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HandShake

4.4 (173 reviews)
PriceyBars

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HANDSHAKE ATMOSPHERE

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Cocktails
Liann A.

One of the top rated speakeasy's/cocktail bars in Mexico City and probably one of our favorites during this trip. We had a reservation for 5 on a Sunday evening in August and I think we had the last reservation at 1030pm. Some of our friends weren't feeling well so we didn't have issues for just seating 4. Located in a hotel you meet in the lobby and you wait for them to bring you into a special entrance that goes below. Nice intimate area where we're briefed and sit. When you enter and exit it reminds me of how they greet you in Japan at restaurants by everyone. We probably had a round of 3 or 4 drinks where we got to try a lot of them. The old fashioned mushroom, the pbnj style drink, some of the lighter ones but they were all so good and quite refreshing! Didn't feel too full. They also give you a mix of trail mix, one with grasshoppers and one without if people have restrictions. It took us a while to build up the courage to try the the grasshoppers lol. Service was great and they explain each drink to you. Would highly recommend! They also had a really good r&b playlist on in the background, it was a vibe!

Sandwich beef
Poonam M.

It's supposed to number 1 rated in the world for a speakeasy. Dont know why there was nothing special about it , have gone to way better decorative ones. The drinks were small with a huge piece of ice in it hardly any liquor in it. Food was ok of the one bite I took of a sandwich. They give you a half filled bowl of nuts , they say there's grasshoppers in the mix but didn't see even one in there. Not worth it !

Cookies and cream
Sheetal K.

This was an amazing speakeasy! The drinks were amazing! Do not skip on cookies and cream! Fig martini was delicious! The service was good and make sure to ask to go to the basement if you like rap and r&b. Also if you are vegetarian, make sure to inform them so they can provide nuts!

Banana Split
Allie G.

Handshake Speakeasy is worth the hype! I managed to snag a Friday night reservation in the basement room. The interior was dimly lit and moody, and the staff would yell a welcome every time patrons entered the space. They also did the same once people started leaving. For my first drink, I chose the Mexi-Thai. Handshake is known for their clarified cocktails and I was shocked by how complex the flavors were in this clear beverage. It was almost savory with makrut lime coconut, tomato, and basil oil. For my second drink, I chose the Banana Split. This one was much sweeter with rum, banana, and a blend of sherries. It came topped with a chocolate lego filled with banana ganache, which was insanely decadent and tasty. Our reservation was limited to 90 minutes, which was enough time for me. Overall, loved this spot!

Krystal L.

Honestly, I totally understand the hype! You definitely need to make a reservation because it gets booked up QUICK. Reservations open 2 weeks in advance so make it as soon as they open! I didn't realize this, but Handshake is in the lobby of a hotel. Check-in was smooth. There was a hostess that greeted us at the hotel entrance and we were escorted inside to our table. The ambiance was very dark and moody to resemble how it felt during the prohibition era. We had 2 servers and both were so fun and playful! On to the drinks. They were delish! I ordered the Thai-inspired drink and my friend ordered the olive oil martini. Both were great and totally inspired me to make more savory cocktails! Now something to note...they serve you a bowl of trailmix when you sit down. There are roasted grasshoppers in this trailmix! It was certainly a shocker, so just be aware of that as you're munching. Great conversation starter for sure, haha! You get 90 minutes before you're booted from your table which I felt was plenty of time to enjoy. There was a little mix up with our bill, but it was resolved quickly. I'd say this spot is worth checking out while in CDMX! I can see why it was voted the world's best bar in 2024!

Cynthia C.

This was such a delightful experience and I can see why it has been consistently highly ranked within global bars and regional bar lists. It is definitely worth trying to get a reservation here if you're ever visiting CDMX. At first, I was a little apprehensive because when we were led down a flight of stairs to the entrance of the speakeasy, it kind of reminded me of a college house party? Maybe it was just the music though. Once seated, I appreciated all the attention to detail and their use of mirrors to make the space feel much larger than it actually was. I personally got the saffron and fig martini as my 2 drinks but I got to try sips of all the other drinks and you genuinely cannot go wrong with any drink on the menu. My favorite was the saffron one, but all their drinks are phenomenal and kind of whimsical? Like the peanut butter jelly one comes with a piece of white chocolates filled with pb and jelly in the shape of an actual mini sandwich? The food was pretty good too! The veggie dumplings had the thinnest wrapper around them and the tuna tartare was so fresh and the melon worked so well with it.

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

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!

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!

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.

Caili C.

After a few trips to Mexico City and not being able to visit Handshake, I was finally able to check out this acclaimed bar not once but twice. I planned ahead and made two separate reservations, one in the basement and one on the main floor. The menus are slightly different with speciality cocktails that are unique for each space. The OG cocktails are the same however which include the staple drinks that they're famous for. Out of all the drinks I tried my favorites had to be the Mexi Thai with coconut milk, tomato, makrut lime and basil oil and the Matcha Yuzu! All their drinks are unique and feel so special! What I didn't expect was how friendly and lively the space would be! The bartenders all greet you with a bienvenido when someone arrives and hasta leaves when someone leaves. On the main floor this is especially fun as the space is one large rectangle vs the basement which is more intimate. Everyone was so friendly and dancing to the music. The bartenders and staff looked like they were having a ton of fun as well! We were the last party to leave during our time slot and were trying to take a group picture in front of the bar when they invited us behind the bar to take a picture with all the bartenders and stuff. This felt so special and I can't wait to go back! Handshake absolutely lives up to the hype!

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.

Mini espresso martini

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Jules Basement - Barra Jules Basement

Jules Basement

3.9(69 reviews)
0.3 km•Polanco
•$$$

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

Baltra - Martini Classic

Baltra

4.4(80 reviews)
3.9 km•Condesa
•$$

On our most recent trip to CDMX, our hotel had recommended going to Baltra for cocktails, not to…read moremention they are noted as a favorite on a variety of lists and considered one of the best bars in the world! So needless to say we had high expectations. The space itself is very cute offering a small bar, some indoor seating as well as some nice patio and outdoor seating. Overall it's not large, but it has a cozy vibe. We didn't have a reservation, though they are encouraged, but we went shortly after the opened and were able to be sat at the bar. The bartender was super friendly and happy to offer rec's. The menu is so fun, but primarily in Spanish. Some of their most popular cocktails have some fun doodles and imagery to go wuth them and we really enjoyed perusing the menu. We both started with the Ultima Duda or Last Doubt, which is their spin on an espresso martini that is mezcal based. Presentation was very fun and the cocktail was lovely. For my second round I went something a bit fresher and opted for the Sumi, which was gin based and had a lovely egg white foam, my favorite. Overall, the vibes were good, cocktails were solid, prices reasonable and service was good. Neither cocktails blew me away, but it was a very fun visit if you happen to be able to get a table or opted for a post dinner nightcap.

Baltra menu offers an amazing flavor profile and very smooth drinks. I'm very impressed by the…read moretea-forward aftertaste on their themed cocktails, such as the nilgiri. The baltra classic tomate y ruibarbo was also very smooth, almost indiscernibly blended but the sweet rhubarb comes in at the end. The bartenders are great and seating at the bar was pleasant. Great music and ambiance and I would definitely visit again to try their tea cocktails. The menu is a delight to look at, it's beautifully and thoughtfully designed with flavor profile descriptions. Not to mention the dill spa water is a very nice sip. I'd come here for breakfast if I could.

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Baltra - Old George Sour

Old George Sour

Baltra - Old George Sour

Old George Sour

Baltra - Gigi

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Gigi

Tlecan - Inside

Tlecan

4.4(63 reviews)
3.8 km•Roma Norte
•$$

This is such a cool authentic mezcal bar with a fantastic atmosphere. It immediately gave me…read morespeakeasy vibes, with its intimate setting, moody lighting, and authentic Mexican feel. Definitely not a touristy place, this is where locals go. There are so many mezcal options to choose from, whether you want to try it straight or in one of their cocktails. And be warned--the drinks are strong, as mezcal cocktails should be! They also bring out some complimentary snacks to enjoy with your drinks, which is a lovely touch. Service was excellent--everyone was friendly, welcoming, and happy to help with the mezcal selection. This place fills up FAST. We went on a Monday around 10 PM and managed to grab a couple of high stools at one of the side tables, but not long after, the place was packed and it was difficult to even walk through. Given how popular it is even on a Monday night, I can definitely see why. We walked here, which I'd recommend if you're staying nearby, or consider taking an Uber rather than trying to deal with parking in the area. A fantastic little bar for mezcal lovers and anyone looking for a unique, intimate night out. The atmosphere alone makes it worth visiting!

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!

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Tlecan - Ocelóyotl (mezcal based)

Ocelóyotl (mezcal based)

Tlecan - Bar area quite packed

Bar area quite packed

Tlecan - Bar area

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Bar area

HandShake - bars - Updated October 2026

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