the Pompano were cooked well and all our other orders. The service is excellent and the prices seem fair. Also unbeatable view of the ruins. read more
3 years ago
El Mayor was a good first taste of Mexico City. The brunch menu ends at Noon and is worth a try. Every food item we tried was flavorful and well-portioned. The omelet was nice and light, although I would have had a bit more heft to it (see photo). The chilaquiles were tasty, but the fried egg was a little rubbery around the edges (although the whites were well cooked, which is the trade-off sometimes). The huevos rancheros (or whatever was closest to it on the menu) were not too spicy with a flavorful sauce. The drinks looked really good, although I couldn't translate the juices offered fast enough so I missed out. And the service was well above average (both from hosts and servers). But, honestly, you don't come here for the food. You come for the view. The restaurant overlooks the archeological site of the Museo del Templo Mayor and the terrace is elegant and airy. As someone noted in another review, it's pleasant (not spectacular). I'd highly recommend El Mayor for someone looking for an easy and reliable brunch with a knowledgeable and courteous staff. read more
4 years ago
El Mayor is a great spot for the views, which is what gravitated us towards this spot while in the Zocalo area. The balcony area overlooks the historical area of Mexico City, which is reason enough to check out El Mayor. We visited on a Friday afternoon before sunset, and we were able to snag the last table closest to the balcony and open-air windows. Soon after, we saw that others were looking for a table, as this place was pretty busy with patrons. The menu features a lot of different items, with a full bar available. My partner and I shared the chips and guac and we had cocktails. The cocktails were solid, as well as the chips and guac. We enjoyed our time here while watching the sunset loom over the city square and buildings. Because it's an open air spot, it started getting chilly in the evening and we didn't see any heat lamps, so dress accordingly. Prices on the menu include taxes. I recommend visiting El Mayor if you're looking for a view while in Centro Historico. read more
2 years ago
Nice terrace over seeing the plaza and the museum. Great place to take a break and have a drink. read more
Very cool place with a great view of the Temple Mayor. It is definitely a nice getaway from what can be a chaotic day visiting the historic center of Mexico City. The food was delicious, and the staff was both attentive and accommodating in finding gluten free options. One way to get there is through an elevator in the bookstore. read more
2 years ago
Stopped in here after a visit to the Templo Major. The view is excellent which made me wonder how good the food would be since this was close to a highly toured area. My wondering stopped as the chips and guacamole arrived. Delicious and we were able to try a few chicharones along with them. My kids had a few sides along with the Mexican pasta Alfredo. All delicious my wife a salad while I had a steak dish that was cooked perfectly and served with the delicious sauce. This is our last meal in Mexico and I couldn't have been more happy with it. I finished it all off with a coconut flan, it blew my mind. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
The view is amazing, however, the food is mediocre. We started with appetizers. We ordered the pulpo tacos (these were actually good but the tortillas were so thin they kept breaking apart). We ordered a guacamole which was nicely presented but lacked lemon, salt and some spice. We ordered a ceviche tostada which was nicely plated/presented but it too lacked flavor. It could have used some lemon and thinly sliced chile habanero or manzano. Being that the dishes lacked flavor, there were no salt and pepper dispensers on the tables for clients to help themselves. It was super busy when we went Sunday around 2:30 pm and service was not the greatest. I waited for about five minutes for the host to come back to the reception area and then I asked him to put my name down for 2 people, he wrote down the number "2" on his list but failed to ask my name. I asked him if he needed my name and he said yes, we will call you when your table is ready but did not take my name down and proceeded to call and seat about 3 other parties on the list. I waited for him to return to let him know he did not ask for my name. Drinks. My husband ordered a mezcal drink which was watered down, so we didn't order any more cocktails. I ordered a naranjada mineral and later a mango/basil drink and both were watered down and I think the mango was spoiled. Rarely were we checked-in with but to their credit when we flagged them down, they responded in a relatively timely manner. Take away...: Recommend for food? The food itself would not bring me back Recommend for the view? Absolutely Recommend for the cocktails? No Come and enjoy the view, use the bar/cafe order either and some appetizers from there read more
3 years ago
La comida es muy buena, excelente Sansón y mucha variedad, realmente vale lo que cuesta y la vista es maravillosa. read more
3 years ago
Great place to stop by for a rooftop bar for a casual dining experience after a day of touring the city. Definitely trust me to filter out the tourist traps! Ambiance: This rooftop cafe/bar/bistro is situated very close to Templo Mayor Museum. Easily accessible after your tour of the museum. You walk into a bookshop and take an elevator up to the top floor. The area is very airy, quiet yet lively. We got to see a bit of the World Cup live when we were there and beautiful views of the excavation site. Food: We just got small bites: the guacamole and quesadillas. Both very good, simple and reasonably priced. For drinks, I got the chilango: which is a frozen chamay with mezcal and lime juice, iced herbal tea and vodka. My husband sampled all sorts of Mezcal for roughly $5 USD each and a few beers. Great food and drink pairing! Service: we had rotating servers that couldn't speak much English but it was not at all an issue as we could point to the menu and use Google translate. They were all very attentive. read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
We had the most amazing lunch here. Great views, impeccable service, delicious food, all at an amazing price. We came here after seeing the positive Yelp and TripAdvisor reviews. It's located on the second floor, sharing a building with a museum and bookstore on the first floor. When you first enter, they ask whether you'd like to eat at the cafeteria or the restaurant, and you'll want to do the latter. The former has a more simple drinks and tapas menu. We ordered the steak, tuna al pastor tacos, guacamole, and bananas with mezcal. Our waiter, Abraham, was incredibly helpful and made prefect recommendations based on what we were looking for. The tuna al pastor was definitely the highlight. If you order the bananas with mezcal, they flambe and cook the dish right by your table as you wait. It's a great sensory experience. Highly recommend if you're in Mexico City! read more
This Place is Classy, trendy and for us Americans super cheap. I visited with my parents this summer and we had a great time. The views from the restaurants is amazing and food was absolutely delicious. I ordered duck enchiladas de mole which were outstanding and in all 3 meals including two beers each and desserts came up to less than $75 USD. read more
4 years ago
The view here was so amazing! The price was just right and the service was great. Highly recommend eating or drinking here. read more
5 years ago
3 years ago
Food was sooo good! Service was excellent and ambiance was amazing! The views that this place offers is amazing and the food match the ambiance. read more
8 years ago
Food: delicious. I got the chilaquiles and they were so delicious! My husband got some French toast and he truly enjoyed them. If they Waite crimes by with a tray of sweet bread, get the concha. It was so good, soft, sweet and delicious! Location: perfect! After breakfast we walked around. The area and it was great. And the views from the restaurant were amazing . The only thing I will warn you is that to make sure you either make reservations or get there before 9am. Otherwise you are looking for a 1 hour wait. We got fortunate and only waited 30 min. But if you don't want toast in the terrace/ terraza then you any not wait that long. But next door there is a bar lounge that you can probably wait at until you are called. Note that this bar lounge is not part of El Mayor. It's a different business. Over all: I would so go back to El Mayor my next time in Mexico City. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Views, great food and an awesome atmosphere. What more can you ask for? Stop by and head up to the top floor for a taste. The prices vary depending on what you order and the specials of the day. We spent about $39 between two people and this included drinks. The tacos and the aracherra (similar to carne Assad) are a great choice here. The servings are fairly generous! There is a cafe and a restaurant depending on how busy it is and your preference there are plenty of seating options with great views of the zocalo and the templo mayor below. read more
7 years ago
3 years ago
Incredible! If you're near the Zocalo and looking for a place with great views, amazing service, and delicious food, this is the place! The mole albondigas were so good and it was so nice sitting on the terrace looking across the archaeological site to the cathedral and Palacio National. The entrance is in the center of the bookstore up to the third floor. read more
views views views. this overlooks some old aztec ruins and zocalo in the background. this is what you come for here. iconic. came here on a sunday around 12pm. breakfast service ends then, so we waited for lunch service to begin at 1pm. wish they would consider serving brunch. reservations recommended if you'd like to do breakfast here. conveniently had a coffee and wine bar next door that you can wait at and kill time on the rooftop patio. the food, however, fell flat. no english menu (so gringo of me but mi espanol es muy poquito). check my pics for the dishes we ordered. ordered a carne dish slathered in sauce over mashed potatoes (was marked as one of the popular dishes on the menu but wasn't very bueno). a seafood spaghetti. appetizers = the mole tostadas, ceviche, and guacamole (all average). in comparison to some of the fine eateries around la condesa or polanco, the food paled here in comparison. it's barely passable. did not want to do my last meal in the DF here so fortunately we finished up at la capital in condesa instead. hostess was hopsitable. wait staff was polite but wasn't the best we encountered in CDMX. BUT the views and the background were worth it. +2 stars just for that. read more
7 years ago
I've been traveling to Mexico my entire life and I have finally found my favorite restaurant. I have only been once and will keep coming back. I came home and recommended it to other family members. La comida está deliciosa y el servicio es muy bueno. For those who plan on visiting, it is on the second floor and there is an elevator. There is a cafe on one side to enjoy the view and the restaurant is on the other side to enjoy a delicious meal and the view. The restaurant is above the library. read more
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More info about El Mayor
República de Argentina 17
06020 México, D.F.
Mexico
Centro Norte
Directions
55 5704 7580
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http://elmayor.com.mx
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El Mayor - mexican - Updated May 2026
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