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HandShake

4.4 (154 reviews)
PriceyBars

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HANDSHAKE ATMOSPHERE

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Antoinette P.

Love this speakeasy! The vibe is upscale and grown. We made reservations for a party of 7 and were sat on time. The hosts and servers were so great! It's definitely a must try if you're in Mexico City. The drinks are all craft cocktails and so unique. My favorites are the Cariño, Olive Oil Gimlet and Lychee Highball. The sandwich de rib eye was amazing!

Banana Split
Matt H.

I get it. I am not usually one to come to places blown up on social media however Handshake is WELL worth it. I think I can say these were the best cocktails I have ever had. I had both the Peanut Butter and Jelly and the Banana Split and both were wildly good. I have never had cocktails like these before and they were worth every penny. I liked the PB&J one more but both were wonderful. Its a very cool experience and the bar tenders were super friendly and talkative. Overall I would without a doubt recommend anyone in CDMX pay Handshake a visit.

Kenneth H.

Memories! A show! The drinks, well #1 for a reason! Service really good, but We thought and two other customers thought the yelling from entire when coming in and departing, well cheesy - sorry. Not Disney..... For a speakeasy, and a world class one... Your service, quality and the ambiance should "speak" for itself .... Than having to scream when arriving and departing. Also, they had some special guest.... Not sure the capacity, but they took the one on one experience away from the other guest. They served speciality (new working on) drinks off the menu to them and spent time explaining the drinks. 33 years in the hospitality industry... Myself. Operations, regional and corporate.... And other customers felt the same. Again, the service and quality, off the charts! And a MUST stop. You have to make reservations way way a head of time.

Fig Martini
Jake B.

This was, far and away, the best bar I've ever been to. It's hidden by the hotel entrance, and is an adventure in itself finding the spot. We got extremely lucky and managed walk in with a party of 4, split up into two tables of 2. The drinks were amazing; my favorites were the cookies and cream and the salt and pepper. But all of the drinks I tried across the four of us were the best versions of those drinks I've ever had. The service and staff executed everything perfectly. Can't overstate how great this place is!

Gab G.

Played the Opentable notification game and got a reservation one day before. Good, not amazing - wouldn't go through a lot of effort to go. I'm sure it was incredible back in the day. Salt + pepper was my fave.

Mexi-Thai, not well balanced at all.. actually hard to enjoy
Lisa E.

The least pleasant experience, bar, cocktails that I've ever had. I am usually a 2-4 cocktail gal and I could not get out of here quick enough. The entire process, from lining up in a hotel lobby, to being led down dingy steps to sitting on a tiny toad stool..there are so many fabulous cocktail bars in CDMX, do not be upset if you could not snag a reservation here, you are doing your self a favor. A speakeasy should be smartly disguised and fun to figure out, not a painted black basement. Should be called Hype-shake

Cocktails
Anne C.

Definitely worthy of being the top bar in the world - the ambience, the service, the skills of the mixologists and the types of drinks they had! We loved the peanut butter and jelly which was so unique and loved that all the drinks were so nuanced. We couldn't resist and got 3 cocktails each and loved them all. They were all so unique and never too strong or too flavorful and just perfect. Highly recommend the PB&J!

Ashley J.

I made a reservation here right as they opened 2 weeks in advance. When we got there, we had to wait in line to be let in for about 10 minutes, so make sure to arrive early. The speakeasy itself is shockingly small, so not many people can dine at the same time. Service was extremely fast and great, and everyone we spoke to spoke English. The drinks were good. My favorite was the banana split, which came with a banana chocolate shaped like a Lego. This was a really cool experience, and I would come again.

Justin J.

Currently distinguished as the #2 rated bar in the world (January 2026), expectations were high. It's great to get a reservation, but once reservations open, the spots are taken almost immediately. You can do walk ins and, if people don't show up, the walk ins are given those seats, but you may be waiting for some time, and you are given a one got know for walk ins to drink. We were about to get a reservation so, with that done 90 minutes of time inside. Obviously expectations are high, but can those expectations me match the reality of the drinks? In this case, yes. First, the service, impeccable. You are walked in to your seat from the outside, water is brought and the baby is explained. And, when drinks are brought, each drink is explained in detail from ingredients to the thought process behind the drink. The flavors? Amazing. So much goes in to each drink, and you can really taste the nuisances in each digital. From the forward notes, to middle notes and backend flavors, it's really like drinking art but with so much flavor. You really can't go wrong with any cocktail at Handshake. From the ambulance, you the service and the whole vibe. Even the nuts with crickets mixture they bring you to snack on, yes, crickets, tasting like seasoned little pumpkin seeds. Just a phenomenal bar, absolutely try to get a seat when visiting Mexico City.

Abigail J.

Came on a Tuesday night around 8:15 PM with no reservation. After an hour waiting, we were able to get in due to some cancellations. I say it's worth the wait! But reservations are highly recommended weeks in advance, maybe even months. You get an hour total once inside, last call when you're 30 minutes in. We tried a few drinks, no food since we weren't hungry. They gave a complimentary mixed nuts. I had the mini Espresso Martini (one of the best i've had), mini Mezcal Negroni (smooth and bold) , Matcha + Yuzu (I wish i had more) and Hojicha Tea Champagne (non-alcoholic and so refreshing). Hubbs got the Butter Mushroom Old Fashioned, Olive Oil Gimlet and mini Dirty Gin Martini. He enjoyed all of them. I tried his drinks too and everything went down nicely. Craftsmanship was great, I wish we had the bar seat to watch the bartenders make the drinks which we always enjoy. All the staff are nice and quick to serve. Everyone was so upbeat and fun! The whole night was amazing and i'm so glad we were able to try this spot during our vacation.

Beau H.

Handshake CDMX is world renowned cocktail extravaganza! Make a reservation asap as they open up thru OpenTable within 14 days ahead of time so make sure that you nab the one you want as this space is small exclusive and seats are limited.The awesome Javier greeted us outside a hotel and briefed behind door number 13. Each patron is given a timespan of 1.5 hours to enjoy their time within the magical laboratory that is Handshake. The entire restaurant is excited to great you and does loudly which adds to the very upbeat and exciting atmosphere. HipHop on blast is the music that textures and if you're lucky enough to sit at the bar, you get to see everything made live and in person. The menu is big but their selection is limited to just the right amount of familiar, then one of a kind then elevated familiar again. They have 4 pre-batched 'miniature cocktails' and it is an amazing concept and serves as a perfect sipper while one looks over their densely curated menu of cocktails that are specifically from here. Our official first round was none other that the Pina Colada. However nothing about this is traditional. Its airy approach to our creamed iced expectation. The tastes are strong and the tallboy they serve it is lovely all around. The next round we enjoyed was a 'Banana' Manhattan straight from a forbidden jungle and probably the most tiki item on this menu. Our final round was a cocktail called One Night in Oaxaca. This is a mezcal central complex libation which is very very well done. While the menu is very adventurous, I do wish there was two things more to build out this program. We need a Cosmopolitan and we need a Classic Martini with a twist. The variations of these they have listed are so rich in a syrup and doesn't have enough valume to be priced as such. There is also sadly an elevated part of the menu that showcases vintage cocktails but sadly are only made with very rare liquors and the price points are not an option when making this spot part of your date night. The do have foods however nothing really more than amplified bar-bites. Overall this place is amazing I just wish I could see their take on Margaritas, Martinis and anything that doesn't involve a massive ice king cube or ball taking up 99% of the glass.

Old fashion
Alvin S.

Waled up with no reservations, waited 10 mins mutes with no issues! Music and vibes were good point!

peanut butter and jelly
Gary Y.

Super friendly staff and fantastic drinks at Handshake. A lot of creative cocktails on the menu to try out - I really liked the peanut butter and jelly (which did taste like a P&J sandwich in a good way). Seating time limit was 90 minutes which is plenty of time to have a couple drinks. Highly recommend on making a reservation 2 weeks out (when they are released) to avoid a long wait for the walk ins.

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Licorería Limantour - Platas bravas and carnitas tacos

Licorería Limantour

4.1(127 reviews)
0.2 kmPolanco
$$

Amazing bar in Rosa Norte part of Mexico City! Every cocktail we had was exceptional and they had a…read morefew special cocktails when we were there like a mango con chile which is a take on the street mango with chamoy and tajin. Reservations are definitely hard to come back so would recommend to book early. We had a late reservation but they actually were so nice to accommodate us early since we finished dinner early. Suggest sitting at the bar because the bartenders are great to talk to and get more insights into the place and drinks!

Mexico City has a reputation for having some of the world's best bars. Their location in Roma,…read moreMexico City, was ranked #52 in the world and in the top 10 in North America. While we didn't book the acclaimed Roma location, we sought out their sister location located closer to our hotel in Polanco. We were required to purchase an appetizer to go with our drinks (maybe it's a local requirement for bars?). Got a quesadilla, which had nice flavor from meat, chile morita, and cheese, but it was tiny. Drinks were liquor forward, but balanced. We were impressed to get clear flavors from each of the ingredients of the cocktail. Was it a vibe that I'd want to enjoy again? Probably not - I personally prefer restaurants with really strong entrees and cocktails to support the food than the other way around. Nevertheless, I'm glad that I was able to visit this world renowned bar close to where I was staying. Drinks were creative, flavors were clear and assertive, but balanced. If you are looking for interesting cocktails, this is a great option for you

Photos
Licorería Limantour - Downstairs

Downstairs

Licorería Limantour
Licorería Limantour - Stairs to the 2nd floor

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Stairs to the 2nd floor

Jules Basement - Barra Jules Basement

Jules Basement

3.9(69 reviews)
0.3 kmPolanco
$$$

Not easy to find, but a lot of fun when you do!…read more One of my favorites spots, among many, in the heart of Polanco.

Jules bar is advertised as a hidden speakeasy in Polanco that is located underneath a taqueria. The…read morebar is tourist friendly and cocktails are reasonably priced. Come early as there is usually a line before entering the bar. Atmosphere: to enter into the bar, you have to go downstairs through a refrigerator. In contrast to the bright colors of the taqueria upstairs, Jules was adorned with leathered walls, studded ceilings, and skeletons as table centerpieces. While trendy, it did come off as a little cheesy. Nonetheless, decor did reflect the vibe it was going for. There was limited seating, so if you have a large party would recommend going there early if you have a big party. Later in the night, there is a DJ who plays techno/dance music tends to draw in large crowds of people. Brings in a mixed crowd. Service: Service at the beginning of the night was good, although servers were less attentive as the night got later and more people were entering the bar. Cocktails: The bar offers a good variety of drinks and cocktails--which I can see why people would want to go back to Jules again. My group of friends and I tried about 8 different cocktails and the only one I enjoyed was the Low Key. The Low Key is comparable to a whiskey soul with mezcal garnished with tamarind candy. I did not care much for the other drinks, as some of them were overly sugary.

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Jules Basement
Jules Basement - Jules Basement

Jules Basement

Jules Basement - Live jazz @ Jules Basement

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Live jazz @ Jules Basement

Tlecan - Inside

Tlecan

4.4(58 reviews)
3.8 kmRoma Norte
$$

Overall, liked my experience here. Came here with a friend on a weekend night and it was packed,…read morebut we didn't have to wait more than 5-10 minutes to get "seated". I say seated with parenthesis because most people end up standing here but we got lucky that a couple was leaving as we were right next to them after being asked our drink orders. It's kind of a weird system that they have and I think the staff didn't realize we didn't have our drink orders taken yet and asked the people behind us for theirs which was slightly annoying. It was a bit chaotic so I can see why it happened, but I do think they need a slightly better system. Anyways, the drinks were excellent and I love that they gave us a little small snack that included crickets (which I hadn't tried before yet). The vibes in here are really nice too. I love the dim lighting and the almost rock/clay atmosphere. The bathroom area is smaller than I was expecting but it was ok. I'd definitely return!

This ranks among the top ten bars in North America and as a group of 6, we probably waited for 25…read moreminutes to get in. There are no seats, this is a standing bar except a few uncomfortable bar stools. Drinks were good, but I expected more. I got the colada and it was good, not too sweet. Almost clarified colada. Everything was very spirit forward which few of our friends really liked. This felt like a one time visit for me in CDMX

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Tlecan - Bar area quite packed

Bar area quite packed

Tlecan - Ocelóyotl (mezcal based)

Ocelóyotl (mezcal based)

Tlecan - Bar area

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Bar area

HandShake - bars - Updated May 2026

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